ap computer science homework

AP Computer Science Assignments and Lessons

• Use Gamemaker to Make Games
• Official Tutorials
• A whole course using GameMaker
• Use Codecademy to Learn about ChatGPT, HTML, JavaScript, Python and more
• Use Khan Academy to Learn a new Programming Language
• Create an App using AppInventor
• Keyboard Listener class (Moving ball)
• DotPanel class - Need with above KeyBoard Project
• Dot class - Need with above KeyBoard Project
• Snake Game Instructions
• Snake Game Java File
• GridWorld (needed for Snake Game)
• Assignments
• AP Classroom - Do Assignment
• Free Response Questions 2021 Exam (Paper Version)
• Recursion Notes - DL People, Please Print before Class on Friday!
• Notes Packet - Second Semester
• Reference - Class Notes
• AP CSA Student eBook (More Practice for AP Exam)
• The Java Quick Reference (aka "The Gold Sheet")
• Final Exam Practice Solutions and Rubric - 2021 Exam Official Solutions and Rubric
• 2021 AP Exam, Question 1 Student Samples (with Various Scores)
• 2021 AP Exam, Question 2 Student Samples (with Various Scores)
• 2021 AP Exam, Question 3 Student Samples (with Various Scores)
• 2021 AP Exam, Question 4 Student Samples (with Various Scores)
• Final Exam Practice Solutions and Rubric - 2022 Exam Official Solutions and Rubric
• 2022 AP Exam, Question 1 Student Samples (with Various Scores)
• 2022 AP Exam, Question 2 Student Samples (with Various Scores)
• 2022 AP Exam, Question 3 Student Samples (with Various Scores)
• 2022 AP Exam, Question 4 Student Samples (with Various Scores)
• CodingBat Assignments
• Minesweeper Starter Class
• Minesweeper Application (Put in Main.java - No changes to this file)
• Minesweeper Assignment
• Minesweeper Game - Play it!
• Lesson 11.1 - Introduction to Inheritance
• Lesson 11.2 - Polymorphism
• RegularPolygon Class
• Turtle Class (to draw the polygons)
• Polygon Application (Put in Main.java)
• Sort Algorithms
• The TotalPointsGradebook files (in a zip file)
• Online Blackjack Game Site - Learn by playing!
• Blackjack files (in a zip file)
• Shuffle.java - The Shuffle method for Deck.java
• CardTester.java - Used to test Card class after you finish (Replace Main.java)
• DeckTester.java - Used to test Deck class after you finish (Replace Main.java)
• HandTester.java - Used to test Hand class after you finish (Replace Main.java)
• BlackjackDemo.java File (Replace Main.java)
• New! - Practice Test - Chapter 11 - 12 (including complete solutions)
• Lesson 12.1 - Integer and Double class, Exceptions
• Junior Internship Day 1 Review
• Junior Internship Day 2 Review
• Junior Internship Day 3 Review
• How to unzip files on your Chromebook
• The Chomp files (in a zip file)
• Lesson 12.1 - Array vs. ArrayList
• Lesson 12.2 - Array Traversals
• Lesson 12.3 - 2D Arrays
• Lesson 11.1 - Array Introduction
• Lesson 11.2 - Array Traversals
• Lesson 11.3 - 2D Arrays
• The Main class for the Array Intro Project (put in Main.java)
• Wordle Assignment Description
• Wordle - The Main class for the Wordle Project (put in Main.java)
• Wordle - The Wordle class for the Wordle Project
• Wordle - The WordleGWindow class for the Wordle Project
• Wordle - The WordleEventListener class for the Wordle Project
• Milestone #3 - replace assignColors method in Wordle.java with this. DO NOT LOSE YOUR Wordle.java!!
• Lesson 10.1 - Introducing the String Class
• Lesson 10.2 - String Concatenation and String Examples (with loops)
• PigLatin Assignment
• The Main class for the PigLatin Project (put in Main.java)
• The PigLatin starter class for the PigLatin Project
• Practice Final Exam (Multiple Choice from AP Classroom Assignments)
• Practice Final Exam (Free Response)
• Practice Final Exam Solutions (Free Response)
• Practice Test - Chapter 6 - 8
• Practice Test - Chapter 6 - 8 Soutions (Multiple Choice and Free Response)
• The SnackBar class (put in Main.java)
• The Vendor class
• The VendingMachine class
• Pong Assignment
• Lesson 9.1 - Anatomy of a Class
• Lesson 9.2 - Parameter Passing in Java
• Lesson 9.3 - Classes and Methods - The Return statement and Overloading
• Lesson 9.4 - static Keyword in Java
• Link to Class Writing Tutorial
• Reference - The Vic Methods Gold Sheet
• The Vic class
• The DualDirectionVic class
• Cool Program
• Practice Rite of Passage Solution
• Practice Test - Chapter 1 - 8
• Practice Test - Chapter 1 - 8 Soutions (Multiple Choice and Free Response)
• Program #3 - The Craps class (put in Main.java)
• Program #3 - The CrapsGame class
• Program #3 - The RollingDie class
• Program #3 - The CrapsTable class
• Program #3 - The DisplayPanel class
• Program #3 - The ControlPanel class
• Program #3 - The CrapsTest1 class (Replace the code in Main.java for Testing)
• Program #3 - The CrapsStats class (Replace the code in Main.java for Testing)
• Vic Example done in our Notes
• Program #3 - The Craps JAR file
• The Java Quick Reference (aka "The Mamma Gold Sheet")
• Program #1 - RunningPaceCalculator class (put in Main.java)
• Program #2 - TriangleCalculator class (put in Main.java)
• Program #2 - Triangle class
• Program #2 - TriangleCalculatorFrame class
• Program #2 - TriangleCalculatorPanel class
• Challenge - FractionCalculator class (put in Main.java)
• Challenge - Fraction class
• Do - Assignments
• Tool - Our Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
• Use - The Turtle class
• Use - The Vic class
• Reference - The Turtle Methods Gold Sheet
• AP Classroom: Join the Class - Join Code: GXP3XZ

