AP Computer Science

The Advanced Placement Program offers a course and exam in introductory computer science. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming methodology with a concentration on problem solving and algorithm development, and is meant to be the equivalent of a first-semester college-level course in computer science. It also includes the study of data structures, design, and abstraction. The course represents college-level achievement for which most colleges and universities can be expected to grant advanced placement and credit. Current offerings of the AP Computer Science A Exam require the use of Java.

Those sections of the exam that require the reading or writing of actual programs will use Java. The exam will not include all the features of Java; it will be consistent with the AP Java subset. The AP Java subset can be found in the Computer Science section of AP Central (apcentral.collegeboard.com). Students who study a language other than Java during an AP Computer Science A course will need to be prepared to use standard Java, as specified in the AP Java subset, on the AP Computer Science A Exam.