The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (2024)

The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (1)

Are you taking AP Statistics? If so, you're likely wondering what to expect from the AP Statistics exam. Before you sit down to take the final test, it's important to understand how the AP Stats test is formatted, what topics it will cover, and how it'll be scored.

This guide will explain all of that information, show you official sample problems and give you tips on the best way to prepare for the AP Statistics test.

In 2023, the AP Statistics exam will take place on Thursday, May 5th at 12:00pm.

How Is the AP Statistics Exam Structured?

How long is the AP Statistics exam? The test is a total of three hours long and contains two sections: multiple choice and free response. You're allowed a graphing calculator for the entire exam.

Multiple-Choice Section

  • 40 multiple-choice questions
  • 90 minutes long
  • Worth 50% of exam score
  • You can spend an average of a little more than two minutes on each multiple-choice question and finish the section in time.

Free-Response Section

  • 5 short-answer questions
  • 1 Investigative Task
  • 90 minutes long
  • Worth 50% of exam score
  • The five short-answer questions are meant to each be solved in about 12 minutes, and the Investigative Task is meant to be solved in about 30 minutes.

What Does the AP Statistics Exam Test You On?

The content of the AP Stats exam and course is centered around nine units. Below are the nine units, along with what percentage of the exam will be on them and all the topics that fall beneath each of them. Each unit starts with an "introducing statistics" question that'll be answered throughout the unit. The list below covers every single topic that the AP Statistics exam could test you on.

Unit 1: Exploring One-Variable Data (15-23% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: What can we learn from data?
  • Variables
  • Representing a categorical variable with tables
  • Representing a categorical variable with graphs
  • Representing a quantitative variable with tables
  • Describing the distribution of a quantitative variable
  • Summary statistics for a quantitative variable
  • Graphical representations of summary statistics
  • Comparing distributions of a quantitative variable
  • The normal distribution

Unit 2: Exploring Two-Variable Data (5-7% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: Are variables related?
  • Representing two categorical variables
  • Statistics for two categorical variables
  • Representing the relationship between two quantitative variables
  • Correlation
  • Linear regression models
  • Residuals
  • Least squares regression
  • Analyzing departures from linearity

Unit 3: Collecting Data (12-15% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: Do the data we collected tell the truth?
  • Introduction to planning a study
  • Random sampling and data collection
  • Potential problems with sampling
  • Introduction to experimental design
  • Selecting an experimental design
  • Inference and experiments

Unit 4: Probability, Random Variables, and Probability Distributions (10-20% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: Random and non-random patterns?
  • Estimating probabilities using simulation
  • Introduction to probability
  • Mutually exclusive events
  • Conditional probability
  • Independent events and unions of events
  • Introduction to random variables and probability distributions
  • Mean and standard deviation of random variables
  • Combining random variables
  • Introduction to the binomial distribution
  • Parameters for a binomial distribution
  • The geometric distribution

Unit 5: Sampling Distributions (7-12% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: Why is my sample not like yours?
  • The normal distribution, revised
  • The Central Limit Theorem
  • Biased and unbiased point estimates
  • Sampling distributions for sample proportions
  • Sampling distributions for differences in sample proportions
  • Sampling distributions for sample means
  • Sampling distributions for differences in sample means

Unit 6: Inference for Categorical Data: Proportions (12-15% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: Why be normal?
  • Constructing a confidence interval for a population proportion
  • Justifying a claim based on a confidence interval for a population proportion
  • Setting up a test for a population proportion
  • Interpreting p-values
  • Concluding a test for a population proportion

Unit 7: Inference for Quantitative Data: Means (10-18% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: Should I worry about error?
  • Constructing a confidence interval for a population mean
  • Justifying a claim about a population mean based on a confidence interval
  • Setting up a test for a population mean
  • Carrying out a test for a population mean

Unit 8: Inference for Categorical Data: Chi-Square (2-5% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: Are my results unexpected?
  • Setting up a chi-square goodness of fit test
  • Carrying out a chi-square test for goodness of fit
  • Expected counts in two-way tables
  • Setting up a chi-square test for homogeneity or independence
  • Carrying out a chi-square test for homogeneity or independence
  • Skills focus: Selecting an appropriate inference procedure for categorical data

Unit 9: Inference for Quantitative Data: Slopes (2-5% of exam)

  • Introducing statistics: Do those points align?
  • Confidence intervals for the slope of a regression model
  • Justifying a claim about the slope of a regression model based on a confidence interval
  • Setting up a test for the slope of a regression model
  • Carrying out a test for the slope of a regression model
  • Skills focus: Selecting an appropriate inference procedure

The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (2)

AP Statistics Sample Questions

As we mentioned above, there are three types of questions on the AP Stats exam: multiple choice, short answer, and investigative task. Below are examples of each question type. You can see more sample questions and answer explanations in the AP Statistics Course Description.

