CONTENTS

Introduction ………………………………………………………………..….2

Assumptions……………………………………………………………………3

Topics……………………………………………………………………………..4

Suggested teaching methods………………………………………....5

Suggested resources & learning aids……………………………….6

Time allocation…………………………………………………………….…7 Topics

presentation…………………………………….………………….8

Schemes of assessment………………………………………………….9

Specification grid……………………………………………………………11 Continuous

Assessment Learning Activity(CALA)………………12 Competency matrix:

Lower six…………………………………………………………………………13

Upper six……………………………………………………………………….26

1
INTRODUCTION
In developing the school based Mathematics syllabus attention was paid to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary

Education Statistics syllabus, hence it’s an extract from the national syllabus. The school based Statistics syllabus ‘targets

interested learners who would have passed Mathematics at Form 4,’ MOPSE Statistics syllabus p1.

ASSUMPTIONS

It is assumed that learners:

 have passed mathematics at Form 4

 have prior knowledge of ICT

 have an interest in Statistics

2
TOPICS
 Representation of data

 Permutations and combinations

 Probability

 Discrete random variables

 Continuous distributions

 Linear combinations of random variables

 Sampling and estimation

 Statistical inference

 Bivariate data (Linear regression and correlation)

 Time series

3
SUGGESTED TEACHING METHODS

It is recommended that teachers use teaching techniques which arouse interest and boost confidence amongst statistics

learners so that they become effective in communicating and presenting results they would have gathered from various

research activities. In this regard, learner- centred teaching methods are highly appreciated to make Statistics as a discipline

interesting and practical. The following are some of the suggested methods of the teaching and learning of Statistics:

• Demonstrations
• Experimentation
• Group work
• Question and answer
• Problem solving
• Discussion
• Research and Presentations
• Project-based learning
• Simulation and modelling
• Field work

4
SUGGESTED RESOURCES AND LEARNING AIDS

Since Statistics is concerned in developing and studying methods for collecting, analyzing, interpreting & presenting

empirical data it is advisable that the teacher explore literature in Statistics that is relevant and of updated version in line

with the developing trends in the 21st century. The following are some of the suggested resources that can be used in the

teaching and learning of Statistics:

• ICT packages

• E-library

• Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis by C Heumann & M S Shalabh

• A concise course in Advanced Level Statistics by J Crawshaw & J Chambers

• Time Series Analysis : Zimbabwe Open University Module STD304

• Cambridge International AS & A level Mathematics: Statistics. By S Goldie

5
TIME ALLOCATION
Teaching and learning across all A level classes is done in cycles. Each cycle has 6 working days as well as a minimum of

9 Statistics lessons. A Statistics lesson is allocated 35 minutes.

6
SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT

Forms 5-6 Statistics assessment will be based on continuous assessment and summative assessment using the following

criteria:

Lower six Term

2 assignments of 30marks each and an in-class test of 40marks covering data representation.

Term 2

A single 3 hour mid-year examination paper of 80 marks covering:

Representation of data, Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Discrete random variables, Linear combination

of random variables

Term 3:

Two examination papers (paper1 & paper 2) covering all topics in Form 5. Both papers are 3 hours long. Paper 1 consists

of at most 12 short structured questions marked out of 80 and is compulsory.

Paper 2 consists of two sections, Section A and Section B.

7
Section A: Consists of five (5) compulsory questions marked out of 40
Section B: The candidates choose 4 out of 6 long questions, marked out of 60

Each question carries fifteen (15) marks

Upper six Term

2 assignments of 50 marks each and an in-class test of 50 marks covering topics taught from lower six.

Term 2

Two examination papers (paper1 & paper 2) covering all topics. Both papers are 3 hours long. Paper 1 consists of

about 12 short structured questions marked out of 120 and is compulsory.

Paper 2 consists of two sections, Section A and Section B.

Section A: Consists of five (5) compulsory questions marked out of 40

Section B: The candidates choose 4 out of 6 long questions, marked out of 80. Each

question carries sixteen (16) marks.

8
CONTIONOUS ASSESSMENT LEARNING ACTIVITY(CALA)

Under the Ministry of Primary & Secondary Education, Zimsec candidates' physical and behavioural skills are assessed
continuously (coursework) to contribute 30 percent to their final marks. Therefore students shall be assessed their
CALA components from lower six term 1 up-to upper six term 2.

