Introduction

Based on the Understanding by Design® (Wiggins and McTighe) model, the AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam Description provides a clear and detailed description of the course requirements necessary for student success. The course is designed to be equivalent to a first-semester introductory college computing course. The major areas of study in the course are organized around big ideas that encompass ideas foundational to studying computer science.

The AP Computer Science Principles course framework is organized into five big ideas.

Big Idea	Exam Weighting
Big Idea 1: Creative Development	10%–13%
Big Idea 2: Data	17%–22%
Big Idea 3: Algorithms and Programming	30%–35%
Big Idea 4: Computer Systems and Networks	11%–15%
Big Idea 5: Impact of Computing	21%–26%

Computational Thinking Practices

The AP Computer Science Principles course framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills from computational thinking practices that students should practice and develop throughout the year—skills that will help them learn to think and act like computer scientists. Emphasis is placed on creativity and collaboration as pedagogical strategies to be used to develop a diverse, appealing, and inclusive classroom environment.

Computational Thinking Practice	Description	Exam Weighting (Multiple-Choice Section)
1. Computational Solution Design	Design and evaluate computational solutions for a purpose.	18%–25%
2. Algorithms and Program Development	Develop and implement algorithms.	20%–28%
3. Abstraction in Program Development	Develop programs that incorporate abstractions.	7%–12%
4. Code Analysis	Evaluate and test algorithms and programs.	12%–19%
5. Computing Innovations	Investigate computing innovations.	28%–33%
6. Responsible Computing	Contribute to an inclusive, safe, collaborative, and ethical computing culture.	Not assessed