The College Board offers two AP Computer Science courses for students who are interested in learning about computer science and programming. Because these two courses are so different, you might be wondering how to choose the right AP Computer Science course to take. AP CSP is a broader class focused on a variety of topics besides just coding and AP CSA is focused entirely on the Java programming language. Let's take a look at these two courses (AP CSP vs AP CSA) more closely.
The AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) course is designed to introduce students to fundamental computer science and programming concepts, and the AP CSP Exam consists of a performance assessment and an end-of-year multiple-choice exam. The AP Computer Science A (AP CSA) course is designed to introduce students to the Java programming language and object-oriented programming design and development, and the AP CSA Exam consists of an end-of-year exam with multiple-choice and free response questions.
Enroll your child in an award-winning online AP CSA course or AP CSP course, led live by an expert, and designed by professionals from Google, Stanford, MIT, and Code.org to meet the College Board requirements.
How To Pick Which 2026 AP Computer Science Course To Take
These AP Computer Science courses provide opportunities for students to gain exposure to fundamental computer science and programming concepts and to learn multiple programming languages such as Java. Both courses are equivalent to a first semester college computer science course and allow students to potentially earn college credit based on their performance on the AP exams.
What Is AP Computer Science A?
AP Computer Science A (AP CSA) introduces students to software engineering and object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language. Students learn a broad range of topics, including the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. Learn more about the AP CSA course here.
Why should I choose to take AP Computer Science A?
AP CSA is ideal for high school students who want to learn Java and continue strengthening their skills in software design and development. Java is one of the most powerful coding languages to date. While the College Board does not require students to have taken a computer science or programming course before taking AP CSA, it is recommended that students have taken some form of introductory computer science course first. Java is a complex language to learn as your first language. AP CSA builds on students' existing knowledge of how computers and software works to dive deeper under the hood to design and develop more complex and personally relevant programs using the Java programming language. For students who are ready to expand their skills to the next level or are interested in pursuing a career in computer science, AP Computer Science A is the best choice.
What is AP Computer Science Principles?
AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) is an introductory computer science course that provides students opportunities to learn fundamental computer science concepts and analyze the impacts technology has on our society. Students learn how to design and evaluate solutions to a variety of problems involving technology as well as develop algorithms and programs. AP CSP focuses on exploring how computing innovations and systems work and exposes students to a variety of topics within computer science, such as big data, cloud computing, and the Internet. If students are interested in learning more then just coding, this may be the right choice.
Why should I choose to take AP Computer Science Principles?
AP CSP is ideal for high school students who are interested in computer science but may not be sure where to start. Students do not need any previous knowledge of computer science to be successful in AP CSP, as it is intended to build on their current understanding of their world and the role technology plays. For students who are ready to learn about how the technology they use everyday works or want to start developing their programming skills, AP Computer Science Principles is the best choice.
Key differences between AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles
Focus of Curriculum
While both courses introduce students to the world of computing, they approach the subject from different angles. Here is a comparison of their core topics:
| Topic Area | AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) | AP Computer Science A (AP CSA) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Language | Language-agnostic (often block-based languages like Scratch, or Python/JavaScript) | Strictly Java |
| Core Themes | The 5 "Big Ideas": Creative Development, Data, Algorithms and Programming, Computer Systems and Networks, and Impact of Computing | Object-oriented programming, class design, data structures, and software engineering principles |
| Scope of Concepts | Broad overview of the internet, cybersecurity, data analysis, and societal impacts of technology | Deep dive into variables, control structures, arrays, ArrayLists, 2D arrays, inheritance, and recursion |
Prerequisites
A common misconception among parents and students is that you must take a series of computer science classes before attempting AP CSA. This is not true! Here are the official and practical prerequisites for both courses:
- AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP): Designed as an introductory, first-year course. There are no computer science prerequisites. The College Board recommends a basic foundation in high school algebra (Algebra I).
- AP Computer Science A (AP CSA): While prior coding experience is helpful, it is not required. The official prerequisite is successful completion of Algebra I. Because the exam requires tracing complex logic and typing code, strong problem-solving skills and basic English reading/writing proficiency are essential.
Role of Programming
How much coding will your student actually do? The answer varies significantly between the two classes:
- AP CSP: Introduces fundamental programming concepts (variables, loops, conditionals), but coding is only one of many topics. Students spend a significant amount of time studying the social, ethical, and global impacts of technology, as well as data storage and network protocols.
- AP CSA: A rigorous, hands-on software development course. Almost 100% of the class is focused on designing, writing, testing, and debugging Java programs.
If your student is preparing for these courses and wants to build a rock-solid foundation, check out our expert-led online classes. We offer a tailored AP Computer Science Principles Prep as well as a comprehensive Java Coding Course to help students ace their AP CSA classes and exams.
Exam Structure
Starting with the digital transition in 2025, both AP exams are administered fully digitally through the College Board's Bluebook app. However, their formats remain very different:
- AP CSP Exam: Composed of a through-course Create Performance Task (30% of your score, submitted digitally by late April) and an end-of-course exam (70% of your score). The end-of-course digital exam contains 70 multiple-choice questions and 2 written-response questions that require you to explain the code from your Personalized Project Reference.
- AP CSA Exam: A single, 3-hour fully digital exam in Bluebook (100% of your score). It consists of Section I: 42 multiple-choice questions (55% of score) and Section II: 4 free-response questions (45% of score) where students type their Java code directly into the Bluebook editor.
To dive deeper into the exact testing parameters, check out our comprehensive AP CSP Exam Guide.
College Credit and Placement Differences
Before deciding which AP course to take, it is important to understand how colleges view each exam for credit:
- AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP): Typically earns elective credit or satisfies a general education quantitative reasoning requirement. It is rarely accepted as a direct equivalent for computer science majors.
- AP Computer Science A (AP CSA): Frequently accepted by universities as the direct equivalent of a first-semester college course in computer science. For students intending to major in Computer Science, Engineering, or Physics, a high score on the AP CSA exam is much more likely to place them out of introductory programming requirements.
How To Choose The Right AP Computer Science Course
AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A are very different courses with very different goals and topics. While AP CSP focuses on exposing students to the fundamentals of computer science and programming, AP CSA focuses on deepening knowledge of programming to design and develop programs using the Java programming language. How to choose the right AP Computer Science course is based more on a student's current level of computer science knowledge and their personal goals in pursuing computer science. When your child is ready, enroll them in our award-winning online AP CSA course or our AP CSP course, led live by an expert.
