AP CSP Accommodations FAQ

Beginning with the 2024 AP Exam administration, during Section II of the AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) Exam, students will refer to their Personalized Project Reference (PPR) to complete their written responses. Prior to exam day, AP coordinators need to print the PPR, which students submit through the AP Digital Portfolio, for each student taking the exam. The PPR for each student testing must be provided to the proctor along with exam materials on exam day.  

Specific guidance applies for students testing with certain accommodations, such as braille, large-print, or assistive technology. This guidance is detailed in the following FAQs.

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Students will need to have their printed Personalized Project Reference (PPR), which the AP coordinator prints before exam day and gives to the proctor. If a student is using zoom/screen magnification, there's the option for them to use a second computer to view their PPR. 

If the student is taking the ATC-format exam using zoom/screen magnification:  

• The student can use a printed copy of the PPR, printed at a size large enough to meet the student’s need.   

OR

• The PPR may be downloaded onto a second computer by the AP coordinator before the exam, which the student can use only during Section II of the exam with the screen magnification software. The computer used for this purpose must be school-owned and -controlled; a student may not use their own or a family member’s computer. The computer must be disconnected from any networks and the internet. 

If the student is taking the ATC-format exam with a screen reader, the student will need a printed copy of their PPR and will need to be assisted by a human reader only during Section II of the exam.  

An accommodations request needs to be submitted through SSD Online for any student who needs to be assisted by a human reader during Section II of the exam and who does not already have an approval for a human reader on record with the College Board SSD Office.   

Any student testing with a human reader will need to be tested in a 1:1 setting for the entire exam, even though the human reader will assist the student only during Section II.   

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For students taking a braille AP CSP Exam, schools may  either braille the Personalized Project Reference (PPR) or the student may receive assistance from a human reader for the printed (not braille) PPR during Section II of the exam.   

An accommodations request needs to be submitted through SSD Online for any student who needs to be assisted by a human reader during Section II of the exam and who does not already have an approval for a human reader on record with the College Board SSD Office.

Any student testing with a human reader will need to be tested in a 1:1 setting for the entire exam, even though the human reader will assist the student only during Section II. 

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Schools will need to provide the printout of the Personalized Project Reference (PPR) for students. The student will need a human reader only during Section II to assist them in reading the printed PPR.   

An accommodations request needs to be submitted through SSD Online for any student who needs to be assisted by a human reader during Section II of the exam and who does not already have an approval for a human reader on record with the College Board SSD Office.   

Any student testing with a human reader will need to be tested in a 1:1 setting for the entire exam, even though the human reader will assist the student only during Section II. 

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A human reader must be familiar with the signs, symbols, terms, or words that are specific to the exam content. Review the AP Coordinator Manual, Part 2 and the AP SSD Guidelines for complete reader eligibility criteria.  

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Schools will need to print the Personalized Project Reference (PPR) at the appropriate size for students taking a large-print AP CSP Exam.   

If a student is approved to use screen magnification software:

• The PPR may be downloaded onto a computer by the AP coordinator before the exam, which the student can use only during Section II of the exam with their screen magnification software. The computer used for this purpose must be school-owned and -controlled; a student may not use their own or a family member’s computer. The computer must be disconnected from any networks and the internet.  

OR 

• Provide the student with a printed copy of the PPR, printed at a size large enough to meet the student’s need. 

Reminder: A student may use screen magnification software only if they’ve been approved for this specific accommodation by the College Board SSD Office.   

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The new Section II: Written Response portion of the AP CSP Exam is 1 hour with standard time. With extended time, the section is:  

• Time and One Half (+50%): 1 hour 30 minutes  

• Double Time (+100%): 2 hours 

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Extended time for reading, writing, and mathematical calculations are applicable to Section II: Written Response of the AP CSP Exam.

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Yes, multiple-day testing is available for AP CSP. Multiple-day testing across two days is available for either the paper or digital AP CSP Exam. If a student needs to test across three or more days, they’ll need to take the paper AP CSP Exam. 

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If a student is taking the digital AP CSP Exam, the AP coordinator will need to print a copy of the student’s Personalized Project Reference (PPR) for the student to use during Section II of the exam, the same as for a student taking a paper exam. 

If a student is approved to use screen magnification software, the PPR may be downloaded onto a computer by the AP coordinator before the exam, which the student can use only during Section II of the exam with their screen magnification software. The computer used for this purpose must be school-owned and -controlled; a student may not use their own or a family member’s computer. The computer must be disconnected from any networks and the internet. 

If a student is approved to use screen reader assistive technology with their digital exam, they will need to have a human reader assist them only for reading the PPR during Section II.  

An accommodations request needs to be submitted through SSD Online for any student who needs to be assisted by a human reader during Section II of the exam and who does not already have an approval for a human reader on record with the College Board SSD Office.   

Any student testing with a human reader will need to be tested in a 1:1 setting for the entire exam, even though the human reader will assist the student only during Section II.   

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