The+Category+Descriptors

A Guide to Scoring Free Response Statistics Questions: The Category Descriptors (Legacy, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2012 from @http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/AP_Statistics_Teacher_Guide.pdf)

(Identification of the important components of the problem and demonstration of the statistical concepts and techniques that result in a correct solution of the problem) || **Communication** (Explanation of what was done and why, along with a statement of conclusions drawn in context) || Complete || * Shows complete understanding of the problem’s statistical components Substantial || * Shows substantial understanding of the problem’s statistical components Developing || * Shows some understanding of the problem’s statistical components Minimal || * Shows limited understanding of the problem’s statistical components by failing to identify important components
 * = **Score**
 * Descriptors** || **Statistical Knowledge**
 * = 4
 * Synthesizes a correct relationship among these components, perhaps with novelty and creativity
 * Uses appropriate and correctly executed statistical techniques
 * May have minor arithmetic errors, but answers are still reasonable || * Provides a clear, organized, and complete explanation, using correct terminology, of what was done and why
 * States appropriate assumptions and caveats
 * Uses diagrams or plots when appropriate to aid in describing the solution.
 * States an appropriate and complete conclusion ||
 * = 3
 * Synthesizes a relationship among these components, perhaps with minor gaps
 * Uses appropriate statistical techniques
 * May have arithmetic errors, but answers are still reasonable || * Provides a clear but not perfectly organized explanation, using correct terminology, of what was done and why, but explanation may be slightly incomplete
 * May miss necessary assumptions or caveats
 * Uses diagrams or plots when appropriate to aid in describing the solution
 * States a conclusion that follows from the analysis but may be somewhat incomplete ||
 * = 2
 * Shows little in the way of a relationship among these components
 * Uses some appropriate statistical techniques but misses or misuses others
 * May have arithmetic errors that result in unreasonable answers || * Provides some explanation of what was done, but explanation may be vague and difficult to interpret and terminology may be somewhat inappropriate
 * Uses diagrams in an incomplete or ineffective way, or diagrams may be missing
 * States a conclusion that is incomplete ||
 * = 1
 * Shows little ability to organize a solution and may use irrelevant information
 * Misuses or fails to use appropriate statistical techniques
 * Has arithmetic errors that result in unreasonable answers || * Provides minimal or unclear explanation of what was done or why it was done, and explanation may not match the presented solution
 * Fails to use diagrams or plots, or uses them incorrectly
 * States an incorrect conclusion or fails to state a conclusion ||
 * = 0 || * Shows little to no understanding of statistical component || * Provides no explanation of legitimate strategy ||