Is remedial mathematics a real remedy? Evidence from learning statistics at tertiary level

Abstract

Successful completion of a first‐year elementary statistics (ES) course is compulsory for students in the B.Com programme at University of the North West, Republic of South Africa. Students who did not obtain a pass in mathematics at the Matriculation Examination have to complete a basic mathematics (BM) course prior to registering for the ES course. This study investigates the influences of the BM course on success in the ES course. The BM score is positively correlated with the ES score. Those who passed mathematics at Matriculation Examination are more likely to do better in ES compared to poor performers at matriculation level in spite of completing the BM course successfully. A working knowledge of algebra and set theory may be a necessary condition for success in ES but may not be a sufficient condition.