AP Computer Science Principles curriculum

An AP CSP-aligned course covering digital information, the Internet, programming, algorithms, data, simulations, security, computing impacts, and Create task readiness.

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AP CSP / high school computing

AP Computer Science Principles curriculum

An AP CSP-aligned course covering digital information, the Internet, programming, algorithms, data, simulations, security, computing impacts, and Create task readiness.

Pacing

10 units, 24-32 weeks self-paced

Units

10 unit sequence

Practice

40 checked answers

Support

Self-paced or tutor-guided

Outcomes

Explain computing systems, networks, data, algorithms, and impacts using AP CSP vocabulary.
Build small programs with sequencing, selection, iteration, procedures, and lists.
Prepare for AP-style multiple choice and the Create performance task without copying official prompts.

Khan Academy companion path

Use these linked courses for video instruction and mastery practice, then return here for PeerTutor original checks and tutor help on the exact unit that got stuck.

AP/College Computer Science Principles

External video content is linked, not copied. PeerTutor practice is original and cites each source path separately.

Unit sequence

Built for independent progress first, then tutor support where the student gets stuck.

01
Digital information
- Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.
- Explain limits of digital representation.
Practice: Convert numbers between binary and decimal and explain one compression tradeoff.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Digital information
How many bits are in one byte?
Binary
The binary number 101 equals what decimal value?
3456
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "Digital information"?
Describe fault tolerance and network tradeoffs.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.Explain limits of digital representation.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Digital information" before asking a tutor for help?
Convert numbers between binary and decimal and explain one compression tradeoff.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.
02
The Internet
- Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.
- Describe fault tolerance and network tradeoffs.
Practice: Trace a web request from browser to server using protocol vocabulary.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Internet
HTTP is an application-layer protocol. Type the four-letter acronym.
Packets
The Internet routes data by breaking messages into:
packetspixelsfontsvariables
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "The Internet"?
Explain limits of digital representation.Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.Describe fault tolerance and network tradeoffs.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "The Internet" before asking a tutor for help?
Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Trace a web request from browser to server using protocol vocabulary.
03
Programming foundations
- Use variables, expressions, conditionals, loops, procedures, and lists.
- Trace programs with AP CSP pseudocode rules.
Practice: Write a small program and trace it with a table of variable values.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Programming
In AP CSP pseudocode, a list index starts at what number?
Procedures
A procedure with parameters is useful because it:
hardcodes all valuesgeneralizes behavior over inputsremoves abstractionprevents testing
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "Programming foundations"?
Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.Use variables, expressions, conditionals, loops, procedures, and lists.Explain limits of digital representation.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Programming foundations" before asking a tutor for help?
Write a small program and trace it with a table of variable values.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
04
Algorithms
- Express, compare, and verify algorithms.
- Use sequencing, selection, iteration, and complexity reasoning.
Practice: Compare two algorithms for the same task and justify correctness and efficiency.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Algorithms
What Big-O describes a loop that doubles i until i >= n?
Correctness
Testing an algorithm should include normal cases and:
edge casesfont sizesbrand colorsonly examples from memory
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "Algorithms"?
Use sequencing, selection, iteration, and complexity reasoning.Explain limits of digital representation.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Algorithms" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Compare two algorithms for the same task and justify correctness and efficiency.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
05
Data analysis
- Use data sets, basic statistics, patterns, cleaning, and visualization.
- Identify bias and privacy risks in data.
Practice: Summarize a small dataset and write one limitation about the data source.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data analysis
The middle value of a sorted data set is the what?
Bias
Training data that underrepresents a group can produce:
algorithmic biasfaster Wi-Filossless compressionvalid encryption
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "Data analysis"?
Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.Use data sets, basic statistics, patterns, cleaning, and visualization.Explain limits of digital representation.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Data analysis" before asking a tutor for help?
Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Summarize a small dataset and write one limitation about the data source.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.
06
Simulations
- Use randomness and models to explore systems.
- State assumptions and limits of a simulation.
Practice: Build or describe a simulation with inputs, outputs, randomness, and validation.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Simulations
A simulation that uses random numbers should record a seed for what kind of results?
Modeling
A simulation is useful when a real system is:
too costly, slow, risky, or complex to test directlyalways trivialnot measurableunrelated to assumptions
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "Simulations"?
Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.State assumptions and limits of a simulation.Explain limits of digital representation.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Simulations" before asking a tutor for help?
Skip the unit and start a new subject.Build or describe a simulation with inputs, outputs, randomness, and validation.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
07
Cybersecurity and privacy
- Explain encryption, authentication, phishing, malware, and personal data risk.
- Choose safer computing behaviors.
Practice: Analyze a security scenario and identify the vulnerability plus mitigation.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Security
A secret used to decrypt encrypted data is called a what?
Phishing
A phishing attack mainly tries to trick users into:
revealing sensitive informationimproving latencycompressing filesformatting code
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "Cybersecurity and privacy"?
Explain limits of digital representation.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.Explain encryption, authentication, phishing, malware, and personal data risk.Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Cybersecurity and privacy" before asking a tutor for help?
Analyze a security scenario and identify the vulnerability plus mitigation.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
08
Computing innovations and impact
- Analyze beneficial and harmful effects of computing innovations.
- Explain data, privacy, access, and equity impacts.
Practice: Write a concise innovation analysis with benefit, harm, data, and stakeholder impact.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Computing impact
Data that can identify a specific person is often abbreviated as what?
Innovation analysis
A strong computing innovation response discusses benefits, harms, and:
data/privacy impactsonly the color schemeonly company slogansthe shortest sentence
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "Computing innovations and impact"?
Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.Explain data, privacy, access, and equity impacts.Explain limits of digital representation.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Computing innovations and impact" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Write a concise innovation analysis with benefit, harm, data, and stakeholder impact.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
09
Create performance task readiness
- Use program purpose, input, output, lists, procedures, and algorithmic segments.
- Write explanations in your own words.
Practice: Design a small project plan with procedure, list, algorithm, tests, and written response outline.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Create task
A student-developed procedure must include sequencing, selection, and what third control structure?
Abstraction
A list used to manage complexity is an example of:
data abstractionnetwork latencycopyright noticescreen brightness
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "Create performance task readiness"?
Use program purpose, input, output, lists, procedures, and algorithmic segments.Explain limits of digital representation.Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Create performance task readiness" before asking a tutor for help?
Design a small project plan with procedure, list, algorithm, tests, and written response outline.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
10
AP review and exam strategy
- Review AP vocabulary and pseudocode.
- Practice passage-based and code-tracing questions.
Practice: Build an error log from mixed AP-style practice and write a final targeted study plan.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Exam review
AP CSP multiple-choice questions often ask you to trace code. Type the verb: ____ code.
Review
The best final review artifact is:
a targeted error loga random new courseunreviewed guesseshidden notes
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the AP Computer Science Principles unit "AP review and exam strategy"?
Explain protocols, packets, IP addresses, DNS, routing, bandwidth, and latency.Practice passage-based and code-tracing questions.Explain limits of digital representation.Use bits, bytes, binary numbers, text, images, and compression.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "AP review and exam strategy" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Build an error log from mixed AP-style practice and write a final targeted study plan.Skip the unit and start a new subject.