AP Computer Science Exam Review

Ap computer science practice problems & resources by topic.

Each section focuses on an AP Computer Science Exam topic that has been tested extensively on previous exams.

All problems were created by AP CS Tutor Brandon Horn of mrHorn.com, Inc.

Classes & objects

• Constructing objects
• Class writing order
• Class writing exercise
• Duplicate data as instance variables
• Primitive types vs references exercises
• Primitive types vs references exercises with calls
• this keyword
• Static vs instance methods and fields
• ZombiePlant FR
• Object oriented UI

Data types and decisions

• Floating point roundoff error
• Generate random numbers with Math.random()
• Strings on the AP CS A Exam
• compareTo on the AP CS A Exam
• Short circuit evaluation of boolean expressions
• Logical operator precedence
• Boolean expression simplification
• else statement pairing

Loops, arrays and ArrayList objects

• Find the minimum or maximum
• Run length increasing exercise
• Arrays as objects exercises
• Arrays of objects exercises
• Enhanced for loop exercises (including with 2D arrays)
• Consolidate (filter) an array
• ArrayList practice
• Insertion into a sorted list
• Specimen free response
• Aquarium FR
• CandidatePool FR
• MyArrayList exercise
• Intro to 2D arrays
• Treating a 2D array as an array of 1D arrays
• 2D array exercises
• MatrixManipulator exercise

Inheritance & polymorphism

• Inheritance and polymorphism
• Changing reference types
• WeightedDie free response
• TrickCard free response
• PirateParrot FR
• Writing recursive methods
• Tracing recursive methods
• Analyzing recursive methods
• Recursive methods with print statements
• Recursive helper methods
• Recursive base conversion exercise
• DeterminantFinder exercise

Sorting & searching

• Sequential/linear search
• Binary search
• Selection sort
• Insertion sort
• Blackjack Lab
• Running JUnit 5 tests

GridWorld Case Study

Note: The GridWorld Case Study is no longer tested on the AP CS A Exam. This content remains available for classes that still use GridWorld.

