Important Updates
Scoring Guidelines and Notes for the 2019 exam administration
We have written clearer instructions for some of the decision rules and scoring notes columns in the Scoring Guidelines and Notes for the 2019 exam administration to improve teachers' experience with instruction, and student scoring. Note that the scoring criteria and the performance tasks have not changed. Access the 2019 scoring guidelines and notes on the AP Scoring Guidelines and Notes for the 2019 exam administration section of this page.
Endorsed Providers
The College Board has endorsed curriculum and professional development by two new education organizations: CodeCombat and EMC School. Find out more.
Teaching and Assessing Modules
Teaching and Assessing AP Computer Science Principles, a free professional development resource, includes videos of master teachers modeling key instructional strategies for challenging skills and content, and resources to help you implement those strategies in your classroom. Log in or learn more about access.
Assessment Overview and Performance Task Directions for Students
In response to your feedback, we have pulled the Reproducible for Students section from the Course and Exam Description to create a new publication titled Assessment Overview and Performance Task Directions for Students. Please download and share this document with your students, as it provides instructions around the performance tasks and explanations on questions they will see on the AP Exam.
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- TUES, APR 30, 2019, 11:59 PM ET
AP Computer Science Principles Performance Tasks Due
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- Fri, May 10, 2019
AP Computer Science Principles Exam Day 2019
Assessment Overview
The AP Computer Science Principles Assessment consists of two parts: performance tasks and the end-of-course AP Exam. Both measure student achievement of the course learning objectives.
Assessment Format
Two Performance Tasks | 40% of Overall AP Score
- Create — Applications from Ideas | 24% | 12 hours
- Explore — Impact of Computing Innovations | 16% | 8 hours
The Create performance task focuses specifically on the creation of a computer program through the collaborative and iterative process of programming.
The Explore performance task requires students to identify a computing innovation, explore its impact, and create a related digital artifact – ex. digital art, video – accompanied by a written response.
Students need to submit their final performance tasks on the AP Digital Portfolio by April 30.
We have pulled the Reproducible for Students section from the Course and Exam Description to create a new publication titled Assessment Overview and Performance Task Directions for Students. Please download and share this document with your students, as it provides instructions around the performance tasks and explanations on questions they will see on the AP Exam.
End-of-Course Exam: 74 Questions | 2 Hours | 60% of Overall AP Score
- Single-select and multiple-select questions
The AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam Description (.pdf/2.05MB) includes complete information about the performance tasks and the end-of-course exam.
Scoring Guidelines and Notes for the 2019 Exam Administration
We have provided clearer instructions in the decision rules and scoring notes column for the AP CSP Create and Explore Performance Tasks. Note that the intent of these updates is to clarify how the rubric should be applied to prepare for the 2019 exam administration. Our changes do not affect the number of rubric rows or the scoring criteria of the rubrics. See what changed.
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Explore – Sample Responses |
Create – Sample Responses |
Scoring Guidelines and Notes |
Commentary |
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Coming Fall of 2019 |
Coming Fall of 2019 |
Coming Fall of 2019 |
Sample Responses and Scoring Information
Use the student responses and scoring guidelines from previous exam administrations, as featured below, to promote discussion with your students about the requirements of the tasks. Students cannot submit these samples to the College Board for scoring purposes.
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Explore – Sample Responses |
Create – Sample Responses |
Scoring |
Commentary |
Score Distribution |
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Sample A: High Score Sample B has been removed Sample C: Medium Score Sample D: Medium Score Sample E: Low Score |
Sample A: High Score Sample B: Medium Score Sample C: Low Score |
Assessment Resources
AP Digital Portfolio
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AP Digital Portfolio
The AP Digital Portfolio page provides instructions on how to navigate the web-based application, how to create classrooms, and how to confirm students' submission of performance tasks. -
AP Digital Portfolio Teacher User Guide for AP Computer Science Principles
Download for instructions on how to log in, create classes, and upload performance tasks on the AP Digital Portfolio.
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AP Digital Portfolio Student User Guide for AP Computer Science Principles