Multiple-Choice Sample Question

There are 40 multiple-choice questions on the exam. Each has five answer options. Some questions will be accompanied by a chart or graph you need to analyze to answer the question.

The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (3)

Short-Answer Sample Question

There are five short-answer questions on the AP Stats test. Each of these questions typically includes several different parts you need to answer. You're expected to spend about 12 minutes on each short-answer question.

The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (4)

Investigative Task Sample Question

The final question on the exam is the Investigative Task question. This is the most in-depth question on the test, and you should spend about 30 minutes answering it. It will have multiple parts you need to answer and require multiple statistics skills. You'll also need to provide a detailed explanation of your answers that shows the strength of your statistics skills. Be sure to show all your work as you'll be graded on the completeness of your answer.

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The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (7)

How Is the AP Statistics Test Graded?

For the multiple-choice part of the exam, you earn one point for each question you answer correctly. There are no point deductions for incorrect answers or questions you leave blank. Official AP graders will grade your free-response questions. Each of the six free-response questions is scored on a scale of 0 to 4 points, so the total section is out of 24 points.

The free-response questions are graded holistically, which means, instead of getting a point or half a point for each bit of correct information you include, graders look at your answer to each question as a "complete package," and your grade is awarded on the overall quality of your answer. The grading rubric for each free-response question is:

  • 4: Complete Response: Shows complete understanding of the problem's statistical components
  • 3: Substantial Response: May include arithmetic errors, but answers are still reasonable and show substantial understanding of the problem's statistical components
  • 2: Developing Response: May include errors that result in some unreasonable answers, but shows some understanding of the problem's statistical components
  • 1: Minimal Response: Misuses or fails to use appropriate statistical techniques and shows only a limited understanding of statistical components by failing to identify important components
  • 0: No Response: Shows little or no understanding of statistical components

What does holistic grading mean for you? Basically, you can't expect to earn many points by including a few correct equations or arithmetic answers if you're missing key statistical analysis. You need to show you understand how to use stats to get a good score on these questions.

Estimating Your AP Statistics Score

If you take a practice AP Stats exam (which you should!) you'll want to get an estimate of what your score on it is so you can get an idea of how well you'd do on the real exam. To estimate your score, you'll need to do a few calculations.

#1: Multiply the number of points you got on the multiple-choice section by 1.25

#2: For free-response questions 1 through 5, add the number of points you got together and multiply that sum by 1.875 (don't round). If you need help estimating your score, the official free-response questions we linked to above include sample responses to help you get an idea of the score you'd get for each question.

#3: For free-response question #6, multiply your score by 3.125.

#4: Add the scores you got in steps 1-3 together to get your Composite Score.

For example, say you got 30 questions correct on the multiple-choice section, 13 points on questions 1-5, and 2 points on question 6. Your score would be (30 x 1.25) + (13 x 1.875) + (2 x 3.125) = 68.125 which rounds to 68 points. By looking at the chart below, you can see that'd get you a 4 on the AP Statistics exam.

Below is a conversion chart so you can see how raw score ranges translate into final AP scores. I've also included the percentage of students who earned each score in 2021 to give you an idea of what the score distribution looks like:

Composite Score

AP Score

Percentage of Students Earning Each Score (2022)

70-100514.8%
57-69422.2%
44-56323.4%
33-43216.5%
0-32123.1%

Source: The College Board

Where Can You Find Practice AP Stats Tests?

Practice tests are an important part of your AP Stats prep. There are official and unofficial AP Stats practice tests available, although we always recommend official resources first. Below are some of the best practice tests to use.

Official Practice Tests

To learn more about where to find AP Statistics practice tests and how to use them, check out our complete guide to AP Statistics practice exams.

