AP Statistics — investigative questions and planning a study

This material trains the practice that the AP Statistics course framework for 2026–27 adds to the course: formulating questions. The revised framework opens with investigative questions (topics 1.1 and 1.10), assesses this practice in 5 to 10 percent of the multiple-choice section, and makes it the focus of the first free-response question together with data collection. The material also covers the vocabulary of a study from topic 1.2 and the study types of topic 1.10, at introductory college level.

The quiz takes one idea per question. You recognize a valid statistical investigative question, one that expects variability and names a variable and a population, among questions that do not; identify what the first component of an investigative question does; read the second component to see whether a question points to a significance test (with the direction of the alternative) or to a confidence interval; choose a question whose third component states the right type of conclusion and population for a randomized experiment with volunteers; explain why a question must not be changed after the data have been analyzed; name observational units, a parameter and a statistic; classify variables as categorical, discrete or continuous; recognize a census and a retrospective observational study; spot a question that asks for data nobody can collect; and decide which population a sample can speak for when the sampling frame differs from the population in the question. Each explanation says why the right answer fits and why each other answer does not.

The flashcards review the three components, the vocabulary of variables and studies, and the rules for generalizing from a sample.

The written work is a printable sheet of eight free-response tasks modeled on the first free-response question of the exam: writing an investigative question with all three components for a new situation, sorting statistical from non-statistical questions, writing one question for an interval and one for a test, identifying the parts of an experiment and stating its conclusion, explaining why a question found in the data should not be tested on the same data, classifying variables in a survey, planning prospective and retrospective studies, and repairing a voluntary-response poll. Handwritten answers are photographed and checked against model answers and key points.

The oral exam has an examiner ask one question at a time, often asking you to write or improve an investigative question and to justify each of its components, and it ends with short, precise feedback.

Sampling methods, bias and experimental design principles are covered by other materials of this category. All scenarios are invented and all questions are original practice items written by Zestly, not released exam questions. The material follows the published course framework but is independent practice and does not predict an exam score.

• Recognize and write statistical investigative questions that anticipate variability and name a variable and a population
• Identify the three components of an investigative question and what each one guides
• Tell from an investigative question whether it calls for a confidence interval or a significance test, and in which direction
• State the type of conclusion and the population an investigative question can address, given how the data are collected
• Identify observational units, variables, parameters and statistics, and classify variables
• Classify studies as a census, an experiment, or a prospective or retrospective observational study

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the College Board AP Statistics course framework effective fall 2026 (Unit 1, topics 1.1 Introducing Statistics, 1.2 Variables and 1.10 The Investigative Question Revisited and Data Collection; Practice 1, Formulate Questions). Original questions, not released exam items.