AP Computer Science Principles Score Curve 2026 — Raw Score to AP Score
AP Computer Science Principles uses a two-section exam — Multiple Choice and Free Response — to produce a final AP score of 1–5. Here's how the scoring works in 2026.
AP CSP Score Cutoffs (2026)
| AP Score | Min Composite | % of Max | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 110 / 150 | 73% | Extremely well qualified |
| 4 | 88 / 150 | 59% | Well qualified |
| 3 | 68 / 150 | 45% | Qualified |
| 2 | 50 / 150 | 33% | Possibly qualified |
| 1 | 0 / 150 | — | No recommendation |
Use our AP CSP Score Calculator to enter your scores and get a predicted grade instantly.
How the AP CSP Composite Score Is Calculated
| Section | Weight | Max Raw Score | Scaled Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice (70 Qs) | 70% | 70 | 105 points |
| FRQ 1 — Develop | 10% | 12 | ~15 points |
| FRQ 2 — Algorithms & Programming | 10% | 12 | ~15 points |
| FRQ 3 — Data | 10% | 12 | ~15 points |
| Total | 100% | — | ~150 points |
MC conversion: Each correct MC answer ≈ 1.5 composite points (105 ÷ 70).
FRQ conversion: Each FRQ is worth 0–12 raw points, scaled to ~15 composite points. Each FRQ raw point ≈ 1.25 composite points.
Score Distribution (2026)
| Score | % of Students |
|---|---|
| 5 | 14% |
| 4 | 27% |
| 3 | 27% |
| 2 | 18% |
| 1 | 14% |
Pass rate (3 or higher): ~68% — one of the higher pass rates among STEM APs.
AP CSP has a notably high 4 rate (27%), meaning a large share of students who pass are landing in the middle range rather than at the top. Strong MC performance combined with solid FRQ writing is what separates 4s from 5s.
What Raw Score Do You Need?
To score a 5 (110/150): With 30/36 FRQ points (≈37.5 composite pts), you need approximately 49/70 MC (70%) to reach 110.
With 25/36 FRQ points (≈31.25 pts), you need approximately 53/70 MC (76%).
To score a 4 (88/150): With 24/36 FRQ points (≈30 pts), you need approximately 39/70 MC (56%) to reach 88.
With 20/36 FRQ points (≈25 pts), you need approximately 42/70 MC (60%).
To score a 3 (68/150): With 18/36 FRQ points (≈22.5 pts), you need approximately 30/70 MC (43%) to reach 68.
With 14/36 FRQ points (≈17.5 pts), you need approximately 34/70 MC (49%).
AP CSP Exam Format (2026)
| Section | Details | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Section I — Multiple Choice | 70 questions (single-select and multi-select) | 120 min |
| Section II — Written Response | 3 FRQ tasks (all completed during exam) | 60 min |
| Total | — | ~3 hours |
Important change (2023+): AP CSP no longer uses a separate Create Performance Task submitted before the exam. All FRQ work is done during the exam itself, making the scoring more standardized.
AP CSP FRQ Tasks — What They Test
FRQ 1 — Develop (12 pts): Write or analyze program code using abstractions, functions, and variables. You may be asked to trace through code, explain what it does, or complete a partially written program.
FRQ 2 — Algorithms & Programming (12 pts): Analyze algorithms — iteration, selection, Boolean logic. Questions test your ability to read pseudocode, predict output, and identify logical errors.
FRQ 3 — Data (12 pts): Interpret datasets, describe how data was collected or cleaned, evaluate the impact of computing innovations, or discuss privacy and security considerations.
Key insight: FRQ 1 and 2 are purely technical — they reward students who can read and write code. FRQ 3 is conceptual — it rewards students who understand computing's social and practical dimensions.
AP CSP vs AP Computer Science A — Score Curves
| AP CSP | AP CS A | |
|---|---|---|
| compositeMax | 150 | 80 |
| Score 5 min | 110/150 (73%) | 56/80 (70%) |
| Score 3 min | 68/150 (45%) | 30/80 (38%) |
| Pass rate | ~68% | ~65% |
| 5 rate | ~14% | ~26% |
AP CSP has a higher pass rate than AP CS A, but a lower 5 rate. AP CS A is more technically demanding (Java programming throughout), while AP CSP covers broader computing concepts. AP CS A students who score 5 tend to be strong programmers — the 26% five rate reflects a self-selecting population.