AP Statistics

The key document for each AP course is the course and exam description. Start by reviewing it to understand the objectives and expectations of the course and exam.

Download the AP Statistics Course and Exam Description Effective Fall 2026 (.pdf)

Your course must fulfill these requirements.

AP Statistics curricular requirements:

• The students and teacher have access to a college-level statistics textbook, in print or electronic format.
• The course provides opportunities for students to interpret standard computer output and use graphing calculators with statistical capabilities to describe data, determine probabilities, and perform tests.
• The course is structured to incorporate the big ideas and required content outlined in each of the units described in the course and exam description (CED).
• The course provides opportunities for students to develop the following course skills:
  • Course Skill 1: Selecting Statistical Methods
  • Course Skill 2: Data Analysis
  • Course Skill 3: Using Probability and Simulation
  • Course Skill 4: Statistical Argumentation

AP Statistics resource requirements:

• The school ensures that each student has a college-level statistics textbook (in print or electronic format). The textbook is supplemented when necessary to meet the curricular requirements.
• The school ensures that the teacher has a copy of the most recent edition of a college-level statistics textbook or other appropriate materials to support instruction.
• The school ensures that each student has access to an approved graphing calculator with statistical capabilities.
• The school provides access to a computer or standard computer outputs to aid in investigating and analyzing data and in exploring statistical models.
   

The list below represents examples of textbooks that meet the curricular requirements of AP Statistics. The list is not exhaustive and the texts listed should not be regarded as endorsed, authorized, recommended, or approved by College Board. Not using a book from this list does not mean that a course will not receive authorization. Syllabi submitted as part of the AP Course Audit process will be evaluated holistically, with textbooks considered along with supplementary resources to confirm that the course as a whole provides students with the content delineated in the curricular requirements of the AP Course Audit.

The current editions of the following textbooks meet the Course Audit curricular requirements. Earlier editions of these texts or other textbooks not listed here may meet the AP Course Audit curricular requirements if supplemented with appropriate college-level instructional resources. While every effort is made to keep this list current, it can take a few months for newly published titles and revised editions to be reviewed.

For discussions regarding the usefulness of these texts and other teaching materials in the AP Statistics classroom, please consult the AP Statistics Teacher Community.

• Bock, David E., Paul F. Velleman, Richard D. De Veaux, and Floyd Bullard. Modeling the World. 5th edition. Boston: Pearson.
• Brase, Charles H., and Corrinne P. Brase. Understandable Statistics Concepts and Methods. 13th edition. Cengage Learning.
• De Veaux , Richard D., David E. Bock, and Paul F. Velleman. Intro Stats. 6th edition. Pearson.
• Dorazio, Leah, David Diez, and Mine Cetinkaya-Rundel. Advanced High School Statistics. 4th edition. OpenIntro, Inc.
• Moore, David S., George P. McCabe, and Bruce Craig. Introduction to Practice of Statistics. 10th edition. New York: W. H. Freeman Co./BFW.
• Peck, Roxy, Chris Olsen, and Jay Devore. Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis. 6th edition. National Geographic/Cengage Learning.
• Peck, Roxy, and Catherine Case. Statistics: Learning From Data. 3rd edition. Cengage Learning.
• Starnes, Daren, and Josh Tabor. The Updated Practice of Statistics. Bedford, Freeman, and Worth.
• Tintle, Nathan, Ruth Carver, Beth Chance, George Cobb et al. Introduction to Statistical Investigations AP Edition. Wiley.
• Watkins, Ann, Richard Scheaffer, and George Cobb. Statistics in Action: Understanding a World of Data. 2nd edition. Wiley.
• Wilcox, Luke, and Lindsey Gallas. Math Medic AP Statistics. Math Medic.
• Utts, Jessica M., and Robert F. Heckard. Mind on Statistics. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
• Young-Saver, Dashiell. Skew the Script.

These annotated sample AP Statistics syllabi show how the curricular requirements can be demonstrated in a syllabus and what level of detail you’ll need to include.

AP Statistics Sample Syllabus 1 (.pdf)

AP Statistics Sample Syllabus 2 (.pdf)

Review this document for help creating your syllabus.

Syllabus Development Guide: AP Statistics (.pdf)

This resource includes the guidelines reviewers use to evaluate syllabi along with three samples of evidence for each requirement. This guide also specifies the level of detail required in the syllabus to receive course authorization.