The New AP Statistics: What Changed for the May 2027 Exam
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AP Statistics was revised starting in the 2026–27 school year. The course now has five units instead of nine, the second-year algebra prerequisite is gone, and several topics were removed. The May 11, 2027 exam is fully digital, with 42 multiple-choice questions that have four answer choices and four free-response questions worth 10 points each. Prep books written for the old course no longer match the exam.
Old exam vs new exam
| Before 2027 | From May 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Hybrid: paper free response | Fully digital in Bluebook |
| Multiple choice | 40 questions, 5 answer choices | 42 questions, 4 answer choices |
| Free response | 6 questions worth 4 points each | 4 questions worth 10 points each |
| Course structure | 9 units | 5 units |
| Prerequisite | Second-year algebra | None |
Topics removed from the course
According to College Board, these topics are no longer part of AP Statistics:
- Analyzing departures from linearity
- Combining random variables
- The geometric distribution
- Chi-square goodness of fit tests
- Inference for slopes
What was added
The revised course adds topics on investigative questions: framing a statistical question, deciding how to collect data to answer it, and reasoning about what the results do and do not show. This fits the exam’s focus on explaining statistical thinking in context, not just calculating.
What the new free response means for students
Free response moves from six shorter questions to four longer ones, each worth 10 points. Each question carries more weight, so a single misunderstood question costs more. Students need to plan multi-part answers, keep their reasoning tied to the context of the problem, and manage time across longer tasks.
Because the exam is now fully digital, students also type their free-response answers in Bluebook instead of writing them on paper.
How to prepare for the new AP Statistics exam
- Use materials built for the revised course. Older review books and past free-response questions still help with core skills but include removed topics and the old format.
- Try College Board’s AP Statistics test preview in Bluebook to get used to the on-screen tools.
- Practise writing complete statistical explanations in context: state the method, check conditions, interpret results in plain language.
- Do timed sets of the longer free-response questions to build pacing.
- Review the course framework unit by unit and track which units feel weakest.