Contents
- 1 What Is the AP Computer Science Principles Exam?
- 2 How Difficult Is the AP Computer Science Principles Exam?
- 3 How Can Students Prepare for the AP Computer Science Principles Exam?
- 4 What Are the Benefits of Taking the AP Computer Science Principles Exam?
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions About the AP Computer Science Principles Exam
Some people believe this exam is very difficult. Let’s take a look at how difficult this exam actually is.
Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science principles cover main concepts students need to understand and apply on the exam to get a high score. Many students find these principles problematic. We’ll go over student insights and expert tips from teachers to help every student deal with these concepts.
What Is the AP Computer Science Principles Exam?
Let’s learn more about this exam and its structure.
Overview of the AP Computer Science Principles Course
This course helps students get ready for college. Kids need to understand coding and other topics to do well on the exam. The lessons focus on thinking through problems and finding solutions instead of just memorizing facts.
Exam Structure and Components
The exam has two parts. The first section is the multiple-choice section, where students select one or more correct answers from the given options. The second section is a section where students must create a performance task. Work on this task happens in class before the exam.
We share more details about each section in the table below.
| Section | Total Questions | Section Weight in AP Final Score | Total Time (Minutes) |
| Section 1A: Single-Select | 65 | 70% | 120 |
| Section 1B: Multi-Select | 5 | ||
| Section 2 | 2 | 30% | Submitted before the exam |
Students will get different types of questions on the subject in both sections of the exam.
What Skills Are Tested in the Principles Exam?
Students who want to score a 5 have strong analytical skills and deal with data and algorithms with ease. Kids use a problem-solving approach for each task. Students understand key concepts and can answer any exam question.
How Difficult Is the AP Computer Science Principles Exam?
Let’s compare this exam with other AP exams to better understand its difficulty.
Comparing It to Other AP Classes
It is one of the harder AP courses because it covers a lot of material and requires strong memory and analytical skills. This course is not harder than other subjects in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), but it is more difficult than humanities subjects.
Let’s look at the table below to compare and see what percentage of students get a score of 5 in this AP subject and others.
| AP Class | Students with Score 5 in 2024 (%) |
| Computer Science Principles | 11.0% |
| Calculus BC | 45.0% |
| Physics 1 | 8.0% |
| 3-D Art and Design | 7.0% |
| Computer Science A | 24.0% |
Insights on the Pass Rate and Score Distribution
Let’s look at such an analysis using the 2024 report from the College Board:
- 11% of students scored a 5
- 21% of students scored a 4
- 33% of students scored a 3
- 21% of students scored a 2
- 14% of students scored a 1
This analysis shows student performance on the exam became worse in comparison with 2023. The percentage of students earning a score of 5 in 2023 was higher by 1%. Fewer kids got scores of 2 and 1. Students preparing for the exam need to learn wisely to get high scores.
Factors Contributing to Exam Difficulty
The most important factor determining how students score is their own preparation. Students spending little time learning often get low scores and need to retake the exam. Kids with strong preparation get higher scores. Other factors include:
- Teaching curriculum
- New changes in the exam format from the College Board
- Students’ stress resilience
How Can Students Prepare for the AP Computer Science Principles Exam?
“The new course is much more about making things, rather than answering multiple-choice questions”
2024 highlighted several key points students should focus on to get their best results on the exam.
Utilizing College Resources and AP Classes
Many colleges provide free and paid resources along with special classes to help students prepare for the exam. Legacy Online School uses an online platform and community to provide many learning materials for its students. Kids can find AP classes, practice tests, videos, text-based resources, and much more to support their preparation. It’s also helpful to visit the College Board’s website to find relevant study materials for the current year.
Effective Study Techniques for AP CSP
There are many useful study techniques for students. We will focus on five techniques anyone can use:
- The Pomodoro Technique. This method helps you stay focused. Set a timer for 25 minutes, study with full concentration, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle to have enough energy for learning
- Work with long-term memory. Go back to previous topics from time to time to make sure you don’t forget them after learning new material
- Practice tests. Look for sample exams online. Practicing with real questions will help you understand what you’re good at and what you need to work on before the actual exam
- No to rote memorization. Focus on truly understanding concepts so you can answer any question, rather than hoping for familiar ones
- Ask for help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers or classmates when you’re experiencing some problems. They will help you solve all the issues
Contact Legacy Online School to get more techniques and professional support from our experts.
Importance of the Create Performance Task
30% of the overall score comes from this task. Students who create the most correct program and explain how it works can earn more points. These points are added to those earned in the other section of the exam. Both sections together help to determine each student’s final AP score.
What Are the Benefits of Taking the AP Computer Science Principles Exam?
AP scores affect college credits for students. We will explain the key details students need to know.
College Credit and Advanced Placement Opportunities
Colleges give advantages to students with high scores, but have different policies on this. Students who score high on the exam in some colleges may sometimes be able to skip an introductory course. Students with high scores may also receive college credits if the college’s policy allows it.
Many colleges accept a score of 3 or higher. Selective colleges often need a 4 or 5. Here are examples of different colleges and the AP scores they require for college credit.
| College | Minimum AP Score |
| Harvard University | 5 |
| Stanford University | 5 |
| Boston University | 4 or higher |
| New York University | 4 or higher |
| University of California | 4 or higher |
| Florida State University | 3 or higher |
| Arizona State University | 3 or higher |
Сheck with a specific college for exact details.
Impact on College Applications and Career Paths
Low scores can limit opportunities for students and often require them to retake the exam.
High scores increase students’ chances of getting into college, skipping introductory courses, and even earning college credits. Students with strong scores have the skills and knowledge needed to learn in college without difficulty. Students also learn important skills for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. They can start working in their chosen field later.
Real-World Applications of AP Computer Science Principles
This subject gives students practical skills, not just theory they forget later. Kids improve their logical and analytical thinking. Students learn to work with large amounts of data and solve different problems. These skills are useful not only in STEM but also in many other fields.
Frequently Asked Questions About the AP Computer Science Principles Exam
We answered some common questions students have.
What Is the Pass Rate and Score Distribution for 2023?
Let’s look at the 2023 report from the College Board:
- 13% of students scored a 5
- 24% of students scored a 4
- 34% of students scored a 3
- 21% of students scored a 2
- 13% of students scored a 1
This report shows most students scored 3 and 4. About the same number of students got scores of 5 and 1. Many kids got a score of 2. These results indicate the 2023 exam was quite difficult.
Are There Prerequisites for Taking AP Computer Science Principles?
There are no strict prerequisites, but students are recommended to have a basic understanding of algebra and programming.
How Does the College Board Support AP Students?
Students can use the College Board’s website to prepare for the exam. The College Board prepares resources in different formats each year to help students get ready for all AP exams. Students should read guides to better understand the exam format and avoid common mistakes.