• Location class practice test
• Grid interface practice test
• GiraffeCritter free response practice
• GridTools free response practice
• Connect 4 in GridWorld practice

AP Computer Science Exam Answers

Multiple choice explanations for released exams & similar.

• 2004 AP CS A Multiple Choice Explanations
• A level from 2004 AP CS AB Multiple Choice Explanations
• 2009 AP CS A Multiple Choice Explanations
• 2014 AP CS A Course Description MC Explanations

2023 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• AppointmentBook Free Response Solution
• Sign Free Response Solution
• WeatherData Free Response Solution
• BoxOfCandy Free Response Solution

2022 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• Game Free Response Solution
• Textbook Free Response Solution
• ReviewAnalysis Free Response Solution
• Data Free Response Solution

2021 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• WordMatch Free Response Solution
• CombinedTable Free Response Solution
• ClubMembers Free Response Solution
• ArrayResizer Free Response Solution

2020 AP CS A Exam Free Response Solutions

The 2020 AP CS A Exam was administered online. Free response problems for the 2020 AP CS A Exam were not publicly released.

2019 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• APCalendar Free Response Solution
• StepTracker Free Response Solution
• Delimiters Free Response Solution
• LightBoard Free Response Solution

2018 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• FrogSimulation Free Response Solution
• WordPairList Free Response Solution
• CodeWordChecker Free Response Solution
• ArrayTester Free Response Solution

2017 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• Digits Free Response Solution
• MultPractice Free Response Solution
• Phrase Free Response Solution
• Successors Free Response Solution

2016 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• RandomStringChooser Free Response Solution
• LogMessage Free Response Solution
• Crossword Free Response Solution
• StringFormatter Free Response Solution

2015 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• DiverseArray Free Response Solution
• HiddenWord Free Response Solution
• SparseArray Free Response Solution
• NumberGroup Free Response Solution

2014 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• scrambleWord and scrambleOrRemove Free Response Solution
• Director Free Response Solution
• SeatingChart Free Response Solution
• Trio Free Response Solution

2013 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• MusicDownloads Free Response Solution
• TokenPass Free Response Solution
• GridWorldUtilities & JumpingCritter Free Response Solution
• Skyview Free Response Solution

2012 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• ClimbingClub Free Response Solution
• RetroBug Free Response Solution
• HorseBarn Free Response Solution
• GrayImage Free Response Solution

2011 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• Sound Free Response Solution
• AttractiveCritter Free Response Solution
• FuelDepot Free Response Solution
• RouteCipher Free Response Solution

2010 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• MasterOrder Free Response Solution
• APLine Free Response Solution
• Trail Free Response Solution
• GridChecker Free Response Solution

2009 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• NumberCube Free Response Solution
• StockpileCritter Free Response Solution
• BatteryCharger Free Response Solution
• TileGame Free Response Solution

2008 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• Trip Free Response Solution
• StringCoder Free Response Solution
• Checker Free Response Solution

2007 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• SelfDivisor Free Response Solution
• StudentAnswerSheet Free Response Solution
• GameState Free Response Solution

2006 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• DailySchedule Free Response Solution
• Item Free Response Solution
• Customer Free Response Solution

2005 AP CS Exam Free Response Solutions

• Hotel Free Response Solution
• Ticket Free Response Solution
• StudentRecord Free Response Solution

2004 AP CS A Exam Free Response Solutions

• WordList Free Response Solution
• Pet Free Response Solution
• Robot Free Response Solution

Long Nguyen

Resources and online courses for Math and Computer Science.

AP Computer Science Java

This is a resource for teachers and students for AP Computer Science A. This curriculum follows the newly revised 2019 College Board curriculum, which consists of 10 units. In addition, the emphasis is to help students learn how to code 2D arcade games using Processing . In particular, students will work on writing a full platformer game like Super Mario from scratch.

Lecture Notes

The following powerpoint lecture slides are adapted from the book Building Java Programs: A Back to Basics Approach by Stuart Reges and Marty Stepp as well as the Runestone's CS Awesome curriculum.

