AP Computer Science Principles - Study Guides, Flashcards, AP-style Practice & Mock Exams

The AP CSP exam has two parts: a multiple-choice section and the Create Performance Task. The multiple-choice section has 70 questions and lasts 120 minutes. The Create Performance Task is a project completed during the course where you develop a program and submit written responses about your process.

Your final score is a composite of the two main components. The 70-question multiple-choice section accounts for 70% of your score. The Create Performance Task, which requires at least 12 hours of in-class time and is submitted before the exam, makes up the remaining 30% of your score.

The Create Performance Task is a project where you design and implement a program of your own choosing. You must submit your program code, a video of it running, and written responses describing your development process, use of algorithms, and management of complex data structures like lists or arrays.

The course covers fundamental computing concepts across 5 units, including the internet, data analysis, and the societal impacts of technology. You will learn core programming principles, including how to design and analyze algorithms, use abstraction to manage complexity, and work with data.

Follow a structured path by first mastering the content in all 35 topics using our lessons and AP-style quizzes. Then, test your knowledge with unit exams before moving on to our 3 full-length mock exams to simulate the real test environment and timing.

No, the AP CSP exam is language-agnostic, meaning you are not required to use a specific programming language. For the Create Performance Task, you can choose any language, but your written responses must use a clear, readable format to explain your code's logic and algorithms.

You should plan for approximately 24 hours of total study time to thoroughly cover all course material and practice questions. This allows you to build a strong foundation in computational thinking and programming principles before tackling the final exam and performance task.

The multiple-choice section features single-select and multi-select questions that assess your understanding of the course's Big Ideas. Questions often present code snippets, diagrams, or scenarios related to topics like data representation, the internet, algorithms, and the global impacts of computing.

Yes, understanding algorithmic efficiency is a key skill, though not as in-depth as in AP CSA. You will need to be able to informally compare the reasonableness of different algorithms for a given task, particularly in terms of processing time, and recognize how choices like iteration or recursion can affect performance.

This course provides extensive practice with over 2023 practice questions and 1534 flashcards to reinforce key concepts. You can apply your knowledge through topic quizzes and unit exams, then test your readiness with three full-length mock exams designed to mirror the official AP test format.