How to Pass STA1610: Introduction to Statistics (2025 Guide)

Module: STA1610 (Introduction to Statistics)
Type: Year Module
Prescribed Textbook: Statistics for Business and Economics (Anderson, Sweeney, Williams, et al., 5th Edition)

Introduction

Statistics can be intimidating if you hate math, but STA1610 is designed to be an introduction. You will learn how to collect data, analyze it, and make predictions based on it.

This module is essential for anyone in Business, Economics, or Science because it teaches you how to prove your arguments with numbers.

The 2025 Assessment Plan

According to Tutorial Letter 102, there are 5 Assignments in total.

The Rule: You must submit at least one assignment to get exam admission (but you need a 40% year mark to be safe).
The Weighting: Only your best 4 out of 5 assignments count towards your year mark. Each contributes 25%.
The Format: All 5 assignments are Quizzes (Multiple Choice Questions), except the last one which is written.

Important Dates (2025)

Assignment 1: Due 05 May (Chapters 1-3)
Assignment 2: Due 02 June (Chapters 4-5)
Assignment 3: Due 30 June (Chapters 6-7)
Assignment 4: Due 28 July (Chapters 8-9)
Assignment 5: Due 25 August (Chapters 10-11)

The 3 Concepts You Must Master

1. Descriptive Statistics (Chapters 1-3)

This is the foundation. You need to know how to calculate the Mean, Median, and Mode.

Variance & Standard Deviation: You must understand what these are. They measure how “spread out” your data is.
Tip: Learn how to use your scientific calculator (Casio fx-82ZA or similar) to calculate Standard Deviation automatically. It saves massive time in the exam.

2. Probability (Chapters 4-5)

This is where students struggle. You will calculate the chance of an event happening.

Key Terms: Mutually Exclusive, Independent Events, and Conditional Probability.
Distributions: You must understand the Binomial Distribution and the Poisson Distribution.

3. Hypothesis Testing (Later Chapters)

This is the core of the exam. You will be given a claim (e.g., “The average salary is R20,000”) and asked to prove if it is statistically likely to be true.

Null Hypothesis (H0): The default assumption (e.g., “Nothing has changed”).
Alternative Hypothesis (H1): What you are trying to prove.

My Top Tips for Distinction

1. Buy the Textbook
The prescribed book (Statistics for Business and Economics, 5th Edition) is excellent. The exam questions often look exactly like the case studies in the book.

2. Master the Calculator
In the exam, you don’t have time to calculate the mean of 20 numbers by hand. Learn the “Stat Mode” on your calculator perfectly.

3. Don’t Skip Assignment 5
Although only the best 4 count, Assignment 5 covers the later chapters which are heavily tested in the final exam. Doing it forces you to study that section.

Conclusion

STA1610 is a module where practice makes perfect. You cannot just read the book; you must do the calculation exercises. If you practice every week, a distinction is very achievable.

Good luck with your data!