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Week 1

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Edited by ILIYAN Yordanov, Sunday 8 February 2026 at 21:45

Week 1 – Recap

My first week studying MU123 and M140 began with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty, particularly around whether I would be able to balance my study commitments with my existing professional responsibilities.

I am pleased with how the week developed. Despite a demanding schedule, I completed 29 hours of study, tutorials, exercises and additional learning activities. Establishing this rhythm early has given me confidence that consistent progress is achievable.

Weekly overview

  • Began Unit 1 for both modules.

  • The early part of the week focused on orientation, understanding module websites, and submitting the dummy TMA00.

  • Mid-week, I made a strategic decision to prioritise M140. I found the MU123 material more familiar, including preparation for the upcoming iCMA, so concentrating on statistics felt like the best use of time.

In MU123, I revised key numerical skills such as BIDMAS, unit conversions (miles to kilometres, grams to milligrams, metres to centimetres) and rounding. I also attended the introductory tutorial with my tutor, Ms Morris, which helped clarify expectations and available support.

Most of my energy went into M140, where I completed 52 of 72 pages of Book A, Unit 1. Topics included recognising patterns, calculating fuel consumption, rounding, measures of central tendency (mean, median and mode), range, stem-and-leaf diagrams, and distribution shape. I began applying these ideas in Minitab, using functions such as Display Descriptive Statistics and the stem-and-leaf plot.

Other activities

  • Reviewed assessment structures and began forward planning.

  • Installed and started exploring Minitab beyond the guided examples.

  • Took steps to build my professional network, communicating with tutors and joining the Royal Statistical Society.

Reflection

Although a significant portion of the week involved orientation, it was essential in building confidence with the systems and expectations. I am particularly happy that I pushed myself to make early progress in M140, which initially felt less comfortable.

Next week

My attention will shift more strongly back to MU123 while maintaining momentum in M140. I plan to deepen my understanding of Minitab, especially formulas and graphical tools, and begin exploring potential career opportunities related to quantitative and statistical work.

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