AP Statistics Score Curve 2026 — Raw Score to AP Score Conversion
The AP Statistics score curve converts your composite score (0–100) into an AP score of 1–5. AP Stats has a unique structure with a heavily weighted investigative task FRQ. Here is the full conversion table.
AP Statistics Score Curve 2026
| AP Score | Composite Score Range | % of Students |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 70–100 | 16% |
| 4 | 55–69 | 20% |
| 3 | 40–54 | 24% |
| 2 | 25–39 | 24% |
| 1 | 0–24 | 16% |
Composite max: 100 points
Use our AP Statistics Score Calculator to enter your MC and FRQ scores and see your predicted AP grade.
How the AP Stats Composite Score Is Calculated
AP Statistics has a 50/50 split:
| Section | Details | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice (40 questions) | correct × 1.25 | 50 |
| Free Response | 5 short (3 pts each) + 1 investigative task (9 pts) | 50 |
| Total | 100 |
The investigative task (last FRQ question) is worth 9 points — 3× more than any other FRQ question. It typically involves connecting multiple statistical concepts and interpreting results in context.
What Score Do You Need?
| Target | Composite Needed | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 70/100 (70%) | ~30/40 MC + ~40/50 FRQ (strong investigative task) |
| 4 | 55/100 (55%) | ~22/40 MC + ~33/50 FRQ |
| 3 | 40/100 (40%) | ~16/40 MC + ~24/50 FRQ |
The 40% threshold for a 3 means you can pass with below-average MC performance if your FRQ responses are solid.
The Investigative Task Is Worth Mastering
The investigative task at the end of the FRQ section is worth 9 composite points. Many students run out of time or leave it partially blank. Completing all 4–6 parts of the investigative task — even imperfectly — typically earns more points than skipping it.
Practice strategy: in timed mock tests, budget at least 25 minutes for the investigative task alone.
AP Stats vs AP Calc AB Curve Comparison
| AP Statistics | AP Calc AB | |
|---|---|---|
| Composite max | 100 | 108 |
| Score 5 min | 70 (70%) | 70 (65%) |
| Score 3 min | 40 (40%) | 38 (35%) |
| Five-rate | 16% | 22% |
| Pass rate (3+) | 60% | 59% |
AP Stats requires a slightly higher percentage for a 5 than AP Calc AB. However, the content is more accessible for students who are not strong in algebra, since AP Stats is more about interpretation than calculation.
Inference Dominates the Score
The biggest topic by exam weight is statistical inference (confidence intervals and significance tests), which represents 30–40% of the total exam.
| Topic | Exam % |
|---|---|
| Inference (CI + tests) | 30–40% |
| Exploring Data | 15–23% |
| Sampling and Experimentation | 12–18% |
| Probability | 10–20% |
| Sampling Distributions | 7–12% |
Mastering inference — setting up hypotheses, checking conditions, running tests, interpreting p-values — is the most efficient path to a 4 or 5.