AP Computer Science Principles
The AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) Exam consists of two parts:
- A through-course assessment composed of the Create Performance Task that students complete in class, with 12 hours of in-class time.
- A 2-hour end-of-course paper and pencil exam with 70 multiple-choice questions that are administered in May. Check the AP Exam schedule.
Students submit their Create Performance Task in the AP Digital Portfolio, a web-based platform. As the AP coordinator, you have the ability to monitor the activity in the digital portfolio, and you'll need to perform a few tasks connected to the digital portfolio before the performance task submission deadline of May 1, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Ordering
AP coordinators order AP CSP Exams along with all other AP Exams in AP Registration and Ordering. For more information about ordering AP Exams, go to Ordering and Fees.
AP Digital Portfolio
The AP Digital Portfolio is a separate system, but it’s directly linked to My AP. When students enroll in an AP CSP class section in My AP, their enrollment will carry over to the AP Digital Portfolio. An AP ID will be assigned to the student through My AP and will also carry over to the AP Digital Portfolio.
Students must submit their performance task as final by clicking the Submit Final button in the AP Digital Portfolio by May 1, 11:59 p.m. ET.
It's likely that there will be a higher volume of simultaneous submissions as the 11:59 p.m. ET deadline approaches, which means that it may take longer for student submissions to upload in the AP Digital Portfolio. So that students don’t risk missing the deadline, strongly advise them to build extra time to prepare the upload and submit. Students should not wait until the last minute to upload their performance task as final in the AP Digital Portfolio.
Independent Study and Homeschooled Students
If your school supports independent study or homeschooled students who want to take an AP CSP End-of-Course Exam without participating in an AP CSP class at school, as an AP coordinator you need to:
- Create an exam only class section in AP Registration and Ordering and provide the appropriate join code to students so they can enroll. This step needs to be done before you can order exams.
- Give students all the necessary information and directions for enrollment and submission of work in the AP Digital Portfolio:
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Administer the end-of-course exam.
Students Taking AP CSP Online
Some students may be taking an AP CSP class through an online provider. If these students want to take an AP CSP End-of-Course Exam at your school, as an AP coordinator you need to:
- Create an exam only section in AP Registration and Ordering and give students the appropriate join code so they can enroll. This step needs to be done before you can order exams.
- Administer the end-of-course exam.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
For AP Computer Science Principles, students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations for the Create Performance Task and the end-of-course exam. For information about requesting an accommodations approval, go to collegeboard.org/apssd or contact College Board SSD at (844) 255-7728 or (212) 713-8333.