5 Steps to a 5 AP Statistics 2017 (2016)
STEP 1
Set Up Your Study Program
CHAPTER 2
How to Plan Your Time
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary: The right preparation plan for you depends on your study habits and the amount of time you have before the test.
Key Idea
Choose the study plan that”s right for you.
Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Statistics Exam
No one knows your study habits, likes, and dislikes better than you. So, you are the only one who can decide which approach you want and/or need, to adopt to prepare for the AP Statistics exam. This may help you place yourself in a particular prep mode. This chapter presents three possible study plans, labeled A, B, and C. Look at the brief profiles below and try to determine which of these three plans is right for you.
You”re a full-school-year prep student if:
- You are the kind of person who likes to plan for everything far in advance.
- You arrive at the airport two hours before your flight.
- You like detailed planning and everything in its place.
- You feel that you must be thoroughly prepared.
- You hate surprises.
If you fit this profile, consider Plan A .
You”re a one-semester prep student if:
- You get to the airport one hour before your flight is scheduled to leave.
- You are willing to plan ahead to feel comfortable in stressful situations, but are okay with skipping some details.
- You feel more comfortable when you know what to expect, but a surprise or two is okay.
- You are always on time for appointments.
If you fit this profile, consider Plan B .
You”re a six-week prep student if:
- You get to the airport at the last possible moment.
- You work best under pressure and tight deadlines.
- You feel very confident with the skills and background you”ve learned in your AP Statistics class.
- You decided late in the year to take the exam.
- You like surprises.
- You feel okay if you arrive 10–15 minutes late for an appointment.
If you fit this profile, consider Plan C .
Summary of the Three Study Plans
Calendar for Each Plan
Plan A: You Have a Full School Year to Prepare
SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER (check off the activities as you complete them)
______ Determine into which student mode you would place yourself.
______ Carefully read Chapters 1 –4 of this book.
______ Get on the web and take a look at the AP Central website(s).
______ Skim the Comprehensive Review section (these areas will be part of your yearlong preparation).
______ Buy a few highlighters.
______ Flip through the entire book. Break the book in. Write in it. Toss it around a little bit … highlight it.
______ Get a clear picture of your school”s AP Statistics curriculum.
______ Begin to use the book as a resource to supplement the classroom learning.
______ Read and study Chapter 5 –Overview of Statistics/Basic Vocabulary.
______ Read and study Chapter 6 –One-Variable Data Analysis.
______ Read and study Chapter 7 –Two-Variable Data Analysis.
NOVEMBER
______ Read and study Chapter 8 –Design of a Study: Sampling, Surveys, and Experiments.
______ Review Chapters 5 and 6 .
DECEMBER
______ Read and study Chapter 9 –Probability and Random Variables.
______ Review Chapters 7 and 8 .
JANUARY (20 weeks have elapsed)
______ Read and study Chapter 10 –Binomial Distributions, Geometric Distributions, and Sampling Distributions.
______ Review Chapters 7 –9 .
FEBRUARY
______ Read and study Chapter 11 –Confidence Intervals and Introduction to Inference.
______ Review Chapters 8 –10 .
______ Look over the Diagnostic Exam.
MARCH (30 weeks have elapsed)
______ Read and study Chapter 12 –Inference for Means and Proportions.
______ Read and study Chapter 13 –Inference for Regression.
______ Review Chapters 9 –11 .
APRIL
______ Read and study Chapter 14 –Inference for Categorical Data: Chi-Square.
______ Review Chapters 11 –13 .
______ Take the Diagnostic Exam.
______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
MAY (first two weeks)
______ Review Chapters 5 –14 (that”s everything!).
______ Take and score Practice Exam 1.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
______ Take and score Practice Exam 2.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
______ Get a good night”s sleep the night before the exam.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!
Plan B: You Have One Semester to Prepare
Working under the assumption that you”ve completed one semester of statistics in the classroom, the following calendar will use those skills you”ve been practicing to prepare you for the May exam.
JANUARY
______ Carefully read Chapters 1 –4 of this book.
______ Read and study Chapter 5 –Overview of Statistics/Basic Vocabulary.
______ Read and study Chapter 6 –One-Variable Data Analysis.
______ Read and Study Chapter 7 –Two-Variable Data Analysis.
______ Read and Study Chapter 8 –Design of a Study: Sampling, Surveys, and Experiments.
FEBRUARY
______ Read and study Chapter 9 –Probability and Random Variables.
______ Read and study chapter 10 –Binomial Distributions, Geometric Distributions, and Sampling Distributions.
______ Review Chapters 5 –8 .
MARCH
______ Read and study Chapter 11 –Confidence Intervals and Introduction to Inference.
______ Read and study Chapter 12 –Inference for Means and Proportions.
______ Review Chapters 7 –10 .
APRIL
______ Read and study Chapter 13 –Inference for Regression.
______ Read and study Chapter 14 –Inference for Categorical Data: Chi-Square.
______ Review Chapters 9 –12 .
______ Take Diagnostic Exam.
______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
MAY (first two weeks)
______ Take and score Practice Exam 1.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
______ Take and score Practice Exam 2.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
______ Get a good night”s sleep the night before the exam.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!
Plan C: You Have Six Weeks to Prepare
At this point, we are going to assume that you have been building your statistics knowledge base for more than six months. You will, therefore, use this book primarily as a specific guide to the AP Statistics Exam.
Given the time constraints, now is not the time to expand your AP Statistics curriculum. Rather, it is the time to limit and refine what you already do know.
APRIL 1 – 15
______ Skim Chapters 1 –4 of this book.
______ Skim Chapters 5 –10 .
______ Carefully go over the “Rapid Review” sections of Chapter 5 –10.
APRIL 16 – 30
______ Skim Chapters 11 –14 .
______ Carefully go over the “Rapid Review” sections of Chapters 11 –14 .
______ Take the Diagnostic Exam.
______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
MAY (first two weeks)
______ Take and score Practice Exam 1.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
______ Take and score Practice Exam 2.
______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
______ Get a good night”s sleep the night before the exam.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!