The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (8)

3 Tips for the AP Statistics Exam

In this section we go over three of the most useful tips you can use when preparing for and taking the AP Statistics test. Follow these and you're more likely to get a great score on the exam.

#1: For Free Response, Answer the Entire Question

As we mentioned earlier, free-response questions on AP Stats are graded holistically, which means you'll get one score for the entire question. This is different from many other AP exams where each correct component you include in a free-response question gets you a certain number of points, and those points are then added up to get your total score for that question.

The Stats free-response questions are graded holistically because there are often multiple correct answers in statistics depending on how you solve the problem and explain your answer. This means you can't just answer part of the question and expect to get a good score, even if you've answered that part perfectly. If you've ignored a large part of the problem, your score will be low no matter what.

So instead of trying to get a point here and there by including a correct formula or solving one part of a question, make sure you're looking at the entire problem and answering it as completely as possible. Also, if you need to include an explanation, be sure it explains your thought process and the steps you took. If your explanation shows you understand important stats concepts, it could help you get a higher score even if your final answer isn't perfect.

Aiming for the most complete response possible is also important if you can't answer one part of a question that's needed to answer other parts. For example, if you can't figure out what the answer to part A is, but you need to use that answer for parts B and C, just make up an answer (try to keep it logical), and use that answer to solve the other parts, or explain in detail how you'd solve the problem if you knew what the answer to part A was. If you can show you know how to solve the latter problems correctly, you'll likely get some credit for showing you understand the stats concepts being tested.

#2: Know How to Use Your Calculator

You'll need a graphing calculator to answer pretty much every question on the Stats exam, so make sure you know how to use it. Ideally, the calculator you use on test day will be the same one you've been doing homework and taking tests with throughout the school year so you know exactly how to use it.

Knowing how to solve common stats functions on your calculator and interpret the answers you get will save you a lot of time on the exam. Your calculator will likely be most useful on the multiple-choice section where you don't need to worry about showing work. Just plug the data you're given into your calculator, and run the right equations. Then you'll have your answer!

#3: Know Your Vocabulary

You may think that since AP Stats is a math course, vocab won't be an important part of the test, but you need to know quite a few terms to do well on this exam. Confusing right- and left-skewed or random sampling and random allocation, for example, could lead to you losing tons of points on the test.

During the school year, stay on top of any new terms you learn in class. Making flashcards of the terms and quizzing yourself regularly is a great way to stay up-to-date on vocab. Many AP Stats prep books also include a glossary of important terms you can use while studying.

Before the AP Stats exam, you should know all important terms like the back of your hand. Having a general idea isn't good enough. A big part of stats is being able to support your answers, and to do this you'll often need to use stats vocab in your explanations. Just stating the term won't earn you nearly as many points as being able to explain what the term is and how it supports your answer, so make sure you really know your vocab well.

Summary: Statistics AP Exam

The AP Statistics exam is three hours long and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and six free-response questions. To prepare well for AP Stats exam questions, it's important to take practice exams and know how to grade them so you can estimate how well you'd do on the actual test. When studying for the AP exam, remember to answer the entire question for free response, know how to use your calculator, and be on top of stats vocabulary.

What's Next?

Feel the need to do some quick reviewing after looking through what'll be covered on the AP Stats exam? Take a spin through our guide to statistical significance to refresh yourself on how to run a t-test.

How difficult is AP Stats compared to other AP classes? Get the answer by reading our guide to the hardest AP exams and classes.

Wondering which other math classes you should take besides statistics? Math is often the trickiest subject to choose classes for, but our guide will help you figure out exactly which math classes to take for each year of high school.

A prep book can be one of your best study resources for the AP Stats exam. But which prep book should you choose? Check out our guide to AP Stats prep books to learn which is the best and which you should avoid.

Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article!

The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (10)

Christine Sarikas

About the Author

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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The Ultimate Guide to the AP Statistics Exam (2024)

FAQs

What percent is a 5 on the AP Stats exam? ›

Only around 14% earn the top score for the AP® Statistics exam. To get a 5, start studying ASAP® and focus on applying concepts to specific situations. Make sure you can read and make any of the graphs you have learned and that you can explain statistical concepts with both math and words.

