AP STATISTICS
AP Statistics – Student Guide
AP Statistics- Exam Overview
The AP Statistics Exam will test your understanding of the mathematical concepts covered in the course units, including your ability to use statistical methods and calculate the probability of an outcome. You’ll need to bring a graphing calculator with statistics capabilities to the exam.
Exam Duration
3 hours
Exam Components
Section 1: Multiple Choice - 40 questions | 1hr 30mins | 50% of Score
The multiple-choice section assesses:
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Your understanding of content from all 9 units of study
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Your ability to apply all 4-course skills
The section includes individual questions or sets of questions based on a shared prompt.
Section 2: Free Response - 6 questions | 1hr 30mins | 50% of Score
In the free-response section, you’ll respond to six questions, including one investigative task, with written answers. This section will test your skill in communicating explanations or justifications using evidence from data, definitions, or statistical inference.
Part A:
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1 multipart question with a primary focus on collecting data
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1 multipart question with a primary focus on exploring data
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1 multipart question with a primary focus on probability and sampling distributions
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1 question with a primary focus on inference
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1 question that combines 2 or more skill categories
Part B:
1 investigative task that assesses multiple skill categories and content areas and asks you to apply your statistical skills to new contexts or in nonroutine ways
AP Statistics Exam – Scoring
For the first section (multiple-choice), for every question you answer correctly, you will get one point each. There is no negative marking. It means that even if your answer is wrong or left blank, no points are deducted.
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Next is the free response section. Its scoring system is a bit complicated. Rather than being graded by AI, it is reviewed by AP graders and scored following guidelines for the AP Statistics Exam.
For more information about AP Statistics Exam and scoring, you can visit the College Board’s website.
AP Statistics Exam – Credit
Keep in mind, credit and advanced standing based on AP scores vary widely from school to school. Though a score of 3 is typically considered passing, it is not always enough to receive credit. Regulations regarding which APs qualify for course credits or advanced placement depend on the policy that your desired college or university has for AP exams.
AP Statistics Exam - Study Resources
• College Board Classroom Resources
• Against All Odds: Inside Statistics
• ASA: STatistics Education Web (STEW)
• Desmos
• Fathom Dynamic Data Software
• JMP Introductory Lab Activities for AP Statistics
• Khan Academy — AP Statistics
• Rossman/Chance Applet Collection
• TI Education: TI-84 Activity Center - Statistics
• TI Education: Math Nspired — Statistics
• U.S. Census Bureau: Statistics in Schools
AP Statistics Exam Tips
The following strategies for answering the free-response questions will help you on exam day.
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Before beginning work on the free-response section, read all 6 questions to determine which ones you feel most prepared to answer. Do them first.
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The 6th free-response question (called the “investigative task”) is worth 25% of that section and usually takes 25-30 minutes to complete. Do not save this question until the end, as you may be too tired and rushed to think creatively. A good strategy is to complete question 1, then question 6, then the remaining 4 questions.
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Show all your work; partial credit is given for partial solutions. If your answer is incorrect, you can still receive credit for correct thinking if the person scoring the exam sees evidence of it on paper.
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If you make a mistake, just cross it out—don’t waste time erasing it.
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Organize your work as clearly and neatly as possible, showing the steps you took to reach your solution. If the person scoring the exam cannot easily follow your reasoning, you are less likely to receive credit for it.
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Don’t write a bunch of equations hoping that the correct one will be among them so that you can get partial credit. You can lose points for extraneous or incorrect information.
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Explain your reasoning. When asked to choose between several options, give reasons for your choice and why you did not choose the others.
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Do not use statistical vocabulary unless you are sure you are using it correctly. Define all symbols, draw pictures, etc. Never just give a numerical answer without showing how you found it and why.
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Do not rely on calculator syntax. If you write down calculator syntax, clearly label each number.
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When you are asked to compare 2 distributions, use explicit comparison phrases such as “higher than” or “approximately the same as.” Lists of characteristics do not count as a comparison.
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Do not give 2 different solutions to a problem. Your score will drop because of the incorrect work in the lower-scoring solution.
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Answer all questions in the context of the problem.
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If the question asks you to use results from previous parts of the question, be sure to explicitly refer to them in your answer.
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If you cannot get an answer for an early part of a question but need it for a later part, make up a value or carefully explain what you would do if you knew the answer.
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Space on the exam is not suggestive of the desired length of an answer. The best answers are usually quite succinct. There is no need for “extra fluff” on an AP Statistics Exam.
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Use words like “approximately” liberally, especially with the word “normal.”
Task Verbs
Pay close attention to the task verbs used in the free-response questions. Each one directs you to complete a specific type of response. Here are the task verbs you’ll see on the exam:
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Calculate: Perform mathematical steps to arrive at a final answer (e.g., algebraic expressions or diagrams with properly substituted numbers and correct labeling). Calculate tasks are also phrased with “Find” or interrogatory questions such as “How many?” or “What is?” or “What values?” or “How likely?” or “How often?”
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Compare: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.
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Construct/Complete: Represent data in graphical or numerical form.
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Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of representations, distributions, or methods.
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Determine: Apply an appropriate definition or perform calculations to identify values, intervals, or solutions. Determine tasks are also phrased with interrogatory questions such as “Do the data support?” or “Do the data provide?” or “Is there evidence?” or “Which is better?” or “Does your answer match?” or “Can it be assumed?”
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Estimate: Use models or representations to find approximate values for functions.
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Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning to support or qualify a claim. “Explain” tasks may also be phrased as “Give a reason for…”
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Give a point estimate or interval estimate: Use models or representations to find approximate values for uncertain figures.
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Give examples: Provide a specific example that meets the given criteria.
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Identify/Indicate/Circle: Indicate or provide information about a specified topic in words or by circling, shading, or marking given information, without elaboration or explanation. Also phrased as “What is?” or “Which?”
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Interpret: Describe the connection between a mathematical expression, representation, or solution and its meaning within the realistic context of a problem, sometimes including consideration of units.
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Justify: Provide evidence to support, qualify, or defend a claim and/or provide statistical reasoning to explain how that evidence supports or qualifies the claim.
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Verify: Confirm that the conditions of a particular definition, distribution, or inference method are met in order to verify that it is applicable in a given situation. Verify tasks may also be phrased as “Have the conditions been met” or “Can it be assumed.”
You can also view Past Exam Questions and Scoring Information for you to have a glance at what questions to expect during the exam day.
Conclusion
The AP Statistics Exam is a tough one to master, though many students do well enough to pass (which typically means earning a score of three or higher). This course is a great choice for building knowledge and potentially earning college credit or advanced standing along the way.
Keep in mind that credit and advanced standing based on AP scores vary widely from school to school. If you are ready to accept this challenge, then go for it! Make that determination of yours become the key to your success! Good luck!