AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. Students will learn to design and evaluate solutions and to apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. They will incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. Students will also explain how computing innovations and computing systems—including the Internet—work, explore their potential impacts, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical.
This course is designed to be the equivalent of an introductory, college-level breadth course in computer science. Students will use Python as the primary programming language throughout the course. A minimum of 9 hours of dedicated class time is reserved for the Create Performance Task (CPT).
| Course: | AP® Computer Science Principles |
| Academic Year: | 2026–2027 |
| Instructor: | 赵丁霓 |
| Email: | Dingnizhao@ghedu.com |
| Office: | 文体106 |
| Language: | Python 3.x (primary) |
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
There is no required textbook for this course. Instruction is based on the free College Board AP CSP Course and Exam Description (CED), AP Classroom, and the online resources listed below; a print or digital Python reference may be recommended for extra practice.
Each semester is graded independently using the same standard. The midterm assessment accounts for 40% of the semester grade and the final assessment for 60%. Each is composed as follows:
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 15% |
| Class Participation | 15% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Midterm Exam | 50% |
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 15% |
| Class Participation | 15% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Final Exam | 50% |
- Late Work Policy: 10% deduction per day late; maximum 50% after 3 days late. Exceptions made for excused absences and emergencies.
- Academic Integrity: AI tools (ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, etc.) may be used as learning aids outside of assessments, but you must understand and be able to explain all code you submit. CPT code, video, and PPR must be your own independent work.
Exam Window: May 3–14, 2027 (specific date to be confirmed by College Board).
| Section | Component | Number | Weight | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | Multiple-choice questions | 70 | 70% | 120 min |
| Section II | Create Performance Task (program, video, PPR) | — | 30% | ≥ 9 hours in class (submitted before exam) |
| Section II | Written Response questions (on exam day) | 2 (4 prompts) | (part of 30%) | 60 min |
| Big Idea | Exam Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1: Creative Development | 10–13% |
| 2: Data | 17–22% |
| 3: Algorithms and Programming | 30–35% |
| 4: Computer Systems and Networks | 11–15% |
| 5: Impact of Computing | 21–26% |
CPT Submission Deadline: April 30, 2027 (11:59 PM ET). Class target: submit by April 25. The AP CSP Exam Reference Sheet (pseudocode) is provided during the exam.
| Weeks | Dates | Big Ideas / Unit / Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1–6 | Aug 31 – Oct 16 | Unit 1: Creative Development + Intro to Programming + Digital Citizenship (CRD, AAP intro, IOC intro) — Personalized Greeting Program; Unit 1 Complete Oct 16 |
| 🌙 Mid-Autumn Festival — Sep 25–27 (No class) | ||
| 🇨🇳 National Day Holiday — Oct 1–7 (No class) | ||
| 📝 Monthly Exam — Oct 8–10 (Monthly Exam) | ||
| 7–13 | Oct 19 – Dec 11 | Unit 2: Algorithms & Programming (AAP) — Boolean, Conditionals, Iteration, Procedures, Lists, Simulations, Binary Search, Algorithmic Efficiency — Quiz App Lab; Unit 2 Complete Dec 11 |
| 📝 Midterm Exam Week — Nov 6–11 | ||
| 🍂 Autumn Outing — Nov 12 (No class) | ||
| 14–17 | Dec 14 – Jan 8, 2027 | Unit 3: Data (DAT) — Binary Numbers, Data Compression, Extracting Info from Data — Data Analysis Lab; Unit 3 Complete Jan 8 |
| 📝 Monthly Exam — Dec 14–18 (Monthly Exam Week) | ||
| 🎆 New Year Holiday — Jan 1 (No class) | ||
| 18 | Jan 11–15 | Final Exam Week (Units 1–3) |
| Winter Break: January 16 – February 28, 2027 | ||
| 19–21 | Mar 1–19 | Unit 4: Computer Systems & Networks (CSN) + IOC topics — Internet, Fault Tolerance, Parallel/Distributed Computing, Legal/Ethical — All content instruction complete Mar 19 |
| 22–23 | Mar 22 – Apr 2 | Comprehensive Review & CPT Preparation |
| 📝 Monthly Exam — Mar 29 – Apr 2 (Monthly Exam Week) | ||
| — | Apr 6–21 | Create Performance Task (CPT) — ≥ 9 hours dedicated in-class time |
| — | Apr 25 | Class CPT submission target (CB deadline Apr 30) |
| — | Apr 26–30 | Written Response (FRQ) Intensive Practice |
| 🎉 Labor Day Holiday — May 1–3 (No class) | ||
| — | May 3–14 | AP CSP Exam |
| — | May 17 – Jun 4 | Post-AP Capstone Project |
| — | Jun 7–11 | Final Exam Week |
| Oct 16 | Unit 1 complete; Personalized Greeting Program due |
| Dec 11 | Unit 2 complete; Quiz App Lab due |
| Jan 8, 2027 | Unit 3 complete; Data Analysis Lab due |
| Mar 19 | All content instruction complete |
| Apr 6–21 | CPT dedicated in-class time |
| Apr 25 | CPT class submission target |
| May 3–14 | AP CSP Exam |
Note: Schedule is subject to change based on class progress and needs.