AP Statistics

Link to AP Statistics curriculum map

The purpose of the AP course in statistics is to introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing and drawing conclusions from data. Students are exposed to four broad conceptual themes:

1. Exploring Data: Describing patterns and departures from patterns

2. Sampling and Experimentation: Planning and conducting a study

3. Anticipating Patterns: Exploring random phenomena using probability and simulation

4. Statistical Inference: Estimating population parameters and testing hypotheses

Students who successfully complete the course and exam may receive credit, advanced placement or both for a one-semester introductory college statistics course

T o p i c O u t l i n e

Following is an outline of the major topics covered by the AP Statistics Exam. The ordering here is intended to define the scope of the course but not necessarily the sequence. The percentages in parentheses for each content area indicate the coverage for that content area in the exam. The topics for AP Statistics are divided into four major themes: exploratory analysis (20–30 percent of the exam), planning and conducting a study (10–15 percent of the exam), probability (20–30 percent of the exam), and statistical inference (30–40 percent of the exam).

I. Exploring Data: Describing patterns and departures from patterns (20%–30%) Exploratory analysis of data makes use of graphical and numerical techniques to study patterns and departures from patterns. Emphasis should be placed on interpreting information from graphical and numerical displays and summaries.

A. Constructing and interpreting graphical displays of distributions of univariate data (dotplot, stemplot, histogram, cumulative frequency plot)

B. Summarizing distributions of univariate data

C. Comparing distributions of univariate data (dotplots, back-to-back stemplots, parallel boxplots)

D. Exploring bivariate data

E. Exploring categorical data

II. Sampling and Experimentation: Planning and conducting a study (10%–15%) Data must be collected according to a well-developed plan if valid information on a conjecture is to be obtained. This plan includes clarifying the question and deciding upon a method of data collection and analysis.

A. Overview of methods of data collection

B. Planning and conducting surveys

C. Planning and conducting experiments

D. Generalizability of results and types of conclusions that can be drawn from observational studies, experiments and surveys

III. Anticipating Patterns: Exploring random phenomena using probability and simulation (20%–30%) Probability is the tool used for anticipating what the distribution of data should look like under a given model.

A. Probability

B. Combining independent random variables

C. The normal distribution

D. Sampling distributions

IV. Statistical Inference: Estimating population parameters and testing hypotheses (30%–40%) Statistical inference guides the selection of appropriate models.

A. Estimation (point estimators and confidence intervals)

B. Tests of significance