Unit 1: Primitive Types

• Basic Java Syntax ( PPT , PDF )
• Variables and Datatypes ( PPT , PDF )
• Arithmetic Operations ( PPT , PDF )
• Primitive Types Worksheet

Unit 2: Using Objects

• Objects: Instances of Classes ( PPT , PDF )
• (OPTIONAL) User Input with Scanner ( PPT , PDF )
• Methods ( PPT , PDF )
• Strings ( PPT , PDF )
• Math Class And Wrapper Classes ( PPT , PDF )

Unit 3: Boolean Expressions and if statements

• Boolean Expressions and if-else-else if statements ( PPT , PDF )
• Compound Boolean Expressions and Comparing Objects ( PPT , PDF )

Unit 4: Iterations

• While Loops ( PPT , PDF )
• For Loops ( PPT , PDF )
• Nested Loops ( PPT , PDF )

(*Optional*)Computer Animation with Processing

• The Basics( PPT , PDF )
• Introduction to Processing Lab( ZIP )
• Bouncing Ball Lab( ZIP )
• Working with Images( PPT , PDF )
• Controlling an Image with the Keyboard Lab( ZIP )
• Collision Detection( PPT , PDF )
• Tank Collects Coins Lab(Processing)( ZIP )
• Simple Platformer Game(Mario)( PPT , PDF )
• Simple Platformer(Processing, requires Arraylists)( ZIP )

Unit 5: Writing Classes

• Anatomy of a Java Class ( PPT , PDF )
• Implementing the Sprite Class( ZIP )
• Controlling a Sprite Using the Keyboard( ZIP )
• Writing Methods ( PPT , PDF )
• Variables, Scope and Semantics ( PPT , PDF )

Unit 6: Arrays

• Introduction to Arrays( PPT , PDF )
• Largest Ball Object Lab( ZIP )
• For Each and Array Algorithms( PPT , PDF )

Unit 7: ArrayLists

• Introduction to ArrayLists( PPT , PDF )
• ArrayList Lab(Processing)( ZIP )
• Searching and Sorting( PPT , PDF )

Unit 8: 2D Arrays

• 2D Arrays( PPT , PDF )
• Connect-Four Lab(Processing)( ZIP )

Unit 9: Inheritance

• Inheritance( PPT , PDF )
• Polymorphism( PPT , PDF )

Unit 10: Recursion

• Recursion( PPT , PDF )
• Fractal Circle Lab(Processing)( ZIP )
• Sierspinski Triangle Lab(Processing)( ZIP )

Preparing for the AP Exam

• Preparation for the AP Exam( PPT , PDF )

How to Write a Platformer Game in Java

In this short video series course , we will learn how to write a platformer (or side-scrolling) game like Super Mario. We will write this game from scratch with very basic algebra without relying on any physics engine! Here's a short 2-minute preview of the game. The entire Youtube playlist for this curriculum can be found here . The webpage including labs for the curriculum is here .

Coding Challenges

A series of coding challenges. Most are mathematical in focus and require some trignometry. The distribution code is included and provides a template for completing the code. Processing is used for the animation challenges.

• Ball Bounces Off Angles
• Inverse Kinematics: Pulling A String
• Billiard Ball Collisions

Final Projects

• Eel: 3D Snake Game by Adam Grant.
• Tetris by Jason Mar.
• Space Wars by Ricky Ciliberto.
• Shooter by Ricky Ciliberto.
• Tiny Tanks by Ben Givertz.
• Star Wars Galaga by Damon Prum.
• Tron by Rachel Lee.
• Space Invaders by Kathy Mei.
• Flippy Bird by John Mikulskis.
• Crazy Snakey by John Mikulskis.

Find what you need to study

💻 AP Computer Science A

📌 exam date: may 8, 2024.

Cram Finales

Study Guides

Practice Questions

AP Cheatsheets

Study Plans

AP Comp Sci A Unit 2 Study Guides

Unit 2 – using objects.