9
 LOWER SIX TERM 1

TOPIC 1: REPRESENTATION OF DATA (MOPSE Statistics syll p8-9)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED SOURCES DURATION

Data collection methods learners should be able to Discussing different 1WEEK

• describe different methods of methods of collecting data
Data collection collecting data Designing data collection
Data types instruments
• design data collection
Collecting data using
instruments
designed instruments
• gather data using appropriate Conducting field trips to collect
methods) data

Data presentation Histograms • organize data into tabular or Discussing data WEEKS
diagrammatic form presentation methods
Frequency polygons • construct statistical graphs and Categorizing data into tabular
charts
or diagrammatic form
• interpret statistical graphs and
Stem and leaf diagrams charts Drawing statistical
• outline advantages and graphs and charts
Bar graphs
disadvantages of data Interpreting statistical graphs
presentation methods and charts
Box and whisker

diagrams

10
 Pie charts

Cumulative frequency

curves

Pictograms

Line graphs

Measures of Mean, mode, median • define measures of central Discussing the importance of 1WEEK
tendency and dispersion measures of central
• calculate measures of central tendency and dispersion
central tendency Range
tendency and dispersion Explaining the advantages and
• interpret measures of central disadvantages of measures
and dispersion Quartiles and percentiles tendency and dispersion of central tendency and
• apply measures of central dispersion
(Grouped and tendency and/or dispersion in Computing measures of
Variance
solving problems central
ungrouped tendency and dispersion
Standard deviation
Solving problems involving
data) measures of central
tendency and/or
dispersion

11
 Lower six TERM 2

TOPIC 2: PERMUTATIONS AND COMBINATIONS (MOPSE Statistics syll p10)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATION

SOURCES
Arrangements learners should be able to Using the notations n! nPr & WEEK
(𝑛𝑛𝑟𝑟
Permutations and Permutations • use the notations n!, nPr & nCr )
• define permutations and
combinations Explaining the meanings
Combinations combinations
of permutations and
• solve problems involving
combinations
permutations and combinations
Solving problems
involving permutations
and combinations

12
TOPIC 3: PROBABILITY (MOPSE Statistics syll p10;17)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATION

SOURCES
Probability key learners should be able to Explaining the meanings of WEEKS
probability key terms
Probability • define probability key terms Discussing the importance
terms
of probability in life
• calculate probabilities of events Computing probabilities of a
Events variety of events
• solve problems involving
Applying conditional
conditional probability
probability concepts in
Independent solving problems
• use tree diagrams, Venn
Solving problems using tree
Mutually exclusive diagrams and outcome tables to solve
diagrams, Venn diagrams and
problems
outcome tables
Carrying out experiments
Exhaustive
involving probability
Combined

Conditional probability

Tree diagrams

Outcome tables

Venn diagrams

13
Probability Permutations and • calculate Calculating probabilities in 1 WEEK
probabilities in contexts involving contexts involving permutations
combinations permutations and combinations and combinations
Computing conditional
• calculate conditional probabilities in contexts
Conditional probability probabilities in contexts involving involving permutations and
permutations and combinations
combinations
Bayes` theorem Exploring the justification of
Bayes` theorem
• state Bayes`
theorem Solving probability
problems using Bayes`
• use Bayes` theorem theorem
to solve probability problems

14
TOPIC 4: DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLES (MOPSE Statistics syll p11;18)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATION

ACTIVITIES
Discrete random Random variables learners should be able to Discussing examples of WEEK
• define a random variable random variables
variables Probability • construct a probability Constructing probability
distribution table distribution tables
distributions • define expectation
Computing expectation,
• calculate mean, variance and
standard deviation variance and standard
deviation
Expectation
Solving problems
Variance involving mean, variance
and standard deviation
Standard deviation
Special discrete Uniform distribution • outline characteristics of each Discussing characteristics WEEKS
distribution of the distributions
distributions Binomial distribution • calculate the mean, variance Computing the mean,
and standard deviation of each
variance and standard
distribution
Geometric distribution • calculate probabilities for the deviation of each
distributions distribution
Bernoulli distribution • solve problems involving the
distributions
Poisson distribution Calculating probabilities
using the probability density
functions of the distributions
Solving problems
involving the distributions

