Grade 6 statistics are on the grade 7 test: here is what that means

What the state says

NYSED's Educator Guide has a table titled "Grade 6 Post-Test Standards Assessed in Grade 7". It lists the whole grade 6 Statistics and Probability domain. "Post-test" means the standards are taught late in the year, in May and June, and so are assessed the following spring.

The same table for grade 7 lists most grade 7 geometry as assessed in grade 8, which fits the weights: geometry is 2 to 7% of the grade 7 test and statistics and probability is 12 to 21%.

Why it catches families off guard

It is easy to assume a grade 7 test covers grade 7 lessons. Here some of what is tested was taught in grade 6, in the last weeks of the year (the state designates these standards for instruction in May and June). A child can be solid on grade 7 content and still miss these.

What to review

1. Mean, median, mode and range. Know which is which, and how to find each by hand. Order the numbers first.
2. Dot plots and histograms: read them, and say what the shape tells you.
3. A statistical question: "How old am I?" is not one, "How old are the students in my school?" is, because the answers vary.
4. Probability as a number from 0 to 1, and as a fraction of equally likely outcomes.

Here are two verified practice questions on the first item, with the usual slips named.

1. The points a basketball team scored in each of its last ten games are listed below.

   56, 74, 69, 55, 74, 74, 60, 88, 45, 59

   What is the mode of the data, and how does it compare to the median?

   • A. The mode is 64.5, and it is less than the median.
   • B. The mode is 64.5, and it is greater than the median.
   • C. The mode is 74, and it is greater than the median.Answer
   • D. The mode is 74, and it is less than the median.
   What the other answers come from

   • The mode is 64.5, and it is less than the median.: Mode and Median Mix. The mode shows up most often; the median is the middle. Then compare.
   • The mode is 64.5, and it is greater than the median.: Median for Mode. The mode is the value that shows up most often.
   • The mode is 74, and it is less than the median.: Compared Backwards. Check which is bigger, the mode or the median, before you choose.

2. The number of minutes a student practiced piano on each of ten days is listed below.

   51, 65, 51, 93, 51, 59, 98, 75, 80, 69

   What is the mode of the data, and how does it compare to the median?

   • A. The mode is 67, and it is less than the median.
   • B. The mode is 51, and it is less than the median.Answer
   • C. The mode is 51, and it is greater than the median.
   • D. The mode is 67, and it is greater than the median.
   What the other answers come from

   • The mode is 67, and it is less than the median.: Median for Mode. The mode is the value that shows up most often.
   • The mode is 51, and it is greater than the median.: Compared Backwards. Check which is bigger, the mode or the median, before you choose.
   • The mode is 67, and it is greater than the median.: Mode and Median Mix. The mode shows up most often; the median is the middle. Then compare.

Keep reading

• Grade 7 statistics and probability: what to check
• NYS grade 7 math test: format, topics and calculator