Unit 2 Overview: Using Objects

10 min read

written by Kashvi Panjolia

Objects: Instances of Classes

written by Milo Chang

Creating and Storing Objects (Instantiation)

Calling a Void Method

written by user_sophia9212

Calling a Void Method With Parameters

Calling a Non-Void Method

String Objects: Concatenation, Literals, and More

String Methods

Wrapper Classes: Integer and Double

Using the Math Class

Additional Resources

Study Tools

2024 AP Computer Science A Exam Guide

written by A Q

Exam Skills

Score Higher on AP Comp Sci A 2024: MCQ Tips from Students

Score Higher on AP Comp Sci A 2024: FRQ Tips from Students

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Use "int" or "double"?

Private Variables

How to Write Method Headers

What Are the 5 Best Resources for AP Computer Science Principles?

written by Harrison Burnside

AP Computer Science Myths

AP Cram Sessions 2021

AP Computer Science A PDF Cheat Sheet & Review Chart

written by Aaron Cope

AP Computer Science A Cram Unit 1: Primitive Types

slides by Takeisha Moranza

🌶️ AP Comp Sci A Cram Review: Unit 1: Primitive Types

streamed by Takeisha Moranza

🌶️ AP Comp Sci A Cram Review: Unit 2: Using Objects

AP Computer Science A Cram Unit 2: Using Objects

🌶️ AP Comp Sci A Cram Review: Unit 3: Boolean Expressions and if Statements

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Introduction to CSP and Unit 1 Overview

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, is ap computer science principles hard.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Before deciding to take any AP class, it's helpful to get an idea of whether you'll be able to manage the coursework and the exam. AP Computer Science Principles is less known by many students than more popular AP exams like US History and Biology, and many don't know what to expect from it.

Is AP Computer Science Principles hard? What if you're already pretty good at coding? (Or what if you've never coded before?) In this guide, we'll go over the five factors to consider when judging the difficulty of any AP class and explain how you can use this information to predict how hard AP Comp Sci Principles will be for you.  

What Determines the Difficulty of an AP Course? 5 Key Factors

There are five main factors to consider when deciding whether AP Computer Science Principles is difficult compared with other AP courses. We'll give you a quick rundown of these before answering our main question: is AP Computer Science Principles hard?

As you read through each of the factors, you'll see that none of them is black and white, and an initial data point may give false information if you don't understand the entire picture. Because of that, we'll do in-depth analysis in the next sections.

Factor 1: Pass Rate

Factor 2: percentage of students who earn a 5.

The 5 rate is the percentage of students who earn 5s ( the highest possible score ) on the AP test. If the 5 rate is on the lower side, it could indicate that the material is more difficult to master.

Like with Factor 1, a low 5 rate can also sometimes happen with very popular classes. The proportion of students who are prepared for an AP test tends to decrease as the total number of students taking it increases.

Factor 3: Content Difficulty

This boils down to the amount of material the AP course covers and how advanced that material is. You'd expect easier classes to have higher pass and 5 rates. However, some AP courses have high 5 and pass rates because their content is extremely challenging and only very driven students will take them—not because they're easy.

Factor 4: How Students Perceive the Class

Factor 5: when students take the class, how hard is ap computer science principles: what the data says.

Here's how students scored on the AP Computer Science Principles AP exam in 2021:

Source: College Board

By looking at the data, we can see that 12.4% of students earned a 5 on the Comp Sci Principles exam last year, and 66.6% passed the exam. The average score for the exam is a 2.99, or just barely under passing.

So, how hard is the AP Computer Science Principles exam? Out of 43 AP exams offered, 17 had a higher 5 rate than Computer Science Principles and 26 had a lower 5 rate. In terms of pass rate, 24 had a higher pass rate, and 19 had a lower pass rate. 

So far, based on the data, AP Computer Science Principles seems about average in terms of AP scores. Its 5 rate is slightly above average, and its pass rate is slightly below average.

As we mentioned above, the popularity of an AP exam can also affect 5 and pass rates. In 2021, 116,466 students took the AP Computer Science Principles exam. Sixteen tests were more popular, and 21 were less popular. This makes AP Computer Science Principles slightly more popular to take than the average AP exam, but still pretty close to the average.

