AP Computer Science Principles Score Guide
How the Create performance task and end-of-course exam combine, and why 30% of your score is earned before exam day.
Unofficial AP Score Calculator
AP Computer Science Principles Score Calculator
Estimate your AP CSP score from your exam and Create performance task.
AP CSP Score Estimator
Enter your raw points below. Your estimated score updates instantly.
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Estimated AP Score
, /100
Composite Index
Unofficial estimate. These results are unofficial estimates for educational purposes only. Actual AP scores are set by the College Board and the exact scoring formula changes every year. ExamPredictor.online is an independent resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the College Board.
About the AP CSP score calculator
This AP Computer Science Principles score calculator estimates your 1–5 score by combining your end-of-course multiple-choice exam with your Create performance task. Unlike most AP exams, CSP includes a project you complete during the year, the Create performance task, which counts for 30% of your score, while the 70-question exam counts for 70%.
An AP CSP score calculator is useful precisely because the two components are so different. Enter your estimated exam performance and your Create task score (out of six points) to see how they combine into a final composite and score.
How the AP CSP exam is scored
| Section | Format | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| End-of-course multiple-choice exam | 70 questions | 70% |
| Create performance task | Program + written responses | 30% |
The end-of-course exam is a 70-question multiple-choice test covering computational thinking, algorithms, programming, data, the internet, and the impact of computing. The Create performance task is a program you design and document, scored on a six-point rubric for things like program purpose, algorithm development, and abstraction. Because the project is completed before exam day, many students lock in much of their score early.
After weighting, your composite maps to a 1–5 score. AP CSP has a comparatively generous curve and a high pass rate, partly because the performance task gives prepared students a dependable base of points, which our calculator reflects.
What your estimated score means
A 3 passes at many colleges, and AP CSP posts one of the higher pass rates in the AP program. A strong Create performance task can make a 3 or higher very attainable even with a middling exam. If your estimate is at a 3, the most reliable improvement is maximizing the Create task rubric, clear abstraction, a well-developed algorithm, and complete written responses earn points that don't depend on exam-day performance.
How to raise your AP CSP score
- Treat the Create performance task seriously, 30% is earned before exam day.
- Hit every rubric row: abstraction, algorithm development, and clear documentation.
- For the exam, focus on algorithms, data, and the internet, high-frequency topics.
- Review computing-impact concepts, which appear throughout the multiple choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is AP Computer Science Principles scored?
The end-of-course multiple-choice exam counts for 70% and the Create performance task counts for 30%. Together they form a composite that maps to a 1–5 score.
What is the Create performance task?
A program you design and document during the course, scored on a six-point rubric. It counts for 30% of your AP CSP score and is submitted before the exam.
What score do I need for a 5 on AP CSP?
Often around 64% of the combined points, though it varies yearly. The calculator above estimates based on typical thresholds.
Is AP CSP easier than AP CS A?
CSP is broader and more conceptual, with less intensive programming than CSA, and it has a higher pass rate. Many students find it more approachable.
Does the Create task really matter that much?
Yes. At 30% of your score and completed before exam day, a strong Create task gives you a dependable foundation that can secure a passing score.
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