AP Computer Science Principles

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Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (also known as APCSP) is an AP Computer Science course and examination offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn college credit for a college-level computing course. AP Computer Science Principles [1] is meant to be the equivalent of a first-semester course in computing. Assessment for AP Computer Science Principles is divided into two parts, both an end of course exam as well as the creation of artifacts throughout the course. [2]

Contents

AP Computer Science Principles examines a variety of computing topics on a largely conceptual level, and teaches procedural programming. In the Create "Through-Course Assessment", students must develop a program, demonstrated in a video and a written reflection. The course may be taught in any programming language with procedures, mathematical expressions, variables, lists, conditionals, and loops. [3] Coding portions of the AP exam are based in both text-based and block-based pseudocode, as defined by the provided reference sheet.

The AP Computer Science Principles Exam was administered for the first time on May 5, 2017.

Course

The framework focuses on computational thinking practices which are applied throughout the curriculum. The concept outline included in the curriculum is divided into seven units called "Big Ideas". Each unit contains a series of "Learning Objectives". Each "Learning Objective" is a general benchmark of student performance or understanding which has an associated "Enduring Understanding". An "Enduring Understanding" is a core comprehension which students should retain well after completing the course. Each "Learning Objective" is split into multiple "Essential Knowledge" standards, which are specific facts or content which the student must know to demonstrate mastery of the learning objective when assessed. [4]

Computational Thinking Practices: Skills [3] Concept Outline [3]
  • P1: Computational Solution Design
  • P2: Algorithms and Program Development
  • P3: Abstraction in Program Development
  • P4: Code Analysis
  • P5: Computing Innovations
  • P6: Responsible Computing

Through-Course Assessment

Prior to 2021, the first task was the Explore section. The explore section was removed prior to the 2021 exam. The exam prior to 2021 is described as follows:

Exam

Score2017 [8] 2018 [9] 2019 [10] 2020 [11] 2021 [12] 2022 [13] 2023 [14] 2024 [15]
513.8%14.0%13.8%10.9%12.4%11.4%11.5%11%
421.7%21.1%21.0%23.6%21.7%21.0%20.6%21%
339.1%36.1%37.1%37.1%32.5%31.1%31.1%33%
218.3%19.7%18.8%19.8%19.9%19.9%20.5%21%
17.2%9.2%9.3%8.6%13.6%16.6%16.4%14%
% of Scores 3 or Higher74.5%71.2%71.9%71.6%66.5%63.5%63.1%65%
Mean3.173.113.113.092.992.912.902.94
Standard Deviation1.101.151.141.101.211.231.231.19
Number of Students33,04272,18796,105116,751116,466134,651164,505

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References

  1. ↑ "AP Computer Science Principles Home Page" . Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  2. 1 2 "AP Computer Science Principles About The Exam Page" . Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  3. 1 2 3 "AP Computer Science Principles: Course and Exam Description" (PDF). College Board. 2020. pp. 13–125, 129. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "AP Computer Science Principles: Curriculum Framework 2016-2017" (PDF). College Board. Fall 2010. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  5. ↑ "AP Computer Science Principles Draft Performance Tasks" (PDF). College Board. December 2013. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  6. ↑ "AP Computer Science Principles Draft Performance Tasks" (PDF). College Board. December 2013. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  7. ↑ "AP Computer Science Principles". 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  8. ↑ "Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Student Score Distributions, AP Exams - May 2018" (PDF). The College Board. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Student Score Distributions: AP Exams - May 2020" (PDF). College Board . 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  12. ↑ "Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  13. ↑ "Chief Reader Report on Student Responses" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  14. ↑ "Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  15. ↑ "2024 AP Score Distributions". Retrieved July 8, 2024.
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