AP CSP Exam Structure and Overview
AP Computer Science Principles Exam Overview
Course Context
This exam overview is part of the comprehensive AP Computer Science Principles Curriculum. It provides detailed insights into the exam structure, assessment methods, and preparation strategies.
Key Navigation Resources
Unit Connections
Each unit contributes to exam preparation:
Creative Development
- Builds skills for program design and implementation
- Prepares students for performance task requirements
Data
- Develops data representation and analysis skills
- Essential for multiple-choice section (17-22% of exam)
Algorithms and Programming
- Core computational thinking skills
- Most heavily tested unit (30-35% of exam)
Computer Systems and Networks
- Provides infrastructure and protocol understanding
- Covers 11-15% of exam content
Impact of Computing
- Develops critical analysis of computing innovations
- Significant portion of exam (21-26%)
Exam Structure and Weighting
The AP Computer Science Principles exam consists of two major components:
-
End-of-Course AP Exam (70% of AP Score)
- Format: Multiple-choice questions
- Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Question Count: 70 questions total
- Question Types:
- Single-select questions (57 questions)
- Single-select questions with reading passage about computing innovations (5 questions)
- Multi-select questions (8 questions)
-
Create Performance Task (30% of AP Score)
- In-Class Component:
- At least 9 hours of dedicated class time
- Development of program code, video, and Personalized Project Reference
- Exam Component:
- 60 minutes during the end-of-course AP Exam
- 2 written response questions (with 4 distinct prompts) related to the student's Create performance task
- In-Class Component:
Lesson Connections
Detailed lesson plans provide comprehensive exam preparation:
- Creative Development Lessons
- Data Lessons
- Algorithms and Programming Lessons
- Computer Systems and Networks Lessons
- Impact of Computing Lessons
Computational Thinking Practices Assessment
The multiple-choice section assesses the following computational thinking practices:
| Computational Thinking Practice | Exam Weighting |
|---|---|
| Practice 1: Computational Solution Design | 18–25% |
| Practice 2: Algorithms and Program Development | 20–28% |
| Practice 3: Abstraction in Program Development | 7–12% |
| Practice 4: Code Analysis | 12–19% |
| Practice 5: Computing Innovations | 28–33% |
Exam Preparation Philosophy
This exam structure is designed to:
- Assess comprehensive computational thinking skills
- Evaluate practical programming abilities
- Understand technology's broader societal implications
Important Dates and Deadlines
- Create Performance Task submission deadline: Late April
- End-of-Course AP Exam: May
- Specific dates set annually by College Board
Additional Resources
- College Board AP CSP website
- AP Classroom resources
- Student sample materials
- Scoring guidelines
Prepare thoroughly, stay curious, and embrace the world of computational thinking!