Statistics

Statistics turns data into useful comparisons. Learn to collect representative information, choose clear displays and interpret averages, spread and relationships without claiming more than the evidence supports.

Follow lessons 1–6 for the shared Foundation & Higher route. Lesson 1 includes a clearly marked Higher capture–recapture extension. Lessons 7–9 develop Higher distribution diagrams. Each lesson combines construction or calculation with interpretation and practice.

This course covers the shared GCSE Mathematics requirements and relevant board differences. Edexcel Higher includes capture–recapture; OCR does not require stem-and-leaf diagrams or frequency polygons. Histograms, cumulative frequency and box plots are Higher material.

Collecting and organising data

Foundation & Higher

1. Data, Sampling and Population Estimates

Choose useful data, assess sampling bias and make justified population estimates, including Higher capture–recapture.

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Foundation & Higher

2. Frequency Tables and Stem-and-Leaf Diagrams

Organise frequencies, class intervals and two-way tables, then construct ordered and back-to-back stem-and-leaf diagrams.

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Describing and comparing data

Foundation & Higher

3. Bar Charts, Pictograms and Pie Charts

Choose and construct clear categorical charts, calculate pie sectors and recognise misleading comparisons.

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Foundation & Higher

4. Averages and Spread

Calculate and interpret averages, frequency-weighted and grouped means, spread and justified comparisons.

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Foundation & Higher

5. Time Series and Frequency Polygons

Plot time series, interpret trends and seasonality, and construct and compare frequency polygons.

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Foundation & Higher

6. Scatter Graphs and Correlation

Plot paired data, describe correlation and use lines of best fit for cautious predictions without confusing association and cause.

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Higher distribution diagrams

Higher

7. Histograms and Frequency Density

Construct and interpret equal- and unequal-width histograms using density, area ratios and justified estimates.

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Higher

8. Cumulative Frequency and Quartiles

Construct cumulative-frequency graphs and estimate medians, quartiles, IQR, counts and proportions.

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Higher

9. Box Plots and Comparing Distributions

Construct and read box plots, compare medians and spread in context, and recognise what summaries cannot show.

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Useful prerequisites

Review arithmetic, fractions, decimals and percentages or Linear Graphs when these skills are the obstacle. Statistics applies them to data; it does not repeat their whole courses.

Statistics and Probability

Statistics owns data collection, organisation, displays and distribution comparison. Experimental Probability and Expected Frequency uses observed data to estimate chances and predict event counts. Sample Spaces and Two-Way Tables teaches probability calculations from classified data.

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Back to GCSE Maths

Probability topic overview