APCSP is a relatively small class 👨‍🏫 with a few resources online, but there are some amazing ones like Fiveable 5️⃣ that are here to help! If you can practice for the exam 📝 and use these tips, then you should be all set to do awesome 🤩 on your Create PT and ace your MCQ exam.

The APCSP 💻 exam is formatted as follows:

1️⃣ Section 1: The Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

For the MCQ section 🧐, you will be given:

This section (1️⃣) is weighted at 70% of your exam score so make sure to study 

Thursday, May 13, 2021 @ 8am, the current AP Exam Start Time!

Another important thing to know about the MCQ 🧐 section of your exam is that there are different big ideas and computational practices weighted on your exam! We've broken them down for you:

🏋️‍♂️ APCSP MCQ Unit Weighting

 in AP Computer Science Principles that are tested on the AP Exam 🎉 You can reference this table to see which units you should study 📖 the most and least: 

in the APCSP exam 🎊 If you don't recognize these names, don't worry too much ☺️, these are mostly for teachers to spiral these themes through the Big Ideas! Check these out with the practice questions ✍️ later: 

Computational Thinking Practice MCQ Weighting

2️⃣ Section 2: The Create Performance Task (PT)

The other 30% of your exam score will come from Section two 2️⃣, so make sure to check out all of our information about the 

This section will not 🚫 be tested during your AP Exam, but you will instead be given 12 hours of class-time to work on your coding masterpiece 🎉

#2: Don't Procrastinate the Performance Task 2️⃣

You have a whole year to create and write about ✍️ a program of your choosing! Don't put it off until April or May 📅 because all of your work (including studying for other AP exams 🤓) will stack up 📚

To create the Performance Task, we have an awesome article 📜 to help you get started! Make sure to check out:

On the Multiple Choice section, about 30% of the problems will have 

in the questions or answers! It 👨‍💻 is a programming language 📢 that can't actually be used in any coding tool but is easily read 👓 and understood.

is basically a combination of a block-based 🧱 language (Scratch, Alice, etc.) and a basic typing ⌨️ language (Python, JS, etc.) ➕ While you will get a reference sheet on exam day, we highly recommend 🗣️ trying to learn and practice with pseudocode before exam day so you don't have to waste time reading and tracing while you translate 💹 then! Check out 

 📝 from the College Board to get a glimpse into the language!

On the Reference Sheet for Pseudocode, there are eight 8️⃣ code categories! These are super useful 🧠 to know so you don't waste valuable time ⏲️ on exam day trying to find the exact line of code in these six pages 😎 Here are the categories to know:

Arithmetic Operators and Numeric Procedures 

#4: Make Flashcards to Review Key Vocab and Concepts 4️⃣

APCSP 🖥️ is not too content-heavy, but the class focuses more on learning the big picture and narrowing 🔍 in on personal solutions and perspectives! A really important part of the MCQ section, however, is learning and applying fundamental vocab 🗃️ in the context of problems 🎉

A big tip of mine would be to make personal flashcards 📰 or maybe just use some awesome Quizlets 🎊 Don't know where to start looking? Check out:

APCSP - Best Quizlet Decks by Unit <<TK>>

Here are a few important key vocab words 🔊 to get you started:

Make sure to use all of our tips 💡 to be able to get that Five 5️⃣ on your APCSP Exam 🙌 When you study with us, your exam is easily Five-able 😂

AP Computer Science Principles Exam

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AP Computer Science Principles

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Big Idea 1: Creative Development

Big Idea 2: Data

Big Idea 3: Algorithms and Programming

Big Idea 4: Computer Systems and Networks

Big Idea 5: Impact of Computing 

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How to Get a 5 in AP Computer Science Principles

Hey 👋 So, you're probably wondering if you should take AP Computer Science Principles 💻 Let's talk about it 🎉

AP Computer Science Principles is the equivalent to a semester-long intro to computer science course. AP CSP encompasses five big ideas, one performance task, and an AP exam with zero pre-requisites 🥳

As long as you review the required content and practice, you will do extremely well. Many students take AP CSP as one of their first APs and deem it as one of the "easier" AP subjects ✏️


This section is weighted at 70% of your exam score.

The other 30% of your exam score will come from Section 2️⃣, so make sure to check out all of our information about the 

The PT is not on your AP Exam; instead, you will have 12 hours of class time to work on your coding masterpiece 🎉

College Board's 2019 Score Data from APCSP:

There is no way to judge how hard the course is until you take it. It all truly depends on your teacher, your workload, and your commitment to this course alone.

                 definitely find motivation by setting a goal 🏆

 is one of the more manageable APs and shouldn't    

         take much time ⏲️ out of your day.

