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AP Computer Science Principles

What AP CSP covers, how its two-part assessment works, the five big ideas behind it, and how to practice your way to a 5.

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AP CSP: a subject-specific STEM tableau or data visualization where the actual concept is visible

AP Computer Science Principles is a college-level introduction to computing built around five big ideas, from creative development to the impact of computing. It's assessed two ways: an end-of-course multiple-choice exam of about 70 questions in roughly 2 hours, plus the Create performance task — a programming project you build during the year and submit. The two combine into a single score from 1 to 5, and many colleges grant credit for a 3 or higher — confirm your target college's policy.

1–5The AP score scale; a 3 is the common "passing" line.
~70 MCQThe end-of-course multiple-choice exam, about 2 hours.
Create taskA programming project built and submitted during the year.
5 big ideasFrom creative development to the impact of computing.
What's on it

Two parts, five big ideas

Unlike most AP courses, CSP has no traditional free-response section. Your score comes from a multiple-choice exam taken in May plus a programming project you build across the year.

Multiple choice

~70 questions, ~2 hours.

Single- and multiple-select questions covering all five big ideas, including reading the exam's text-based and block-based pseudocode, tracing algorithms, and reasoning about data and the effects of computing. This section carries most of your score.

Create task

A program you build & submit.

The Create performance task replaces a free-response section: you design and code a program of your choice during the year, then submit your code, a short video of it running, and written responses through the College Board's digital portfolio by the spring deadline.

Scoring

One 1–5 score.

The exam and the Create task combine into a single 1–5, with the multiple-choice exam weighted more heavily. A 3 is "qualified"; a 4 or 5 is strong. Credit policies are set by each college — confirm yours.

Practice it, big idea by big idea.

Reading about computing isn't the same as answering AP-style questions and learning from every miss. Start free and practice by big idea.

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The five big ideas

What AP CSP covers

  • Big Idea 1 — Creative Development
  • Big Idea 2 — Data
  • Big Idea 3 — Algorithms and Programming
  • Big Idea 4 — Computer Systems and Networks
  • Big Idea 5 — Impact of Computing

How to study for AP CSP

  • Practice tracing algorithms and reading both text and block pseudocode.
  • Start the Create task early and iterate — don't leave it to the deadline.
  • Know the data, networks and impact-of-computing ideas, not just code.
  • Review every miss until the concept, not just the answer, is clear.
  • Sit timed multiple-choice sets to build pace and stamina.
FAQ

AP Computer Science Principles questions

What's on the AP Computer Science Principles exam?
AP CSP is assessed in two parts. There's an end-of-course multiple-choice exam of about 70 questions in roughly 2 hours, and the Create performance task — a programming project you build during the year and submit through the College Board's digital portfolio. There is no traditional free-response section; the project takes its place.
How is AP Computer Science Principles scored?
On the 1–5 AP scale. The multiple-choice exam and the Create performance task are combined into a single 1–5 score, with the exam weighted more heavily than the task. Score distributions vary by year — confirm current data on College Board.
What is a good AP Computer Science Principles score?
A 3 is considered qualified and is the common "passing" line; a 4 or 5 is strong and accepted for credit more widely. The credit policy that matters is your target college's — confirm it on the school's site.
How hard is AP Computer Science Principles?
It's one of the more accessible AP courses — no prior coding experience is required, and the exam is multiple-choice only. The main lift is the Create performance task, which takes planning and time, and learning to read the exam's pseudocode and reason about algorithms.
When is the AP Computer Science Principles exam?
The multiple-choice exam is in May, on the College Board's fixed AP exam schedule. The Create performance task is completed during the year and submitted by the College Board's spring deadline. Confirm the current year's dates on College Board.
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