AP Computer Science Principles Assessment

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About the Exam

The 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.

Create Performance Task in 2024-25

Given the implications of ChatGPT and other similar generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, changes were made to the Create performance task in 2023-24, that will continue to apply in the 2024-25 academic year. Review the Exam Components section below for details.

To learn more about the Create performance task and the exam, you can watch AP Daily 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

Exam Duration
3hrs

Exam Dates

Wed, Apr 30, 2025

11:59 PM ET

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.

Review the AP CSP Exam Timeline

Thu, May 15, 2025

12 PM Local

AP Computer Science Principles Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP Computer Science Principles Exam.

Details Add to Calendar

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:

CRD-2.A: Describe the purpose of a computing innovation.
CRD-2.B: Explain how a program or code segment functions.
CRD-2.C: Identify input(s) to a program.
CRD-2.D: Identify output(s) produced by a program.
CRD-2.E: Develop a program using a development process.
CRD-2.F: Design a program and its user interface.
CRD-2.G: Describe the purpose of a code segment or program by writing documentation.

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:

CRD-2.B: Explain how a program or code segment functions.
AAP-2.E.b: Evaluate expressions that use relational operators.
AAP-2.F.b: Evaluate expressions that use logic operators.
AAP-2.H.b: Determine the result of conditional statements.
AAP-2.J: Express an algorithm that uses iteration without using a programming language.
AAP-2.K.b: Determine the result or side effect of iteration statements.
AAP-2.L: Compare multiple algorithms to determine if they yield the same side effect or result.
AAP-2.M.a: Create algorithms.
AAP-2.M.b: Combine and modify existing algorithms.

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:

CRD-2.I.a: Identify the error.
CRD-2.I.b: Correct the error.
CRD-2.J: Identify inputs and corresponding expected outputs or behaviors that can be used to check the correctness of an algorithm or program.

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:

AAP-1.D.a: Develop data abstraction using lists to store multiple elements.
AAP-1.D.b: Explain how the use of data abstraction manages complexity in program code.
AAP-2.O.a: Write iteration statements to traverse a list.
AAP-2.O.b: Determine the result of an algorithm that includes list traversals.
AAP-3.B: Explain how the use of procedural abstraction manages complexity in a program.

How We Score Your Work

The Create performance task, like the end-of-course exam given in May, is scored by trained, experienced educators called AP readers.

Exam Essentials

Sign In to AP Digital Portfolio

Learn How to Submit Your Work

See Exam-Day Policies

Read About Accommodations

Get Exam Tips

Review the AP CSP Exam Timeline

Exam Preparation

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AP Classroom Resources

Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access AP Daily videos and topic question assignments from your teacher in AP Classroom. AP Daily videos cover every topic and skill outlined in the AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam Description. You can use these on your own for additional support as you prepare for your assessment task models. Sign in to access them.

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Practice on Bluebook

Download the Bluebook app and log in with your College Board account information to access test previews for the available digital AP subjects.

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AP Computer Science Principles Student Handouts

Get detailed directions for completing the Create performance task.

PDF
4.42 KB

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AP Computer Science Principles Exam Reference Sheet

This reference sheet is distributed to students for use during the multiple-choice section of the end-of-course exam. It contains both block-based and text-based programming constructs and establishes a common way to communicate programming concepts.

PDF
4.42 KB

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AP Computer Science Principles Personalized Project Reference Tip Sheet

This tip sheet will help you understand the guidelines for creating a readable Personalized Project Reference, which must be submitted as final by the deadline in the AP Digital Portfolio for access on exam day.

PDF
4.42 KB

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AP Digital Portfolio: Student User Guide

This guide will help you navigate the AP Digital Portfolio and submit work for AP Art and Design, AP Capstone, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP with WE Service.

PDF
4.42 KB

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Free-Response Questions and Scoring Information

Go to AP Central to review free-response questions, sample student responses, and scoring commentary from past AP Computer Science Principles exams.

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AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and the AP Program in general.

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Services for Students with Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations for the through-course assessment and the end-of-course exam. If you’re using assistive technology and need help accessing the PDFs in this section in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at ssd@info.collegeboard.org. For information about taking AP Exams, or other College Board assessments, with accommodations, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website.

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Guidance for Artificial Intelligence Tools and Other Services

Learn more about the AP Program’s policy on generative AI tools (e.g., Midjourney).

AP Computer Science Principles

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