A Look at the Course Outline
If you will go through the course outline and past years papers, you will surely observe that the course can be divided into two sections,
- Probability
- Descriptive Statistics or Statistical Inference
Following are few books which might help you cover both sections.
Introductory Book for Statistics
A Concise Course in Advanced Level Statistics (4th edition)
By J. Crawshaw and J. Chambers
This marvellous book covers almost every topic of Statistics in CSS syllabus.
Though, this book is intended to give an elementary knowledge of Statistics, it has enough stuff to satisfy an inquisitive mind.
Discussions and explanations are in detail, with a lot of easy to understand examples.
Each topic has its set of exercises which further helps in understanding the topic.
Anyone with a serious desire of learning with in depth concepts and a clear understanding, will not be disappointed by this book.
My teacher who has done PhD in Statistics and has published more than 15 research papers in internationally renowned journals, still consults this book.
Probability Bible
A First Course in Probability (6th edition)
By Sheldon Ross
For detailed and conceptual study of probability, you will not find a better book. The examples and discussions are exhaustive.
Explanations are easy to follow. Ample examples on each topic are given.
Moreover, you will find some rare and finer points discussed and explained in this book which you will not find even in some advanced books.
Problems given at the end of each chapter are quite interesting. They not only helps in understanding the topics but also give an idea about application of Statistics.
Book for Statistical Inference
Probability and Statistics (7th edition)
By Walpole, Myers and Myers
I must warn you that this book is not for those with weak concepts of elementary Statistics. But for topics like ANOVA, regression, correlation, this book is indispensable.
A Word of Advice
One thing you will notice in Statistics past papers that it is not everyone's cup of tea.
This paper is for those who know what they are doing. We cannot clear it just by cramming.
A superficial study will only make matters worst, as almost every question requires analytical thinking along with good conceptual understanding ranging from basics to application and implementation.
One will fall flat on his face right from the word go, if he assumes that cramming will save him from this ordeal.
It is better if you start from
A Concise Course in Advanced Level Statistics. You will get quite sufficient knowledge for each topic.
Then go for
A First Course in Probability.
Probability is very important because almost every advanced topic of descriptive Statistics revolves around probability and probability distributions.
Even one cannot get good concept of basic topics like variance without understanding probability distributions.
Afterwards study
Probability and Statistics. You won't get much problem in it, if you have studied the earlier two books.
A Word of Caution
If
you haven't got much time, or you are not at home with foreign writers, or mathematics makes you feel like throwing up, then these books might only waste your time.