AP Computer Science Principles
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A in Math 1/Advanced Math 8
Can be taken by any Grade Level
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coming soon
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coming soon
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Unique to all AP Exams, Section II of this exam features a portion that is completed before the in person exam.
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
30% of Score
Students will develop a computer program of their choice. Students need at least 12 hours of in-class time to complete. Click this link to learn more
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AP Computer Science Principles
5: 11.0%
4: 21.0%
3: 33.0%
2: 21.0%
1: 14.0%
More Info
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College Credit Oppurtunites
A passing score typically grants between 4-8 units (1-2 classes) of an introductory level computing course at universities.
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Course Synopsis
AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the field of computer science.
Students learn to:
- design and evaluate solutions
- apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs
- incorporate abstraction into programs
- use data to discover new knowledge
- explain how computing innovations/systems work
- contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical
College Board 2023
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College Majors
What is the difference between AP Computer Science Principles & A
AP Computer Science Principles
- Utilizes the Java coding language
- More narrowly focused, a coding centralized course.
- Typically taken after AP Computer Science Principles, but can be taken first by teacher approval
- Constitutes as a mathematics course for A-G requirements.
- College Board Synopsis: “AP Computer Science A is an introductory college-level computer science course. Students cultivate their understanding of coding through analyzing, writing, and testing code as they explore concepts like modularity, variables, and control structures.”
AP Computer Science A
- Utilizes the JavaScript coding language
- More broadly focused, covers coding + computer science thinking skills
- Usually taken before AP Computer Science A
- Constitutes as a science course for A-G requirements.
- College Board Synopsis: “AP Computer Science Principles is an introductory college-level computing course that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. Students learn to design and evaluate solutions and to apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. They incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. Students also explain how computing innovations and computing systems—including the internet—work, explore their potential impacts, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical.
Complexity of Material Covered
On average, students gave a AP Computer Science Principles a complexity score of 1.55 out of 5, which places the course in the mild complexity tier.
We recommend planning a balanced schedule consisting of all three tiers of complexity: mild, moderate, and high to have a healthy school-life balance and avoid burnout.
Workload of AP CS Principles
On average, students gave AP Computer Science Principles a workload score of 2.20 hours per week. This places AP Computer Science Principles in the mild workload tier.
We recommend planning a balanced schedule consisting of all three tiers of workload: mild, moderate, and heavy to have a healthy school-life balance and avoid burnout.