15
TOPIC 5: LINEAR COMBINATIONS OF RANDOM VARIABLES (MOPSE Statistics syll p19)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATION

SOURCES
Linear combinations Normal distribution learners should be able to Discussing examples of WEEKS
Poisson distribution linear combinations
of random variables use the following facts to solve Calculating
problems: probabilities, mean and
- E(aX±b) = aE(X) ± b variance of a sum of two
and or more independent
Var(aX±b) = a2Var(X) variables for Poisson or
- E(aX±bY) = aE(X) ± normal distribution
bE(Y) - Var(aX±bY) = a2Var(X) Solving problems
+ b2Var(Y) for independent X
and Y involving linear
use the results that: - If combinations and their
X has a normal distribution, applications in life
then so does aX + b
- If X and Y have
independent normal
distributions, then aX + bY has
a normal distribution - If X and
Y have independent
Poisson distributions, then X +Y has a
Poisson distribution

16
 Lower six TERM 3

TOPIC 6: CONTINOUS DISTRIBUTIONS (MOPSE Statistics syll p12;18)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATION

ACTIVITIES
-Differentiation and learners should be able to Differentiating and integrating WEEKS
polynomials and exponential
Probability distribution integration of • differentiate polynomials and functions
exponential functions Discussing the difference
of a polynomials and between a discrete random
• integrate polynomials and variable and a continuous
exponential functions exponential functions random variable
continuous random
Discussing the significance
variable • use the probability density of probability density function
functions and cumulative distribution
Probability density functions to calculate probabilities and cumulative distribution
functions (pdf) and function of a continuous random
cumulative distribution • calculate mean, mode, median, variable
functions (cdf) standard deviation, variance and Computing probabilities
percentiles using both pdf and cdf

• use integration to calculate

cumulative distribution function

17
 Rectangular from probability density function Calculating mean, mode,
median, standard deviation,
• use differentiation to calculate variance and percentiles
distribution probability density function from
Solving problems involving
cumulative distribution function
pdf and cdf
• solve problems involving
Expectation probability density function

Variance

Mean, mode,
standard
deviation and
percentiles

Normal distribution Normal distribution • explain the characteristics of a Discussing the characteristics WEEK
normal distribution curve of a normal distribution curve,
Standard normal giving life examples
• standardize a random variable Standardizing random
tables variables
• use the standard normal tables Obtaining probabilities using
to obtain probabilities standard normal tables Using
Continuity correction the normal distribution model
• approximate the binomial using to approximate the binomial
the normal distribution where n distribution
is large enough to ensure that Using the normal
np > 5 and nq > 5 and apply
continuity correction distribution as a model to
solve problems
• use the normal distribution as a
model to solve problems

18
Exponential Integration by parts • integrate by parts Performing integration by parts 1 WEEK
Calculating probabilities
distribution Probability density • use the pdf to calculate using the pdf
probabilities
Calculating mean, variance
function (pdf)
• calculate mean, variance and and standard deviation
standard deviation Solving problems involving
Mean, variance and exponential distribution and its
standard deviation • solve problems involving applications in life
exponential distribution

19
TOPIC 7: SAMPLING AND ESTIMATION (MOPSE Statistics syll p14;20)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATI

SOURCES ON
Definition of key terms learners should be able to Discussing the difference WEEKS
between sample and a
Sampling and Probability sampling • distinguish between sample population, probability
and population sampling and nonprobability
estimation sampling techniques
techniques Non- • distinguish between probability
sampling techniques and Explaining situations in
probability sampling nonprobability sampling which probability and
techniques nonprobability sampling
• apply the sampling methods to
techniques identify representative samples methods are used
• calculate sample mean, Choosing samples in practical
variance and standard deviation situations
Estimation of • find the unbiased estimates of
population parameters

