Sample Questions & Scoring Guidelines
The Computer Science A exam covers the fundamentals of computer science taught in a first-semester college course. Both sections of the exam require students to demonstrate their ability to design, write, analyze, and document programs and subprograms. Java is used for the sections of the exam that require reading and writing of actual programs.
You can find additional free-response questions and scoring guidelines on AP Central, along with grade distributions and examples of actual students' responses and commentary that explains why the responses received the scores they did.
Multiple-Choice Questions
For sample multiple-choice questions that use Java, refer to the Course Description
AP Computer Science A & AB Course Description (.pdf/3MB)
Free-Response Questions
For sample free-response questions that use Java, refer to the Course Description(above).
The following free-response questions use Java and demonstrate the evaluation techniques that are currently used in evaluating the exam.
2009 Free-Response Questions - Computer Science A (.pdf/544K)
2008 Free-Response Questions - Computer Science A (.pdf/174K)
2007 Free-Response Questions - Computer Science A (.pdf/170K)
2006 Free-Response Questions - Computer Science A (.pdf/114K)
2005 Free-Response Questions - Computer Science A (.pdf/223K)
2004 Free-Response Questions - Computer Science A (.pdf/112K)
The free-response questions from 2001 through 2003 used C++ . They are provided to demonstrate the topics and the techniques that were used in these exams.
2003 Free-Response Questions - Computer Science A (.pdf/137K)
2002 Free-Response Questions - Computer Science A (.pdf/211K)
2001 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/311K)
Scoring Guidelines
2008 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/75K)
2007 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/199K)
2006 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/620K)
2005 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/184K)
2004 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/128K)
