AP STAT FAQ

What is AP Statistics?

AP Stats is a college level introductory course in statistics. You’ll learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data. You can earn college credit for this course.

Why should I take it?

Statistics is the most widely applicable branch of mathematics, used by more people in more different areas than any other kind of math. You’ll never wonder when you’ll ever use this stuff!

Who uses Statistics?

Everyone who needs to collect and analyze data needs to understand Statistics. That’s every branch of science, of course. And it’s also important in the social sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc.), in business and economics, in political science and government, in law, and in medicine. There’s a very strong chance YOU will use Statistics in college and in your career.

Could I take Statistics when I get to college?

Yes, and you probably will. Statistics is required for many majors, and strongly recommended for others. Many colleges now give students a choice of Statistics or Calculus to fulfill their math requirements.

Then why take it in high school?

There are several advantages. Here it’s a full year course so you’ll have more opportunity to ask questions and really understand the concepts than at college where the course meets only 3 times a week for one semester. And you‘ll enter college ready to apply your skills in your first semester courses. Many former IHS students have returned after a couple of years in college to say that AP Stats was the most important and helpful course they took in high school.

How hard is AP Stats?

It’s a college course, so the expectations are high. You’ll be expected to do homework every day, and not just math problems. There is reading and writing involved. In fact, if you think math is all formulas, equations, and calculations, you’ll soon find that this isn’t really a math course. It’s a course in reading, analyzing, thinking, and writing clearly.

Would AP Stats be my only math course?

Probably not. Most people take Statistics as an elective, in addition to their regular math course. A few seniors, who know that the college they will attend won’t require them to take Calculus, sign up for Stats instead of Precalc (Course 4) or Calculus.

Who can sign up?

Anyone who has finished 2 years of high school mathematics (Math 10 or CMC-2) is eligible. You also need to know some things from third year math. Either you should be taking Math 11 simultaneously, or (especially if your second course was not at the honors level) have already completed it. But at least as important as your math background is your willingness to do college-level work.

Who teaches AP Stats?

Next year’s schedule won’t be known until June at the earliest. Bill Craine, Dave Bock, and Tom Mariano have all taught AP Stats, and several other math teachers could teach it.