The Ultimate Guide to the AP Computer Science Principles Exam in 2025 for AP Students
Everything You Need to Ace the AP CSP Exam
key dates, expert-led courses, practice questions, score calculator, free downloads, and top tips for success!
AP CSP Exam Dates 2025
The AP CSP Exam date is Thursday May 15th 2025
Submit the Create Performance Task deadline is Wednesday April 30th 2025
Further details on the AP CSP date are found here: When is the ap csp exam 2025?
2025 AP Exam Format
multiple-choice exam – 70 questions – 2 hours
57 multiple choice questions – single answer
8 multiple choice questions – multiple answers
5 multiple choice questions – about a reading passage
70% exam – 30% create performance task
**BIG CHANGES IN THE WRITTEN RESPONSE** – the exam and create task are mostly the same but there is a big change with the written response moved to an hour slot with the exam – we will update you on the details
(see AP CSP Create Task and Exam Changes)
AP Computer Science Principles is one of the Digital AP Exam Subjects (as stated on ‘key facts about digital AP exams‘). But digital exams were optional in 2024 as schools could opt to offer exams as digital, on paper, or a combination of paper and digital. [4]
AP CSP Exam Preparation
The computer science principles exam has two parts: part 1 is the actual exam, and part 2 will ask you questions about the create task that you had in-class time to complete.
Suppose you are a student who is going to take ap computer science principles course and exam. In that case, you will develop a computer program (in class time ) for your create task, which you be asked questions about after and part of the exam, and, you will need to prepare for the comp sci principles ap test.
This article helps you answer frequently asked questions, and there are related articles to help answer specific queries that you may have.
AP Computer Science Principles Courses
We have designed 15 to 20 minute courses to help students prepare for the AP Computer Science Principles Exam.
Courses for the AP Computer Science Principles Exam
SHORT COURSES
These 15 to 20 minute courses include practice questions to help determine your strengths and weaknesses in the different areas of the AP Computer Science Principles course.
LONG COURSE
These full courses include programming in python for the AP Computer Science Principles course.
Computer Science Principles and Python
We have an online course at Udemy to help students to prepare for the Computer Science Principles Course.
The course covers both the principles of Computer Science and python programming covered in the Advanced Placement AP CSP course.
APCSP Exam Practice Questions
Articles of Interest
Over 100 Practice Questions on Video
- Includes practice questions on the Internet and Networks, programming, logic, data, algorithms, and general Computing.
- There are example practice questions at APCSP Exam Practice.
Past Exam Practice Questions
AP CSP Exam Score Calculator
AP Computer Science Principles exam score calculator table
The ap csp exam score calculator table shows the final exam marks required for each of the scores for the create performance task. There are 70 questions in the exam.
The 5 colors represent to 5 scores in the AP CSP course. These are calculated using your create task score (zero to six, see the bottom of the table), and the amount of correct answers from the 70 questions in the ap cso test.
These scores are calculated from the most up-to-date source on the internet [5]. If you feel they are not accurate, or know of a better source then let us know please.
How to score a 5 in APCSP
How to score a 5 in AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP)
To get a 5 in computer science principles (AP CSP), if you get a perfect score of 6 in the create performance task, would require 60 or more questions correctly answers in the exam.
A score of 5 for the task would require at least 65, a task score of 4 needs 56+, and a task score of 4 requires all 70 correct answered questions in the exam.
How to score a 4 in AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP)
A create performance task score of 6 would require 51 or more questions correctly answers in the exam for an AP CSP score of ‘4’.
A score of 5 for the create task would require at least 56, a task score of 4 needs 61+, and a task score o 3 requires 66 or more correct answered questions in the exam.
How to score a 3 in AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP)
If you get a ‘6’ in the create task, then you would only need 32 or more questions correct in the apcsp exam to get the overall level of ‘3’ for the ap csp course.
Create performance task scores of 5 or 4 would require either 37or over (5), or 42 or over (4) in the exam.
Whilst create performance task scores of 3, 2 or 1 would require either 47 or over (3), 52 or over (2), or at least 57 in the exam (1). You will need to score 62 or over if you get a zero (0) in the create task if you want an overall grade of ‘3’.
