AP Computer Science A

This is a fully digital exam. Students complete multiple-choice and free-response questions in the Bluebook testing app, with all responses automatically submitted at the end of the exam. The Java Quick Reference (.pdf) is included in Bluebook and lists the accessible methods from the Java library that may be included on the exam.  Schools can print this reference information and provide it to students on exam day.

Exam questions assess the course concepts and skills outlined in the course framework. For more information, download the AP Computer Science A Course and Exam Description (.pdf) (CED). Scoring guidelines for each of the sample free-response questions in the CED are also available. 

Encourage your students to visit the AP Computer Science A student page for exam information.

Section I: Multiple Choice 

42 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 55% of Exam Score

• The multiple-choice section includes mostly individual questions, occasionally with 1–2 sets of questions (2 questions per set).
• Computational Thinking Practices 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all assessed in the multiple-choice section.

Section II: Free Response

4 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 45% of Exam Score

All free-response questions assess Computational Thinking Practice 2: Develop Code, with the following focus: 

• Question 1: Methods and Control Structures—Students will write 2 methods or 1 constructor and 1 method of a given class based on provided specifications and examples. In Part A the method or constructor will require students to write iterative or conditional statements, or both, as well as statements that call methods in the specified class. In Part B the method or constructor will require calling String methods.
• Question 2: Class Design—Students will be instructed to design and implement a class based on provided specifications and examples. A second class might also be included. Students will be provided with a scenario and specifications in the form of a table demonstrating ways to interact with the class and the results. The class must include a class header, instance variables, a constructor, a method, and implementation of the constructor and required method.
• Question 3: Data Analysis with ArrayList—Students will be provided with a scenario and its associated class(es). Students will write 1 method of a given class based on provided specifications and examples. The method requires students to use, analyze, and manipulate data in an ArrayList structure.
• Question 4: 2D Array—Students will be provided with a scenario and its associated class(es). Students will write 1 method of a given class based on provided specifications and examples. The method requires students to use, analyze, and manipulate data in a 2D array structure.