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Advanced Placement (AP)Computer Science Principles (also known asAP CSP) is anAP Computer Science course and examination offered by theCollege Board under theAdvanced Placement program. The course is designed as an equivalent to a first-semester course incomputing.[1] Assessment for AP Computer Science Principles is divided into two parts: a Create Performance Task due during the course, as well as an AP exam.[2]
AP Computer Science Principles examines a variety of computing topics on a largely conceptual level, and teachesprocedural programming. In the Create "Through-Course Assessment", students must develop a program, demonstrated in a video and a written reflection. The course may be taught in anyprogramming language withprocedures,mathematical expressions,variables,lists,conditionals, andloops.[3] Coding portions of the AP exam are based in both text-based andblock-basedpseudocode, as defined by the providedreference sheet.
The AP Computer Science Principles Exam was administered for the first time on May 5, 2017.
The framework focuses on computational thinking practices which are applied throughout the curriculum. The concept outline included in the curriculum is divided into seven units called "Big Ideas". Each unit contains a series of "Learning Objectives". Each "Learning Objective" is a general benchmark of student performance or understanding which has an associated "Enduring Understanding". An "Enduring Understanding" is a core comprehension which students should retain well after completing the course. Each "Learning Objective" is split into multiple "Essential Knowledge" standards, which are specific facts or content which the student must know to demonstrate mastery of the learning objective when assessed.[4]
| Computational Thinking Practices: Skills[3] | Concept Outline[3] |
|---|---|
|
|
Prior to 2021, the first task was the Explore section. The explore section was removed prior to the 2021 exam. The exam prior to 2021 is described as follows:
| Score | 2017[8] | 2018[9] | 2019[10] | 2020[11] | 2021[12] | 2022[13] | 2023[14] | 2024[15] | 2025[16] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 13.8% | 14.0% | 13.8% | 10.9% | 12.4% | 11.4% | 11.5% | 10.9% | 11% |
| 4 | 21.7% | 21.1% | 21.0% | 23.6% | 21.7% | 21.0% | 20.6% | 20% | 20% |
| 3 | 39.1% | 36.1% | 37.1% | 37.1% | 32.5% | 31.1% | 31.1% | 33.1% | 32% |
| 2 | 18.3% | 19.7% | 18.8% | 19.8% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 20.5% | 20.3% | 22% |
| 1 | 7.2% | 9.2% | 9.3% | 8.6% | 13.6% | 16.6% | 16.4% | 15.7% | 15% |
| % of Scores 3 or Higher | 74.5% | 71.2% | 71.9% | 71.6% | 66.5% | 63.5% | 63.1% | 64% | 61.9% |
| Mean | 3.17 | 3.11 | 3.11 | 3.09 | 2.99 | 2.91 | 2.90 | 2.90 | 2.87 |
| Standard Deviation | 1.10 | 1.15 | 1.14 | 1.10 | 1.21 | 1.23 | 1.23 | 1.21 | |
| Number of Students | 44,330 | 72,187 | 96,105 | 116,751 | 116,466 | 134,651 | 164,505 | 175,261 |