Most are thrilled that they took AP CSP. Even though computer science is a foreign language 🗣️ to some, AP CSP does not require any past knowledge! These are the main takeaways from the course:

Words of Wisdom from the Fiveable Community

"APCSP is not your average AP class. Team building and creativity are emphasized and encouraged in this course to a great extent. CSP is an extremely friendly course for people who aren't tech enthusiasts but want a taste of what computer science is."—Krish Gupta

"A lot of people think this class is all about coding and programming, but it isn't.  Honestly, even though coding may be frustrating or hard for some people, it can be a really fun and great skill."—Smera B.

"Even if you have no idea what computer science is, take the class! AP CSP is more about the concept of computer science rather than coding itself. It's more of a logic and history class than a confusing coding class!"—Rachel Yuan

"Take AP CSP if you're even considering computer science! It's a great introductory course and in a tech-filled world, it's good knowledge to have!"—Natasha

Weigh all of the factors in and try and make your decision on whether or not you want to take AP CSP. AP CSP isn't too hard and can absolutely be worth it to get an introductory knowledge of computer science👍 If you go for it, you'll never forget this class 🙃 No matter what you choose, good luck 🍀 and remember to study with Fiveable to get that five 5️⃣!!

Is AP Computer Science Principles Hard? Is AP Computer Science Principles Worth Taking?

 This article has not been updated to the new 2021 CED due to a lack of current quizlet decks for the new unit structure!

AP Computer Science Principles is one of the newer classes offered by the College Board, and although the course has focus split between knowledge and theory and actual programming, having a solid understanding of the 7 Big Ideas, 6 of which are heavily academic, and how to apply them is crucial to acing the exam.


One of the most popular study sites used by AP students is Quizlet and for good reason! Quizlet combines the classic flashcard studying method with unique, fun games to learn vocabulary. However, the number of resources provided by Quizlet can make it challenging to find the best decks for each AP CSP Big Idea. For that reason, here are the most comprehensive Quizlet decks for effective studying! Vocabulary is critical for understanding different concepts, laws, and theories.

Note: Big Idea 1 is not tested on the AP Exam!

Abstraction plays a huge role in not only analyzing but also creating technology. Ultimately, abstraction is used to make programs and software as simple and concise as possible, so it’s important to understand the many ways this is accomplished.

**Abstraction—**To reduce detail or information for a purpose in a program; to generalize concepts so that they can be used in a variety of instances

**Simulation—**A virtual representation of how an object or environment will behave or react given a set of conditions or inputs; more abstract (with less detail) than reality; used to understand or solve a problem

**Lower-level abstractions—**Abstractions with lots of detail; very specific

**Higher-level abstractions—**Abstractions with few details; broad

Data is all around us, but programmers understand how to take the best and most important aspects and points and make something useful out of it. It’s also beneficial to understand classification and effective usage of this data.

Data and Information Big Idea #3 (AP Computer Science Principles) Flashcards

**Big Data—**The huge and complex data sets generated by today's sophisticated information generation, collection, storage, and analysis technologies

**Metadata—**Data that describes other data

**Scalability—**Describes how well a system can scale up, or adapt to the increased demands of growth

Algorithms go hand in hand with Abstraction. Using algorithms allows for logic and simplicity while being able to easily communicate and understand the complexities of what you build.

Algorithms Big Idea #4 Vocabulary (AP Computer Science Principles) Flashcards

**Algorithm—**A methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem

**Boolean Values—**Binary values (usually denoted true and false), intended to represent the truth values of logic and Boolean algebra

**Heuristic—**A problem-solving approach (algorithm) to find a satisfactory solution where finding an optimal or exact solution is impractical or impossible.

The actual building part of Computer Science Principles comes with its own vernacular that you should get very familiar with. Not only will it show up repeatedly on word problems and error messages, it’ll also help you grow and keep learning outside of the classroom.

Programming Big Idea #5 (AP Computer Science Principles) Flashcards

**Debugging—**Finding and fixing problems in your algorithm or program

**Integers—**Whole numbers and their opposites (no decimals)

**Procedure—**Section of code that will be executed only when they are called by the main program or another procedure

Although the Internet is all around us, most people never realize how complex its inner workings truly are. From the journey of data packets to resolutions, understanding the Internet is crucial to understanding computer science.

**Domain name—**The name of the server that hosts the data/ a human-readable way of locating an internet site

**Internet protocols (IP)—**An addressing system that finds paths to distant computers and splits data into small packets sent separately

**Packet Switching—**The internet sends short bursts of information, not long continuous strings

You’ve made it to the last Big Idea, where we finally step back and analyze the big picture. Through Global Impact, you’ll discover how each detail and innovation has changed the way we live as a society, and how you can become a better innovator and builder in the present.

Global Impact Big Idea #7 (AP Computer Science Principles) Flashcards

**Creative Commons Licensing—**Guidelines whereby content creators allow or limit your use to copy, edit, remix, build upon, or distribute all or parts of their work

**Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)—**Makes it illegal to circumvent technology-based protections of copyrighted materials

**Machine Learning—**Leverages massive amounts of data so that computers can act and improve on their own without additional programming.

APCSP is not a super difficult 💪 class, but it does require you to understand 🧠 and apply some basic programming 👨‍💻 vocabulary! Make sure to study these decks before exam day to ace your MCQ and get that five 5️⃣

Best Quizlet Decks for AP Computer Science Principles

Memes are how AP students communicate. Throughout the laughter, we all learn so much through the messages behind the memes. So (drumroll please)🥁.... we have searched far and wide on the internet to bring you the BEST in AP Computer Science Principles Memes.


Ok, I have to admit, these are somewhat true. Programming can be complicated, and at times, even the best programmers may not know what step(s) to take or what went wrong. However, in APCSP, especially in the create performance task, you need to know what you’re doing. You may not understand why your code is not working. However, if everything doesn't manage to “work out” in your code, you should go through the heuristic thought 💭 process once again. Think logically, just like a computer!


WSP Lily Bello Intro Comp Sci B at WHS Spring 2016

Boolean are types of data that are only composed of two values: true or false. Boolean expressions are basically mathematical expressions that involve comparison signifiers, like < , >, =, ≥, ≤. The “BOOLEAN” is a pun of the word “bullying” as +-*/ can “bully” and cause Boolean expressions to change (from any of these to the other: < , >, =, ≥, ≤), which can change the outcome of TRUE 👍 or FALSE 👎 in a string of code.

Example: ! means NOT. So if a code is !((5+5)==10), this will report 0 (or false) because while 5+5 is 10 (making the inner parentheses true), the ! negates this.

If a code is !((5-5)==10), this will report 1 (or true) because while 5-5 is not 10, the ! negates this.

Changing the operation signs can cause the output to change, completely. 🤯

This one is just about abstraction in coding. Abstraction is when a programmer 👨‍💻  hides the ‘irrelevant’ or the messy work to reduce the complexity of the overall code. It can be done in various ways. One way involves “setting up variables” that you may use later on, and defining them within, usually putting "{" and "}" to show what is “inside the code”.

The more abstraction, the cleaner (and more efficient) your code looks, hence the reaction 😳 of Vince Mcmahon. However, more abstraction isn't necessarily better. If you abstract too much, it seems like the code is way too “simplistic” and may not even be efficient because some of the important details of the code may be hidden.


Would it be quicker for a computer (or someone) to sort something IN ORDER 🔢 first, and then look for it, instead of immediately looking for it? Hmm, nope! Let’s say there is a list of the names of one million people. Now sort that alphabetically, 🔠 which means every letter of their name needs to be accounted for. Yes, it may be more efficient, but the entire process may take longer.



Bandwidth is how fast data can travel 🧳 from point A to point B. Therefore, a low bandwidth internet connection means it takes data longer to load. So, if you have a high quality or a large file that needs to be “loaded onto the screen”, it would take longer. Therefore, tiny and low-quality memes would allow slow internet ⌨️ users to access them faster!


IPv6 is the “updated and improved”, enlarged 📶 IP address system and it allows for more future IPs to be utilized, compared to IPv4, which is running out of the number of available IPs. (IPv4 is still the most widely used!)


This relates to cybersecurity and viruses 🦠. The Internet is not the “safest” place...there are instances where a pop-up or a mysterious email could show up in your inbox, “rewarding you a _____” for clicking on the link. Although it may seem obvious, clicking on these links, especially from your emails, can lead to accounts hacked, 👩‍💻 personal information leaked, etc.


Another pun! UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol, which is one of the two general data connections (the other being TCP...see the next meme 😃). In UDP, the system doesn’t necessarily know if the data packet has been transferred successfully, and thus requires a “reply back” 🔜 


PUNS 🤣 !! TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol, which is the other main data 👨‍💻 connection. In TCP, the system exchanges a series of messages with the client request. This is all happening when the data packets that make up the entire “file” 📂 are transmitted to be received by the client. During that series of messages, the protocol ensures that the “client” is ready to accept the data packets (in this case, the TCP joke) and that all packets 📋 have been transferred successfully…unless there is a loss of connection.

If you laughed so hard at any of the memes above (or if you didn’t laugh and want to make better memes 😬), then this is a perfect opportunity for you to learn how to make your own memes!! Many websites, such as 

, can be used to add text to existing meme templates. The IPv6 meme above was made from the 

. There are fields for you to type over each of the characters to add your super funny 😆 content and make someone else laugh.

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