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{{Short description|Advanced Placement course and exam in Java programming}}
{{Advanced Placement}}
'''Advanced Placement''' ('''AP''') '''Computer Science A''' (also known as '''AP CompSci''', '''AP CompSci A''', '''
AP Computer Science AB, which was equal to a full year, was discontinued following the May 2009 exam administration.<ref name=CSABdiscontinued>{{cite web | url = http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/195948.html | title = Important Announcement about AP Computer Science AB | work = AP Central | publisher = The College Board | year = 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080409195847/http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/195948.html | archive-date = April 9, 2008}}</ref>
==Course ==
AP Computer Science emphasizes [[object-oriented programming]] methodology with an emphasis on problem solving and [[algorithm]] development. It also includes the study of data structures and abstraction, but these topics were not covered to the extent that they were covered in AP Computer Science AB. The [[Microsoft]]-sponsored program [[Technology Education and Literacy in Schools]] (TEALS) aims to increase the number of students taking AP Computer Science classes.<ref name="Bishop2012-07-27">{{cite news|last=Bishop |first=Todd |date=2012-07-27 |title=Geek of the Week: Kevin Wang is putting computer scientists into high schools |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2012/kevin-wang/ |newspaper=[[GeekWire]] |access-date=2015-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705232946/http://www.geekwire.com/2012/kevin-wang/ |archive-date=2015-07-05 |url-status=live }}</ref
The units of the exam are as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|title=AP Computer Science A Course and Exam Description, Effective 2020|url=https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap-computer-science-a-course-and-exam-description.pdf|access-date=September 24, 2020|website=AP Central}}</ref>
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|-
|5
|Writing [[Class (computer programming)|Classes]]
|5–7.5%
|-
|6
|[[Array (data structure)|Array]]
|10–15%
|-
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|-
|9
|[[Inheritance (
|5–10%
|-
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|5–7.5%
|}
==Case studies and labs==
Historically, the AP exam used several programs in its free-response section to test students' knowledge of object-oriented programs without requiring them to develop an entire environment. These programs were called Case Studies.
This practice was discontinued as of the 2014–15 school year and replaced with optional labs that teach concepts.
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Case studies were used in AP Computer Science curriculum starting in 1994.<ref>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120226050416/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/compsci_a/case.html?compscia | archive-date = February 26, 2012 | url = http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/compsci_a/case.html?compscia | title = GridWorld Case Study | work = AP | publisher = The College Board }}</ref>
====
The
====Marine Biology case study (2000-2007)====
The Marine Biology Case Study (MBCS) was a program written in [[C++]] until 2003, then in [[Java (programming language)|Java]], for use with the A and AB examinations. It served as an example of [[object-oriented programming]] (OOP) embedded in a more complicated design project than most students had worked with before.
The case study was designed to allow the [[College Board]] to quickly test a student's knowledge of [[object oriented programming]] ideas such as [[Inheritance (
On each of the exams, at least one free-response question was derived from the case study. There were also five multiple-choice questions that are derived from the case study.
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====GridWorld case study (2008-2014)====
'''GridWorld''' is a computer program case study written in [[Java (programming language)|Java]] that was used with the [[AP Computer Science]] program from 2008 to 2014.<ref>Horstmann, Cay. [http://gridworld.info/ "GridWorld".] ''horstmann.com''. Accessed September 15, 2008.</ref> It serves as an example of [[object-oriented programming]] (OOP). GridWorld succeeded the [[Advanced Placement Computer Science#Marine Biology Case Study|Marine Biology Simulation Case Study]], which was used from 2000–2007. The GridWorld framework was designed and implemented by
The [[GridWorld]] Case Study was used as a substitute for writing a single large program as a culminating project. Due to obvious time restraints during the exam, the GridWorld Case Study was provided by the College Board <!-- commented out direct link just in case it can be used as a reference in the future [http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/GridWorldCode.zip]--> to students prior to the exam. Students were expected to be familiar with the classes and interfaces (and how they interact) before taking the exam. The case study was divided into five sections, the last of which was only tested on the AB exam. Roughly five multiple-choice questions in Section I were devoted to the GridWorld Case Study, and it was the topic of one free response question in Section II.
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*'''Actors'''
**The GridWorld Case Study employs an Actor class to construct objects in the grid.
**Actors are broken down into the classes "Flower", "Rock", "Bug", and "Critter", which inherit the Actor class and often override certain methods (most notably the Act method).
*'''Extensions'''
**The Case Study also includes several extensions of the above classes. "BoxBug" extends "Bug" and moves in a box shape if its route is not blocked. "ChameleonCritter" extends "Critter" and does not eat other Actors, instead changing its color to match the color one of its neighbors. "Crab Critter" moves left or right and only eats Actors in front of it, but otherwise extends the "Critter" class.
**Students often create their own extensions of the Actor class. Some common examples of student created extensions are [[Four Lords of the Diamond|Warden organisms]] and SimCity-like structures, in which objects of certain types create objects of other types based on their neighbors (much like [[Conway's Game of Life]]). Students have even created versions of the games [[Pac-Man]], [[Fire Emblem]], and [[Tetris]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Horstmann|first1=Cay|title=Extending GridWorld|url=http://www.horstmann.com/gridworld/extending-gridworld.html|website=Extending GridWorld|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=March 2025}}
*'''Known issues'''
**The version that is available at the College Board website, GridWorld 1.00, contains a bug (not to be confused with the Actor subclass Bug) that causes a SecurityException to be thrown when it is deployed as an [[Java applet|applet]]. This was fixed in the "unofficial code" release on the GridWorld website. Also, after setting the environment to an invalid BoundedGrid, it will cause a [[Null pointer|NullPointerException]].