What can we deduce from this data? It indicates that AP Computer Science Principles is about average in difficulty. Its 5 score and passing rate are around the middle of those for other AP exams. Additionally, the exam is about average in terms of the number of students who take it as well, which means we can't make assumptions we could for other exams with especially low or high popularity. So is AP Computer Science Principles about average in difficulty? We know that statistics only show one side of the story, so let's look at some more information.

Is the AP Comp Sci Principles Content Difficult?

The AP Computer Science Principles course is designed to give students a broad overview of computing. In the class, students learn how to use computer science to create algorithms and programs that solve problems. The teacher chooses the programming language for the course. There are five main course topics:

• Computational Solution Design: Design and evaluate computational solutions for a purpose.
• Algorithms and Program Development: Develop and implement algorithms.
• Abstraction in Program Development: Develop programs that incorporate abstractions.
• Code Analysis: Evaluate and test algorithms and programs.
• Computing Innovations: Investigate computing innovations.

The content for AP Computer Science Principles is generally seen as average to easier than average in difficulty, depending on your coding abilities. The course gives a broad introduction to computer science, so even if you don't have a background in the subject (and many students don't), you won't be inundated with nitty gritty details. The class and exam also emphasize practical skills, so there's little memorization, which sets the Comp Sci Principles apart from many other AP courses. Many students find the course makes a lot of intuitive sense because you're working to complete different tasks, and you can create solutions that make the most sense to you. Students who already know some computer science often find the course even easier because it teaches principles they're already somewhat familiar with.

Do Students Think AP Computer Science Principles Is Hard?

Most students who take AP Computer Science Principles find both the class and the AP exam to be manageable, especially when they come into the course with some level of coding knowledge. 

The beginning of the class can be difficult and involve a lot of homework as you learn the basics of coding. A lot of coding involves trial and error until you're able to complete the task you want, and this can be challenging and time consuming for students. However, the course is designed to move at a steady, manageable pace, so as long as you keep up with the work and don't get too far behind, you should be OK. If you know how to do some coding already, you'll likely find the class even easier, but even students who have never coded before often do well on both the course and the exam (just be prepared for a busy first few weeks, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you're stuck on a task).

The Computer Science Principles AP exam is actually considered one of the easier tests, as long as you prepare for it. One major benefit is that the Create Task--which is worth a full 30% of your final AP test score--must be done ahead of the exam, either in class or on your own time. Most teachers give you multiple class periods to work on your Create Task, and you're allowed to collaborate with your classmates for every part of it except the actual program code. That means that, on exam day, you'll only complete a multiple-choice section. This is great for students who often feel rushed or anxious during exams, especially on free-response problems. You'll have as much time as you want to work on your Create Task.

As for the exam content itself, students state that the multiple-choice questions and Create Task are more straightforward than other AP questions and don't use as much vague/tricky wording. Generally, if your computer science skills are solid, you'll do well on the exam.

Will AP Computer Science Principles Be Hard for You?

Looking at trends and reading the opinions of others can be helpful, but, when it comes down to it, every student is different and has their own strengths and weaknesses. If you're wondering "how hard is AP Computer Science Principles" for you, there are three things you should do to get a clearer picture of what your AP Comp Sci Principles experience will be like, and how difficult you'll find it. 

#1: Decide If AP Computer Science Principles Is Your Kind of Subject

#2: ask former students, guidance counselors, and teachers about the class.

One of the best ways to decide how hard an AP exam will be is to ask students and teachers at your school who are familiar with the class and the exam. If you know any older students who have similar academic records to you, ask them what they thought of AP Computer Science Principles and the overall workload. If you're already taking a computer-related class, you can also ask that teacher if they think you're ready for AP Computer Science Principles. 

Alternatively, you could ask your guidance counselor what their opinion is of the class based on the performance of past students. They'll have knowledge of pass rates and 5 rates for the exam for students at your school, and they will also have heard a lot of opinions from other students over the years.

#3: Consider Your Schedule

Conclusion: is ap computer science hard.

So, is AP Computer Science Principles easy, or is AP Computer Science hard? Overall, most students find both the course and the exam to be somewhat easier than most other APs. There's no memorizing long lists of dates or terminology, and test questions are pretty straightforward. Additionally, students work on the Create Task at their own pace before the exam, and they're allowed to collaborate with classmates for every part of the task except that actual program code. This means that, come test day, they only have multiple-choice questions to worry about.