Reference sheet and downloads
AP CSP Exam Preparation Documents
exam reference sheet (pseudo code)
The vocabulary in alphabetical order is available on this web page: ap csp vocabulary or as in the big ideas listed in a pdf file here: vocabulary (pdf)
College Board Documents
the student handout includes information and guidelines for the create performance task and the exam reference sheet
the course and exam description was effective from 2020 and includes sample exam questions and the create performance task guidelines
Students need to read both the guidelines and instructions. These are in the college board documents above (e.g. student handout, exam description)
AP CSP Exam Practice Questions
- 2021 set #2 ap csp practice questions
- 2021 set #1 ap csp practice questions
- ap csp exam practice questions – old set #1
- ap csp exam practice questions – old set #2
tips
exam preparation
1. Understand the Exam Format
- The test has two parts:
- Multiple-choice section (70 questions)
- Create Performance Task (a coding project)
2. Know the Big Ideas
- Focus on the main concepts:
- Algorithms & Programming (loops, conditionals, functions)
- Data & Information (charts, trends, privacy)
- Computing Systems & Networks (Internet, security)
- Impact of Computing (ethics, bias)
3. Practice Past Questions
- Do practice tests to get used to the wording.
- Review explanations for wrong answers.
4. Learn the Pseudocode
- The multiple-choice questions use AP pseudocode (not a real language).
- Review how variables, loops, and lists work in pseudocode.
5. Manage Your Time
- Don’t spend too long on one question.
- If stuck, skip and come back later.
6. Stay Calm and Confident
- Read carefully.
- Trust what you studied.
- You’ve got this!
study preparation
Work on Your Create Task Early
- Choose a simple but clear project.
- Explain your code well (what it does, how it works).
- Don’t wait until the last minute!
- Practice Coding
- Use Python or JavaScript for practice.
- Know how to write and understand loops, if-statements, functions, and lists.
- Learn to read and fix simple code.
AP CSP Create Performance Task Tips
- your video must not contain voice narration (text captions are encouraged) *
- use an explicit parameter *
- lists have to have more than one element
- try to explain the use of your list so the marker understands its use in the program
- you only need to call the procedure once, but in testing it is good if you use different values *
see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCM3cFBBJvo at 2.35 for talking on your video
- explicit parameters are defined in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCM3cFBBJvo at 15.20
- e.g. call 1 gives a True output, call 2 gives a False output
pass rate
AP CSP Exam Pass Rate 2024
1 or 2 score 32% --- 3 score 33% -- 4 or 5 score 35%
- About a third got either a 1 or 2 score,
- about a third of students got a score of 3,
- and the remaining third received either a 4 or a 5 mark
- Only 1 in 9 students got a 5 score (11%)
- 65% of students got a pass grade (3 or higher)
- 2/3 of the AP subjects got a higher pass percentage than the AP CSP course (26/39 subjects)
Scores obtained form the College board official site: AP Score Distributions
AP CSP Exam Pass Rates 2019 to 2024
AP Computer Science Principles Student Score Distributions - Global AP Exams from May 2019 to May 2024
Percentages of passes at each exam score
exam score | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
5 | 11 | 12 | 11.4 | 13 | 10.8 | 14 |
4 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23.3 | 21 |
3 | 33 | 33 | 31.1 | 32 | 36.6 | 37 |
2 | 21 | 20 | 19.9 | 20 | 17.5 | 19 |
1 | 14 | 12 | 16.6 | 13 | 11.8 | 9 |
Scores obtained form the College board official site: 2024 AP Score Distributions
questions and answers
- AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) is an advanced placement course offered by the College Board.
- The course covers fundamental concepts in computing, computer systems, and the impact of computing on society.
- Students learn computational thinking practices to create computer programs and explore computing innovations.
Thursday, May 15 at 12 midday local time
(confirmed at AP Computer Science Principles website)
April 30, 2025 (11:59 p.m. ET), is the deadline to submit your Create performance task as final.
(confirmed at AP exam dates)
The AP Computer Science Principles Exam is on Thursday, May 15, 2025, normally at midday (12pm) local time in the US, although the Create Performance Task submission is earlier.
There are 70 questions in the AP Computer Science Principles Exam
Total 3 hours (Exam – 2 hours, Written Response – 1 hour)
- The AP Computer Science Principles Exam is 2 hours long (section 1). This includes the 70 multiple-choice questions.
- Section 2: The Create Performance Task is completed outside of the exam, but now there is an additional hour for questions on this task (called written response), after then main exam in section 1.
The AP Computer Science Principles Exam is worth 70 percent and the Create Performance Task is worth 30 percent of the course marks.
The create task and the end-of-course exam were previously completely separate but not anymore.
If you are planning to take the ap computer science principles course and exam then be aware of the new structure changed in 2024.
The create task still involves making a video and the code from when you develop a computer program, but the written response is now during the final exam.
So the final exam still has the multiple choice questions over 2 hours, but now there is an additional hour where students will b asked questions about the create task.
