APFIVE AP Computer Science Principles Exam Info
Download PDFThe AP Computer Science Principles Exam has two sections: an end-of-course exam and the Create performance task. The end-of-course exam is a fully digital exam in the Bluebook testing app, and it includes multiple-choice questions and two written-response questions that require you to demonstrate your understanding of the Create performance task. The two written-response questions will relate to code contained in a Personalized Project Reference that you’ll develop in class as part of your performance task. You’ll have access to your Personalized Project Reference while answering these questions on exam day. All responses in Bluebook will be automatically submitted at the end of the exam.
You’ll complete the Create performance task over the course of the year and submit all three performance task components—program code, video, and Personalized Project Reference—online through the AP Digital Portfolio for scoring. Both measure your proficiency in and grasp of the course content and skills, and both contribute to your final AP score on a scale of 1–5.
Reference materials, such as equations sheets and reference tables, are available for this course. Go to Reference Information for Specific AP Exams to find reference materials for AP Computer Science Principles and exam day details.
Create Performance Task
To learn more about the Create performance task and the exam, you can watch AP Videos on the Create performance task in AP Classroom. To access these videos, navigate to the Course Guide section in the left navigation pane of the AP Classroom homepage, select the Overview page, and then click on the Student Resources header to expand the list of available resources. The Create performance task videos include:
- Create Performance Task: Overview
- Create Performance Task: Guidelines
- Create Performance Task: Pacing Your Project
- Create Performance Task: Categories and Questions
AP Computer Science Principles Create Performance Task Due Date
Submit all three components of your AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) Create performance task as final in the AP Digital Portfolio by this date.
Exam Components
Section I: End-of-Course Multiple-Choice Exam
70 multiple-choice questions | 120 minutes | 70% of score | 4 answer options
- 57 single-select multiple-choice
- 5 single-select with reading passage about a computing innovation
- 8 multiple-select multiple-choice: select 2 answers
The AP Computer Science Principles end-of-course exam has consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines every year, so you know what to expect on exam day.
Section II: Create Performance Task
30% of score
- Create performance task program code, video, and student-authored Personalized Project Reference | 9 hours in-class
- 2 written response questions | 60 minutes end-of-course exam
The second section of the AP Computer Science Principles Exam consists of a through-course Create performance task where you will develop a computer program of your choice an end-of-course written response section where you will demonstrate your understanding of your Create performance task by answering four prompts. You will be provided 9 hours of in-class time to complete your program, video, and develop a Personalized Project Reference.
On the end-of-course exam, you will respond to two questions related to the code in your Personalized Project Reference. The two questions include four distinct prompts: Written Response 1, Written Response 2(a), Written Response 2(b), and Written Response 2(c). You will have access to your Personalized Project Reference while responding to these prompts. The four categories listed below align to the four prompts.
| Prompt Category | Students should be prepared to: |
Written Response 1: Program Design, Function, and Purpose
| Students should be prepared to respond to prompts about their program that assess any of the following learning objectives:
|
Written Response 2(a): Algorithm Development
| Students should be prepared to respond to prompts about their program that assess any of the following learning objectives:
|
Written Response 2(b): Errors and Testing
| Students should be prepared to respond to prompts about their program that assess any of the following learning objectives:
|
Written Response 2(c): Data and Procedural Abstraction
| Students should be prepared to respond to prompts about their program that assess any of the following learning objectives:
|
Skills You'll Learn
Making connections between concepts in computing
Designing a program to solve a problem or complete a task
Applying abstractions in computation and modeling
Analyzing computational work
Communicating ideas about technology and computation
Working collaboratively to solve problems
Units
Big Idea 1: Creative Development
You’ll learn how important collaboration is in developing programs and how to use an iterative process in your work.
Topics may include:
- Collaboration
- Program design and development
On the Exam
10%–13% of exam score
Big Idea 2: Data
You’ll explore how computers handle data and how data can be used to produce new information and solve problems.
Topics may include:
- Data compression
- Extracting information from data
On the Exam
17%−22% of exam score
Big Idea 3: Algorithms and Programming
You’ll learn how to use algorithms and abstractions to create programs that solve problems or to express your own creativity.
Topics may include:
- Developing algorithms
- Simulations
- Algorithmic efficiency
On the Exam
30%−35% of exam score
Big Idea 4: Computer Systems and Networks
You’ll explore how computer systems and networks work and how using multiple computers to divide tasks can speed up processes.
Topics may include:
- The Internet
- Parallel and distributed computing
On the Exam
11%−15% of exam score
Big Idea 5: Impact of Computing
You’ll examine the effects computing has had on societies, economies, and cultures and consider the legal and ethical responsibilities of programmers.
Topics may include:
- The digital divide
- Computing bias
- Safe computing
On the Exam
21%−26% of exam score