Student scores show that AP scores for Computer Science Principles students are about average for both 5 rates and passing rates compared to other exams. Students generally find the work manageable, but note that it can be more time-consuming in the beginning of the year, when you're just learning how to code.

More than most other exams though, how challenging you find AP Computer Science Principles will depend a lot on the knowledge and skills you have coming into the class. If you already have a solid grasp on coding, you may find the class quite easy (in fact, some students with strong coding skills self-study for the AP exam ). If you don't have any experience coding or it's not a skill that comes easily to you, you might struggle more. However, it's important to know that many complete coding beginners excel in AP Computer Science Principles by putting in the time, staying on top of the work, and asking for help when they're stuck. Follow those guidelines, and you'll put yourself in a great place for success.

What's Next?

Interested in learning more about AP Computer Science Principles? Our in-depth guide goes over everything you need to know about the AP Comp Sci Principles class and the AP exam!

Want to show off your computer science skills? Read our article on the 11 best computer science competitions for teens and get practicing!

Thinking about majoring in computer science?  Learn what a computer science major will be like and if it's the right choice for you.

Looking for help studying for your AP exam?

Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. Get matched with a top tutor who got a high score on the exam you're studying for!

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., guide to the computer science a exam.

The AP ® Computer Science A Exam is a college-level exam administered every year in May upon the completion of an Advanced Placement Computer Science A course taken at your high school. If you score high enough, your AP Computer Science A score could earn you  college credit ! 

Check out our AP Computer Science A Guide for the essential info you need about the exam:

• AP Computer Science A Exam Overview
• Differences Between Comp Sci A and Comp Sci Principles
• Question Types
• Reference Sheet
• How to Prepare

What’s on the AP Computer Science A Exam?

The College Board is very detailed in what they require your AP teacher to cover in your AP Computer Science A course. They explain that you should be familiar with the following topics:

• Primitive Types
• Using Objects
• Boolean Expressions and if Statements
• Writing Classes
• Inheritance

Check out our AP Computer Science A Prep book for a comprehensive content review

What’s the difference between AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles?  

The AP Computer Science A course and exam focus on computing skills related to programming in Java. Students cultivate their understanding of coding through analyzing, writing, and testing code as they explore concepts like modularity, variables, and control structures.

AP Computer Science Principles provides students with a broad introduction to computer science and how it relates to other fields.

The AP Computer Science Principles course complements AP Computer Science A and focuses on the broader aspects of computing. Students learn to design and evaluate solutions and to apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. They incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. Students also explain how computing innovations and computing systems including the internet work, explore the potential impacts of these innovations, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical.

Additionally, the AP Exams for the two courses have different formats. AP Computer Science A has one end-of-course exam with multiple-choice and free-response questions. AP Computer Science Principles includes the Create performance task, which is completed during the course, and an end-of-course multiple-choice exam.

Comp Sci A Sections and Question Types

The AP Computer Science A exam is three hours long and consists of two sections: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section.

Note: The College Board has not yet announced if the 2021 digital version of the AP Computer Science A exam will be in place for future exam years. For updates on the digital test and its format, please visit the  AP Computer Science A page on the College Board's website.

AP Computer Science A Multiple-Choice

40 multiple-choice questions with 5 answer choices. Mostly individual questions, with one or two sets of multiple questions (typically two or three questions per set).

AP Computer Science A Free-Response Questions

The free response section consists of four multi-part questions, all of which assess Computational Thinking Practice 3: Code Implementation. All five skills within this practice are assessed across the 4 free-response questions.  

Can you use a calculator on the AP Computer Science A exam?

Ap computer science a exam reference sheet.

A table of methods from the Java library commonly used in computer science will be provided to you at the exam site. Check out what the this Java Quick Reference documents looks like here .

How to Interpret AP Computer Science A Scores

Source: College Board

How Can I Prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP Computer Science A content and strategy, pick the AP prep option that works best for your goals and learning style.

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