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The AP exam in Computer Science was first offered in 1984.
Before 1999, the AP exam tested students on their knowledge of [[Pascal Programming Language|Pascal]]. From 1999 to 2003, the exam tested students on their knowledge of [[C++]] instead. Since 2003, the AP Computer Science exam has tested students on their knowledge of computer science through [[Java (
===Format===
*Section I: Multiple Choice [1 hour and 15 minutes for 40 multiple-choice questions]
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===Grade distributions===
In the
{|class="wikitable"
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!2003
!2004
!2005<ref name=GradeDistrib2005>{{citation | url = http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/studentgradedistribut_47038.pdf | title = STUDENT GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS | year = 2005
!2006<ref name=GradeDistrib2006>{{citation | url = http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/ap06_student_grade_distribs.pdf | title = STUDENT GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS | year = 2006
!2007<ref name=GradeDistrib2007>{{citation | url = http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/2007_STUDENT_GRADE_DISTRIBUTIONS.pdf | title = STUDENT GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS | year = 2007
!2008
!2009<ref name=GradeDistrib2009>{{citation | url = http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/student-grade-distributions-09.pdf | title = STUDENT GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS | year = 2009
!2010<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2010_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.</ref>
!2011<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/AP-Student-Score-Distributions-2011_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.</ref>
!2012<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap12_comp_sci_A_ScoringDist.pdf | title=AP Computer Science A 2012 Score Distribution | publisher=College Board | access-date=12 January 2014}}</ref>
!2013<ref>{{cite web | url=http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/apcentral/ap13_comp_sci_A_ScoringDist.pdf | title=AP Computer Science A 2013 Score Distribution | publisher=College Board | access-date=12 January 2014}}</ref>
!2014<ref>{{cite web | url=http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/2014/STUDENT-SCORE-DISTRIBUTIONS-2014.pdf | title=Student Score Distribution | publisher=College Board | access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>
!2015<ref>
!2016<ref>
!2017<ref>
!2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2018/Student-Score-Distributions-2018.pdf
!2019<ref>
!2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2020/Student-Score-Distributions-2020.pdf|access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
!2021<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/2021-ap-student-score-distributions_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.</ref>
!2021<ref>{{Cite web|last=Total Registration|date=2021-07-17|title=2021 AP Exam Score Distributions|url=https://www.totalregistration.net/AP-Exam-Registration-Service/AP-Exam-Score-Distributions.php?year=2021|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-18|website=www.totalregistration.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708203625/https://www.totalregistration.net/AP-Exam-Registration-Service/AP-Exam-Score-Distributions.php?year=2021 |archive-date=2021-07-08 }}</ref>▼
!2022<ref>"[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2022.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved October 1, 2023.</ref>
!2023<ref>"[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2023.pdf STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.</ref>
▲!
!2025
|-
!5
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|21.3%
|24.4%
|20.
|24.
|24.7%
|
|25.6%
|25%
▲|26.5%
|-
!4
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|23.1%
|24.6%
|20.
|20.9%
|21.
|
|21.7%
|22%
▲|20.3%
|-
!3
Line 201 ⟶ 207:
|13.9%
|16.8%
|15.
|23.
|21.9%
|21.
|
|23.2%
|19.3%
|19.9%
|18.8%
|20%
|20%
▲|20.0%
|-
!2
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|7.0%
|7.7%
|7.
|12.5%
|11.5%
|11.
|11.
|12.8%
|12.1%
|10.4%
|9.5%
|11%
|10%
|-
!1
Line 245 ⟶ 257:
|25.9%
|31.1%
|28.
|23.
|21.
|20.
|18.
|16.8%
▲|21%
|22.8%
|22.1%
|22.5%
|23%
|23%
|-
!|% of scores 3 or higher
Line 262 ⟶ 277:
|57.3%
|62.1%
|
|63.9%
|63.5%
Line 268 ⟶ 283:
|61.2%
|64.3%
|64.
|67.0%
|67.8%
|69.6%
|70.4%
|65.1%
|67.5%
|68.0%
|66%
|67.2%
▲|67.7%
▲|69.9%
▲|70.4%
▲|67%
|-
!|Mean
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|2.96
|3.09
|3.
|3.
|3.18
|3.28▼
|3.26
|3.12
|3.20
|3.21
|3.13
|3.18
|-
!|Standard Deviation
Line 317 ⟶ 338:
|1.44
|1.40
|1.
|1.50
|1.50
|1.48
|
|-
Line 333 ⟶ 357:
|31,117
|39,278
|48,994
|57,937
|60,519
|65,133
|69,685
|70,580
|
|77,753
|94,438
|
|93,124
|}
Line 411 ⟶ 438:
|70.6%
|71.2%
|73.
|76.0%
|-
Line 439 ⟶ 466:
|5,064
|4,995
|
|}
| |||