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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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: 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. 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) Source: The College Board 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 
How Is the AP Statistics Exam Structured?
Multiple-Choice Section
Free-Response Section
What Does the AP Statistics Exam Test You On?
Unit 1: Exploring One-Variable Data (15-23% of exam)
Unit 2: Exploring Two-Variable Data (5-7% of exam)
Unit 3: Collecting Data (12-15% of exam)
Unit 4: Probability, Random Variables, and Probability Distributions (10-20% of exam)
Unit 5: Sampling Distributions (7-12% of exam)
Unit 6: Inference for Categorical Data: Proportions (12-15% of exam)
Unit 7: Inference for Quantitative Data: Means (10-18% of exam)
Unit 8: Inference for Categorical Data: Chi-Square (2-5% of exam)
Unit 9: Inference for Quantitative Data: Slopes (2-5% of exam)
AP Statistics Sample Questions
Multiple-Choice Sample Question
Short-Answer Sample Question
Investigative Task Sample Question
How Is the AP Statistics Test Graded?
Estimating Your AP Statistics Score
70-100 5 14.8% 57-69 4 22.2% 44-56 3 23.4% 33-43 2 16.5% 0-32 1 23.1% Where Can You Find Practice AP Stats Tests?
3 Tips for the AP Statistics Exam
#1: For Free Response, Answer the Entire Question
#2: Know How to Use Your Calculator
#3: Know Your Vocabulary
Summary: Statistics AP Exam
What's Next?
FAQs
What percent is a 5 on AP Stats? ›
For students aiming to secure a 5 on the AP Statistics exam, an estimated objective is to obtain between 75% and 80% of the maximum possible points on the test.
What is the best AP stats study guide? ›For each book we include the price, a brief summary, pros, cons, and who the book will be most useful for.
- Barron's AP Statistics.
- Cracking the AP Statistics Exam (Princeton Review)
- 5 Steps to a 5: AP Statistics 2022.
- Ultimate AP Statistics Practice Book.
- Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis.
Getting a 5 takes careful content knowledge, targeted practice and dedicated studying. 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.
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 is a 50% in AP score? ›Step 3: Estimate your Final AP Scaled Score by Using the Chart Given Below:
AP Statistics may have a reputation as being particularly difficult, but students with successful study habits and a strong mathematical foundation can excel in this course. Students must pass a second-year algebra course and possess solid quantitative reasoning skills to take AP Statistics.
Is AP Stats a lot of memorization? ›However, students do still need to have a strong grasp of statistical concepts and will need to prove those skills on the exam. It's not a memorization-heavy exam like AP Psychology; you need to understand the mathematical concepts you learn in class in order to do well on the exam.
How do I ace the AP Statistics exam? ›Top 10 AP Statistics Exam Tips
- 1: Clearly communicate your understanding.
- 2: Always include context in your answers.
- 3: Be precise in your language and vocabulary.
- 4: Use appropriate notation.
- 5: Do not rely on your calculator.
- 6: Manage your time.
- 7: Do not leave anything blank.
- 8: Know the formula sheet.
Aug 6, 2024
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- ...
Is AP Stats easier than Calc? ›
AP Statistics, on the other hand, is an introductory course in statistical analysis and interpretation. Its difficulty level is usually considered lower than AP Calculus, but the workload can still be intensive. It's a great choice if you're interested in fields like social sciences, business, or data analysis.
What is the 5% rule in AP Stats? ›The traditional cutoff for a small p-value is 0.05, which means that there is only a 5% chance of obtaining the observed results, or something more extreme, if the null hypothesis is true. If the p-value is below this threshold, it is considered statistically significant and you can reject the null hypothesis.
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 the AP Stats exam curved? ›Why is my grade curved? Once the total composite scores are calculated, Collegeboard curves them differently each year to keep consistent standards and regular pass rates, which means we can only estimate based off of previous years.
What grade should you take AP Statistics? ›If the course is provided by their school, students normally take AP Statistics in their junior or senior year and may decide to take it concurrently with a pre-calculus course.
Is a 5 a 100 on an AP Exam? ›For an AP exam, getting a score of 5 usually means you've scored around 70% to 80% on the test, but it can vary. The College Board adjusts scores each year based on how everyone does, so there's no fixed percentage.
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. 5% represents the margin of error .
What is 10% in 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.
What is a 3 out of 5 on AP Exam? ›The College Board defines a 3 as 'qualified, 4 as 'well qualified,' and a 5 as 'extremely well qualified. ' Many colleges and universities will offer you college credits for scoring in these ranges, but the exact requirements will vary by school and department.