AP Computer Science A Revisions for 2025-26
We periodically update AP courses and exams to reflect new developments in their disciplines and more clearly communicate required content and skills.
Recent college faculty surveys and syllabus studies have shown that many Computer Science 1 and 2 courses use Java. We revised AP Computer Science A to reflect this research and align with other expectations of current introductory college programming courses.
The revisions take effect with the 2025-26 school year (May 2026 AP Exams).
What Changed?
Course Revisions
- Added topics on text files and data sets.
- Removed the inheritance unit (Unit 9). This will more closely align the course with introductory college courses and allow teachers to cover other topics in more detail.
- Consolidated Units 1–8 and 10 into 4 units.
Exam Revisions
Multiple-Choice Section
- 42 questions—an increase from 40.
- 4 answer choices per question—a decrease from 5.
- 55% of overall exam score—an increase from 50%.
Free-Response Section
- 4 shortened questions with 25 scored points—a decrease from 36 scored points.
- Removed arrays from Question 3 (Data Analysis with
ArrayList). This question will focus only onArrayLists. - 45% of overall exam score—a decrease from 50%.
FAQ
Why are you revising AP Computer Science A?
We periodically update AP courses and exams to reflect new developments in their disciplines and more clearly communicate required content and skills.
Recent college faculty surveys and syllabus studies have shown that many Computer Science 1 and 2 courses use Java. We revised AP Computer Science A to reflect this research and align with other expectations of current introductory college programming courses.
Will AP Computer Science A teachers need to resubmit in the AP Course Audit?
Yes. All new and returning AP Computer Science A teachers will need to complete the AP Course Audit by January 31, 2026.
Will there be new practice exams?
Yes. A new practice exam will be available in the summer before launch with additional new practice exams released during the 2025-26 school year.
Will there be new AP Classroom resources for the revised course and exam?
Yes. We’ll update AP Classroom resources throughout the 2025-26 school year.
What professional learning opportunities will be available to help teachers prepare for the new content?
We’re offering AP Summer Institutes and other professional learning opportunities for teachers beginning in summer 2025. Visit the AP Professional Learning Calendar and use the Subject Area filter to find AP Computer Science A workshops. Endorsed providers are also updating their professional learning opportunities for teachers.
Will the textbooks teachers currently use for AP Computer Science A work with the revised course?
Yes. Textbooks published in the last 10 years will adequately address the revised course material.
We will work with publishers to update their materials so that schools can purchase new textbooks if they wish. We’ve also notified endorsed providers about the revisions.
Who was involved in the revisions?
Multiple committees consisting of high school teachers and higher education faculty were responsible for the revisions. We also gathered feedback on the revised framework from an advisory board of more than 40 college faculty and AP Computer Science A teachers.
Did you consult colleges and universities, and will they still have the same credit policies?
We consulted universities during the revision process and included many faculty members on the advisory board. We expect these revisions will preserve current credit and placement policies and create opportunities to broaden them.
Did you update the labs?
Yes. Updated labs are available in AP Classroom.
Will endorsed providers update their materials?
Yes. Endorsed providers will update their curricula, syllabi, and professional learning to align with the revisions.