Dsst Statistics Calculater question

[kati02]

My Statistics test will be a paper & pencil version; what's the best Calculator for the Dsst Stat?

[larry7crys]

The Texas Instruments calculator with the statistics functions. It's not the 89 version but it should cost a few bucks. I would bring a backup just in case the testing center doesn't allow your calculator. Good Luck!

[kati02]

Thanks Larry7, and good luck as you wind-up and get back to civ-life.

[categ]

Why is there always so much confusion about the type of calculators that are acceptable? Is it determined by the Clep or DSST regulations or the testing center?

[kati02]

Clep does not have a Statistics test, and the DSST fact sheet simply says they permit a 'non-programmable calculator' - well thats quite general...hence the 'confusion' esp for those like me who know nothing about calculators.

Perhaps my next question shd be if the test is doable at all without any calculator..feel more confused after searching Amazon and there are scores of them named 'Texas instrument bra bra...'

[tehtypoking]

I am taking the test tomorrow, I bought the TI BA II +

Seems pretty cool, has a ton of built in statistics features.

[kati02]

O thanks..let's hear how it goes, ok? Thats the paper and pencil version, i presume. I hear there's a calculator function for the computor based version.

[loddfafnir]

I took the computer version today. There was a calculator on the screen available to use but I was able to use my TI BA II+ anyway. Know how to use the stat functions and it will speed up your time on the test but not by a whole lot. Calculating SD is what I ended up using the stat funcions for with maybe a factorial or two thrown in there. Everything else was a square root or squaring operation in addition to the regular math functions. I passed with 455 and 30 minutes to spare but the only reason I think I had extra time was because I didn't have to spend a lot of time working out SD for the four or five problems that required it. Like most of the feedback here on the forum regarding this test, most of the test isn't math as much as it is concepts.
Good luck.

[categ]

I took the computer version today. There was a calculator on the screen available to use but I was able to use my TI BA II+ anyway. Know how to use the stat functions and it will speed up your time on the test but not by a whole lot. Calculating SD is what I ended up using the stat funcions for with maybe a factorial or two thrown in there. Everything else was a square root or squaring operation in addition to the regular math functions. I passed with 455 and 30 minutes to spare but the only reason I think I had extra time was because I didn't have to spend a lot of time working out SD for the four or five problems that required it. Like most of the feedback here on the forum regarding this test, most of the test isn't math as much as it is concepts.
Good luck.

Thanks that's good information for when I finally decide to tackle this one.

[tehtypoking]

Yeah, I took the computer based version as well, the proctor at first said no calculators because the test itself had one, but I told him I had done research and they said mine was good ( ti ba II + ). I told him it was a non programmable calculator. He was pretty cool with it, and let me use it.

Yeah it saved me for I'd say about 10 questions, because I went into the test not knowing any of the formulas.

I was able to pass the test with a 435, with basically just knowing the definitions of statistics, basics of descriptive statistics, very little about probability, and the help of my calculator. I'd say I guessed on about 60% of the questions.