MEMORANDUM

Date: October 8, 2016 To: Sandra

Subject: Statistics for Exam 1 From: Leslie Owen 2069

Introduction

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide Sandra with information about her
Comparative Religions class. Information and evidence is found by analyzing
descriptive statistics based on the performance of her class on their first exam.

Analysis

An Excel sheet was created with every student numbered 1-600 and their respective
test score for Exam 1. Using data analysis, I found the descriptive statistics for the
classs performance which can be found below in Table 1. I then used Excel percentile
functions to find the test score associated with the 25th percentile of the class, the 50th
percentile of the class and the 75th percentile of the class. By identifying the test scores
associated with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quartile we are able to get a better understanding of
where the majority of the classs test scores fall. I also evaluated the performance of
four individual students using the z=(x-mu)/(standard deviation of population) and an
area chart. The individual students evaluated include: student #6, student #232, student
#565 and student #534. The evaluation of these four students included the finding of
their individual test score, deviation score, z-score, and percentile rank within the class
which can be found below in Table 2. Figure 1 below shows the distribution of Exam 1
scores as a histogram. Figure 2 below shows the distribution of Exam 1 as a polygon.

Results

As shown in Table 1 below, the median test score for all 600 students was a score of
75. This score represents the 50th percentile. The two most common scores within the
class were 80 and 70 (also shown in Table 1). Figure 1 shows that the data is
negatively skewed, meaning that the mean is less than the median. The mean is lower
than the median because it was effected by some especially low scores. These are
called outliers, however, in this case those scores are not low enough to be considered
an outlier, they just skew the data slightly. Using excel percentile functions, I found that
the test score for the 25th percentile was 65. This means that 150 students scored a 65
or lower. The test score for the 50th percentile was 75 and the test score for the 75th
percentile was 82.5. Student 6 had a test score of 55 which makes him in the bottom
7% of all the students. Significantly more help/practice is necessary for his success.
Student 232 was on the other end of the spectrum with a score of 90 and a percentile
rank of 92.07% (approximately the top 7% of the class). I applaud this student and
recommend them to continue to work hard. Student 565 and student 534 were both
within the 2nd quartile which means their scores were within the 50th percentile. Student
565 and 534 had test scores of 62.5 and 75, respectively.
 Table 1- Descriptive Statistics Table 2- Individual Student Evaluations
The number of 600 Student 6 Student 232
students
Test Score 55 Test Score 90
The average test 73
score Deviation 18 Deviation 17
The median 75 Score Score
The two modes 80 , 70 z-score 1.5 z-score 1.41
The standard 12 Percentile 6.68 Percentile 92.07
deviation Rank Rank
The variance 144.02
The highest score 100 Student 565 Student 534
The lowest score 37.5 Test Score 62.5 Test Score 75
The range 62.5 Deviation 10.5 Deviation 2
The skew Negative Score Score
z-score .87 z-score .16
Percentile 19.22 Percentile 56.36
Rank Rank

Figure 1- Histogram

Sandra's Exam 1 Grades

(Created by Leslie Owen)
60 Created by Lesie
50
Frequency

40
30
20
10
0
35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

More
37.5

42.5

47.5

52.5

57.5

62.5

67.5

72.5

77.5

82.5

87.5

92.5

97.5
100

Exam 1 Grades

Figure 2- Polygon

Sandra's Exam 1 Grades

(Created by Leslie Owen)
60
50
Frequency

40
30
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Exam 1 Grades