What is the best way to study for the AP Stats exam? ›

Practicing multiple-choice questions is perhaps the most efficient way to study AP Statistics. Get that practice with UWorld multiple-choice questions. Practice free-response questions from tests from past years because they can be repetitive from year to year. Analyze the scoring guidelines to understand expectations.

How many questions do you need to get right to get a 5 on AP stats? ›

Students aspiring to achieve a 5 on the AP Statistics exam should target obtaining approximately 75-80% of the total available points on the test.

How hard is it to pass the AP Statistics exam? ›

Compared to other AP classes, it is moderately difficult. The exam may have a high pass rate, but the below-average percentage of students scoring a 5 implies that some exam topics are more difficult than others. Prepare for the tougher units on the exam to earn that coveted 5.

Is a 70% a 5 on the AP exam? ›

Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.

What score is a 50% on the AP exam? ›

As a general guide, though, you can consider roughly more than 70% correct as being in the 5 range, 50-69% for a score of 4, 40-49% for a score of 3, 30-39% for a 2, and below 30% would likely be a 1. Again, these ranges are approximations and can vary by subject and by year.

Is AP Statistics very hard? ›

Overall, most of the students who took the class found the AP Statistics difficulty to be fairly average for an AP class. It's definitely not a class you can coast through, but if you put in the time to learn the concepts, most people didn't find the class or the exam overwhelming or overly difficult to do well in.

Is AP Stats the easiest AP class? ›

Many students find AP Statistics next to calculus in terms of difficulty, with lower pass rates and fewer perfect scores than those of other AP courses. Even so, passing the AP Statistics exam can lead to advanced placement and even college credit for science, math, engineering, and criminal justice majors.

How to ace AP Stats in FRQ? ›

How To Answer AP Statistics FRQs?
  1. Strategy 1: Explain your answer in detail, but be concise with individual points. ...
  2. Strategy 2: Keep an eye on the clock. ...
  3. Strategy 3: Use key terms you learned in class and use proper units. ...
  4. Strategy 4: Answer each part of multi-part questions in order.

Are AP tests curved? ›

AP test scores are indeed "curved," but it's more accurate to call it a "scaling process." Instead of a traditional curve that compares your performance to other students' performance, the AP exam scaling process converts your raw score (the number of points you earned through multiple-choice questions and free- ...

Can you self study AP Statistics? ›

Some students prepare for the AP Statistics exam by enrolling in a course at their high school, while others choose to self-study. In either case, acing the AP Statistics exam takes preparation.

How impressive is a 5 on an AP exam? ›

Only for highly selective schools should you consider not reporting a four. For these extremely selective schools, a single score of five on an AP exam isn't necessarily impressive, but a string of fives might help to set you apart from other candidates.

Is AP Stats or Calc harder? ›

AP Calculus is generally considered more rigorous than AP Statistics. It's typically taken by students pursuing STEM fields or those looking to challenge themselves mathematically.

Should I take AP Stats if I'm bad at math? ›

It's important to consider your own strengths, interests, and academic goals when deciding on which courses to take. If you're not particularly strong in math but still want to challenge yourself, AP Stats might be a good option for you.

Is AP Stats harder than college algebra? ›

Overview 📈 AP Statistics will probably be more difficult than the other math classes you've taken (besides Calculus 😂) since it doesn't just involve math; it involves analyzing qualitative, as well as quantitative, data!

Is a 5 a 100 on an AP exam? ›

For example, a 5 could be any composite score between 110 and 150 on one exam. Since scaling varies year to year, there are no exact cutoff numbers for scores for AP tests, and the College Board does not release detailed scoring data.

What is the 5 percent rule AP stats? ›

I think you want to talk about the "5%" rule in statistics ? It's rule which refers to confidence intervals. It's usually means that on a sample of something (which represent 100%), only 95% of this sample are compliant with a standard or a hypothesis.

What percent is a 5 on the AP government exam? ›

What percent is a 5 on an AP Gov Exam? Students have to score an 80% or above to get a 5 on the exam. This would be scoring 96 or more points out of 120 on the test.

What is the 10 percent rule AP Stats? ›

Sampling without replacement results in trials that are not independent, but the 10% rule states that if the sample size is less than or equal to 10% of the population size, then the trials can be treated as if they are independent.

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