AP Computer Science: Principles Curriculum Framework

Read more about the curriculum framework

Course Annotations (.pdf/479KB)
Computational Thinking Practices and Big Ideas, Key Concepts, Supporting Concepts (.pdf/142KB)
Learning Objectives and Evidence Statements (.pdf/168KB)

Computational Thinking Practices, Big Ideas, Key Concepts, Supporting Concepts

1. Connecting computing
2. Developing computational artifacts
3. Abstracting
4. Analyzing problems and artifacts
5. Communicating
6. Collaborating

Big Ideas

1. Computing is a creative activity.
2. Abstraction reduces information and detail to facilitate focus on relevant concepts.
3. Data and information facilitate the creation of knowledge.
4. Algorithms are used to develop and express solutions to computational problems.
5. Programming enables problem solving, human expression, and creation of knowledge.
6. The Internet pervades modern computing.
7. Computing has global impacts.

AP CS: Principles Prototype Assessment Questions

2011-12 CSP Piloted FRQs
2012-13 CSP Piloted Portfolio Tasks

The Computer Science (CS): Principles free-response questions were developed by the College Board and the NSF-funded CS: Principles Project for piloting purposes. They were piloted across 10 high schools and eight colleges during the 2011-12 academic school year. The free-response questions included here were designed to enable students to demonstrate mastery of learning objectives in the CS: Principles Curriculum Framework and to assess how open-ended questions work in a CS: Principles course. Student responses to these questions were part of the pilot assessment; these responses have provided statistical and evaluation data to inform a proof of concept for the development of a CS: Principles AP Exam. Such an exam would likely contain objectively scored questions in addition to open-ended questions. The piloted free-response questions included here do not necessarily reflect the types of questions that would be contained in an official AP Exam. Each question is followed by a brief commentary on the intent of the question, as well as a list of the learning objectives and evidence statements elicited by the question.

The CS: Principles portfolio tasks were developed by the College Board and the NSF-funded CS: Principles Project for piloting purposes. They were piloted across four high schools and two colleges during the 2012-13 academic year. The portfolio questions included here were designed to enable students to demonstrate mastery of learning objectives in the CS: Principles Curriculum Framework, especially the learning objectives that include collaboration. Student submissions during the pilot assessment have provided statistical and evaluation data to inform a proof of concept for the development of a CS: Principles AP Exam. Such an exam would likely contain objectively scored questions in addition to open-ended questions. The piloted portfolio tasks included here do not necessarily reflect the types of questions that would be contained in an official AP assessment. Each portfolio task is followed by a brief commentary on the intent of the task, as well as a list of the learning objectives and evidence statements elicited by the task.

Computer Science Commission Members

• Don Allen, Troy High School, Calif.
• Christine Alvarado, Harvey Mudd College, Calif.
• Stacey Armstrong, Cypress Woods High School, Texas
• Owen Astrachan, Duke University, N.C.
• Charmaine Bentley, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, Texas
• Amy Briggs, Middlebury College, Vt.
• Rich Kick, Newbury Park High School, Calif.
• Mark Guzdial, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ga.
• Jody Paul, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colo.
• Chris Stephenson, Computer Science Teachers' Association

Computer Science Advisory Group Members

• Duane Bailey, Williams College, Mass.
• Tiffany Barnes, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, N.C.
• Gail Chapman, Computer Science Teachers' Association
• Tom Cortina, Carnegie Mellon University, Pa.
• Stephen Edwards, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Va.
• Dan Garcia, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
• Joanna Goode, University of Oregon, Ore.
• Susanne Hambrusch, Purdue University, Ind.
• Michelle Hutton, Computer Science Teachers' Association
• Deepak Kumar, Bryn Mawr College, Pa.
• Jim Kurose, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mass.
• Andrea Lawrence, Spelman College, Ga.
• Richard Pattis, University of California, Irvine, Calif.
• Eric Roberts, Stanford University, Calif.
• Katie Siek, University of Colorado Boulder, Colo.
• Beth Simon, University of California, San Diego, Calif.
• Larry Snyder, University of Washington, Wash.
• Lynn Andrea Stein, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Mass.
• Fran Trees, Drew University, N.J.