So to prepare for the exam students can take screen shots of their code that they can then use to help remember what they did during the new hour written response during the final exam.
For more information see the changes for the ap csp create task.
The AP Computer Science Principles Exam is worth 70 percent and the Create Performance Task is worth 30 percent of the course marks.
AP scores came out in early July last year. The exact date will be given here when it is released.
To score a 5 for the AP Computer Science Principles course you must score at least 70 points of combined create performance task (5 points per level) and final exam (1 point per question). See the score calculator section above.
You can get a 5 on the AP Computer Science Principles course by preparing for, and completing the 2 hour multiple choice exam, and by completing the Create Performance Task according to the rubrics.
The percentage of students that received a 5 score on the AP Computer Science Principles course was 11% in 2024, 12% (2023), 11.4% in 2022, and 12.4% in 2021.
The AP Computer Science Principles Exam is not harder than other exams, such as other AP course exams, according to previous students, but it strongly advisable that students adequately prepare for the exam.
The AP Computer Science Principles course is rated as one of the easiest AP classes by previous students, although the percentage of students that received a 5 score on the AP Computer Science Principles course in 2024 was only 11%.
- To prepare for the AP exam, students can take practice tests and exams provided by the College Board.
- The practice questions cover the content of the course, helping students familiarize themselves with the exam format.
- A reference sheet (see downloads above) is available during the exam to assist students in solving problems and writing code.
- The exam is scored on an AP scale, and the overall AP score determines whether students earn college credit.
References
[1] Exam dates: College Board AP Exam Dates
[2] Submit create task: College Board submit AP CSP work
[3] Official College Board AP CSP Exam webpage AP Computer Science Principles Exam (College Board)
[4] College Board AP Score Release
[5] AP® Computer Science Principles Score Calculator Tools & calculators
Final Thoughts for the AP Computer Science Exam
Preparing for the AP Computer Science Principles end-of-course exam or the AP Computer Science A course requires a solid understanding of computer science concepts and familiarity with the types of questions you will encounter. The exam consists of both multiple-choice and free-response questions, testing students’ ability to analyze and create a computer program of their choice.
On exam day, be sure to review the section of the AP Computer Science Principles exam that requires submitting a digital portfolio. The AP Digital Portfolio is a crucial component, and AP teachers often recommend completing it well in advance. If you are taking the second section of the AP exam, practice coding in a computer program of your choice to gain confidence.
For structured test prep, resources like AP Daily, AP Central, and the Princeton Review offer valuable materials. Understanding how the exam includes different question types can help you navigate both the principles test and the final AP score evaluation process.
Students taking AP courses should check the AP Course Audit to confirm whether their school offers AP credit for the AP program. If you’re concerned about difficulty, know that while some students find the AP Computer Science Principles hard, consistent practice can improve your performance.
Whether you’re preparing for the exam 2025, checking the latest updates on the new AP format, or looking for guidance from AP readers and AP teachers, staying informed will help you succeed. Good luck on test day!
Additional Resources & Key Information for the AP CSP Exam 2025
To ensure success on the AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) exam in May 2025, students should take advantage of available resources and understand key policies. The exam in May is part of the 28 AP exams offered, and students can take it in a morning exam administration between 8 AM or opt for a scheduled late-testing date if necessary. The AP CSP curriculum follows the Principles Course and Exam Description (CED), which outlines essential computer science topics and the ability to apply computer science principles through a computer program of their choice.
For AP CSP exam preparation, students can use AP Classroom, which provides online practice, full-length practice tests, and practice questions at the end of each unit. These resources help build familiarity with exam performance expectations and exam overview guidelines. To maximize success, students should take practice tests, complete free-response answers in paper exam booklets, and review practice exams aligned with AP exam scores standards.
The AP Digital Portfolio for scoring is a critical part of the AP CSP exam, allowing students to demonstrate their ability to apply computer science principles. Since some digital AP exam subjects may have specific security measures, it’s important to be aware of the security of AP exams and the policies for exam administration. The final in the AP digital format ensures that students’ work is securely submitted and assessed.
For students considering studies and careers in computer science, success in AP CSP can lead to college credit and a strong foundation for future careers in computer science. If students are also preparing for the AP Computer Science A exam, they should explore additional computer science course options and resources that align with computer science principles and AP guidelines.
To learn more, visit the AP Computer Science page on the College Board website, which provides updated information according to the College Board, including 2025 AP exam dates and exam administration details. Whether students are just beginning their AP classes or preparing to take the AP Computer Science exam this year, thorough preparation with the right resources can help them achieve their best possible score.