20
population parameters • solve problems Computing sample
involving sampling and estimation mean, variance and
Central limit theorem • state the Central Limit standard deviation
Theorem
Determining the unbiased
Confidence intervals estimates of population
• recognize that the parameters
sample mean can be regarded as a
random variable Solving problems involving
sampling and estimation
• use the Central Limit (including field work)
Theorem Deriving the Central Limit
Theorem
• identify the implications Explaining how the
of the Central Limit Theorem on sample mean can be
small and large samples regarded as a random
variable
• determine a confidence Using the Central Limit
interval for a population mean in Theorem
cases where the population is Discussing the
normally distributed with known
implications of the Central
variance or where a large sample
with unknown Limit Theorem
variance is used Calculating confidence
intervals for population mean in
• determine a confidence cases where the population is
interval for a population mean in normally distributed with known
cases where the population is
normally distributed with unknown variance or where a large
variance sample with unknown variance
where a small sample is used is used
Computing confidence
• determine from a large intervals for population mean in
• sample an approximate
confidence interval for a cases
population proportion

21
 where
the population is normally
distributed with unknown
Variance
where a small sample is
used
Determining from a
large sample an
approximate confidence
interval for
a population proportion

TOPIC 8: BIVARIATE DATA (LINEAR REGRESSION AND CORRELATION) (MOPSE Statistics syll p22)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATION

SOURCES
Linear regression and Scatter diagrams • plot scatter diagrams draw lines Plotting scatter WEEKS
of best fit diagrams
correlation Regression lines Drawing lines of best fit
• find the equations of regression
lines Computing Pearson`s
Least squares
product moment correlation
Pearson`s Product
• calculate Pearson`s product coefficient (r)
moment correlation moment correlation coefficient (r) Interpreting the value of
Pearson`s product
• compute the coefficient of
moment
determination (r2)

22
(r) correlation coefficient
solve problems involving Discussing the
Coefficient of regression and correlation significance of
determination (r2) coefficient of determination
Calculating the
equations of
regression lines
Solving problems
involving
regression and correlation
Conducting experiments
involving linear
relationships

23
 UPPER six TERM 1

TOPIC 9: TIME SERIES (MOPSE Statistics syll p16)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATION

SOURCES
Time series Components of time • define time series key terms Discussing the WEEKS
components and
series • identify the components of time significance of time series
series Drawing time series
graphs and trend lines
Time series graphs • draw time series graphs and Interpreting trends
trend lines
Discussing the purpose of
Smoothening smoothening
• identify trends
Moving averages
Trend lines • explain the purpose of Computing and plotting
smoothening moving average graphs
Solving problems
• calculate moving averages plot involving time series
moving average graphs
Conducting field trips to
• solve problems involving time solve problems on time
series series

24
TOPIC 10: STATISTICAL INFERENCE (MOPSE Statistics syll p15;21)

SUB-TOPIC CONTENT OBJECTIVES SUGGESTED DURATION

SOURCES
Significance testing Null hypothesis • formulate hypotheses Discussing hypothesis WEEKS
• distinguish between a type 1 testing in research
Alternative hypothesis and Calculating probabilities
a type 2 error of making type 1 and type 2
• compute probabilities of
making type 1 and type 2 errors errors
Test statistics Applying hypothesis
• apply a hypothesis test in the
context of a single observation from a
population which has
Significance level binomial distribution using either the tests in the context
binomial distribution or the normal of a single
Hypothesis test (1-tail approximation to the observation from a
binomial distribution population which
formulate hypotheses and apply has binomial
and 2-tail) distribution using
a hypothesis test concerning population
either the binomial
mean using a sample drawn from a distribution or the
Type 1 and type 2 normal distribution of known variance normal
errors z- tests using the normal distribution approximation to
the binomial
distribution
Solving problems
involving hypothesis
test
Conducting research
projects

25
Hypothesis tests t – tests chi- • describe the characteristics of a Discussing the WEEKS
squared tests t and chi-squared distribution characteristics of a
formulate hypotheses t and chi-squared
distribution
• apply a hypothesis test Formulating hypotheses
concerning population mean using a Applying hypothesis
small sample drawn from a normal
distribution of unknown tests concerning population
variance using a t – test mean using a small sample
drawn from a normal
• use a chi-squared test to test for distribution of unknown
independence in a variance using a t – test
contingency table using chi-squared tests
to test for independence in
• use a chi-squared test to carry a contingency table
out the goodness of fit analysis applying chi-squared

• solve problems using an

appropriate test

tests to carry
out the goodness of fit
analysis
solving problems using
appropriate tests

26