Free-response Question 1: formulating questions and collecting data

What the exam asks

FRQ 1 is broken into labeled parts (A, B, C...) and subparts (i, ii) that you type into Bluebook. It is worth 10 points, scored point by point: except where the question’s scoring guideline says otherwise, each point is earned independently. Typical task verbs include:

• Identify / Classify: name the variable type, experimental units, treatments, sampling method, or study type.
• Complete / Write: formulate a valid statistical investigative question.
• Describe: explain how to implement a random sampling method or random assignment using a random number generator or slips of paper.
• Explain / Justify: explain why a design choice (such as blocking, stratification, or control) is used, state the direction of a sampling bias, or justify the scope of inference (generalization vs. causation).

Core ideas

1. The three components of a valid investigative question

When asked to write or complete an investigative question (Skill 1.A), AP Readers (the people who score the exam) look for three required pieces in context:

1. Variable of interest: what is being measured or recorded on each individual.
2. Parameter and analysis goal: the summary measure (population proportion, population mean, difference in means/proportions, or association) and whether the goal is to estimate it, test a claim, or compare groups.
3. Population and type of conclusion: the specific larger group to generalize to, or the treatments being compared for a causal conclusion.

2. Precise vocabulary for Practice 2

AP Readers expect precise terms when you identify study components: