Welcome, AP Teachers! The AP Computer Science A course is equivalent to a first-semester, college-level course in computer science. The course introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing data (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing. The course emphasizes object-oriented and imperative problem solving and design using the Java language. These techniques represent proven approaches for developing solutions that can scale up from small, simple problems to large, complex problems. The AP Computer Science A course curriculum is compatible with many CS1 courses in colleges and universities.
Essential Course Resources
This is the core document for this course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and the AP Program in general.
More Course Resources |
The two-page Course Overview (.pdf/4.35MB) provides a succinct description of the course and exam. The FAQ answers commonly asked questions about the course and exam. The Teacher's Guide (.pdf/1.94MB) has instructional strategies, sample syllabi, and more The Teacher Community allows you to discuss teaching strategies, share resources, and connect with other educators. |
Essential Exam Resources
The Exam Information page describes the current exam and provides access to former test questions.
The Free-Response Questions index provides questions from the most recent exam and exams from previous years.
You can access practice exams by logging in to your AP Course Audit account.
Access online score reports for your students.
More Exam Resources |
The 1999 Released Exam is a resource you might use with your students throughout the year. The Exam Appendix - Java Quick Reference (.pdf/50KB) lists the accessible methods from the Java library that may be included on the exam. Familiarize yourself with the multiple-choice scoring change that was implemented in May 2011. |
AP Course Audit Information
The AP Course Audit provides teachers and administrators with clear guidelines on curricular and resource requirements for AP courses. All schools wishing to label a course AP must submit a subject-specific AP Course Audit form and the course syllabus for each teacher of that AP course. Your course page has resources to support syllabus development.
Benefits of Becoming an Authorized AP Teacher |
Inclusion of authorized courses on the AP Course Ledger so that colleges and universities can verify student transcripts Feedback on your syllabus Access to secure practice exams |
Visit the AP Course Audit site to log in or create an account.
Professional Development
The College Board offers both face-to-face and online professional development workshops, available for new and experienced AP teachers as well as AP coordinators and administrators. Led by experienced instructors, subject-specific AP workshops provide educators with the support and training needed to develop effective strategies for teaching an AP course.
Our Annual Offerings |
June–August: One-week AP Summer Institutes are offered at different sites throughout the country, providing an in-depth look at the course and exam. September–April: One-day workshops are offered. Search for an upcoming AP Computer Science A workshop to register. |
Classroom Resources
The Teacher Community lets you share resources and teaching strategies with fellow educators.
The Classroom Resources page provides a diverse selection of supplemental materials, including lesson plans and teaching strategies, from the College Board and your AP colleagues.
The AP Computer Science A Student page has valuable information and resources for your students.
College Board Store
Find AP Computer Science A publications, released exams, and more in the College Board Store.
AP and Higher Education
Higher Education professionals play a key role developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Ed site features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.
This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy search.
Meet the current Development Committee for AP Computer Science A.