Hey everyone, I'm taking the Computer Science Principles AP (APCSP) exam soon and I was wondering if anyone who's taken the test before could give me an idea of what to expect? Like, format, question types, time allotment, etc. Just want to know what I'm getting into. Thanks in advance!
Hi! As someone who is familiar with the AP Computer Science Principles (APCSP) exam, I can definitely give you an overview of what to expect.
The APCSP exam is divided into two parts: the Create Performance Task and the end-of-course multiple-choice exam. The Create Performance Task is completed during the course itself, while the multiple-choice exam is taken on the scheduled test date. I'll be focusing on the multiple-choice portion of the exam as that seems to be the part you're asking about.
The multiple-choice exam consists of 70 questions to be completed in 1 hour and 30 minutes. That gives you about 1 minute and 17 seconds per question on average. The exam assesses your understanding of various computer science topics, such as programming, algorithms, data representation, internet operations, and cybersecurity.
The types of multiple-choice questions on the exam are mainly single-select (choose one correct answer) and multi-select (choose multiple correct answers). Be prepared to encounter both types, as well as questions that have you interpret code snippets or respond to a given scenario.
It's essential to review the domains covered in the course, practice interpreting and writing code in the programming language used throughout the course (typically Python or JavaScript), and work on time management for the multiple-choice questions.
To prepare for the APCSP exam, I recommend going through the College Board's official course materials and practice questions. If you need more practice, you can find a variety of resources online, like AP course-specific forums and communities.
Good luck with your exam preparations! Remember to practice regularly and manage your time wisely during the actual exam.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.