Exam Overview
The AP Computer Science Principles Exam assesses student understanding of the computational thinking practices and learning objectives outlined in the course framework. The AP Exam consists of the Create performance task and an end-of-course exam. For more information, download the AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam Description(CED). An updated document, featuring changes to the Create performance task, was posted in fall 2023.
Encourage your students to visit the AP Computer Science Principles student page for exam information.
Assessment Dates
Updates to Create Performance Task
Given the implications of ChatGPT and other similar generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools on the Create performance task, changes have been made to the Create performance task for 2023-24. Review the Exam Format section below for details.
Teacher Webinar
A recording of the 2023-24 Create Performance Task Updates webinar is now available on the Overview page of the Course Guide section in AP Classroom, under Teacher Resources.
New AP Daily Videos
Get students to watch the four new AP Daily videos in AP Classroom to learn more about the Create performance task and the exam. To access these videos, students can 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 are the first four listed:
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Create Performance Task: Overview
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Create Performance Task: Guidelines
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Create Performance Task: Pacing Your Project
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Create Performance Task: Categories and Questions
Exam Format
The AP Computer Science Principles end-of-course exam has consistent question types and weighting every year, so you and your students know what to expect on exam day.
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
Section II: Create Performance Task: Written Responses
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 students will develop a computer program of their choice and an end-of-course written response section where students demonstrate their understanding of their personal Create performance task by answering four prompts. Students will be provided 9 hours of in-class time to complete their program, video, and develop a Personalized Project Reference.
On the end-of-course exam, students will respond to two questions related to the code in their 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). Students will have access to their Personalized Project Reference while responding to these prompts. The four categories listed below align to the four prompts.
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Prompt Category |
Required Learning Objectives |
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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:
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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:
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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:
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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:
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