The short answer
AP CSP composite = MCQ correct ÷ 70 × 70 + Section II points ÷ 6 × 30. An estimated 5 needs about 67% of the weighted composite, a 4 about 55% and a 3 about 42% (single third-party estimate (RemNote score calculator, “based on previously released exams”; not published by College Board)). Example: 65% of multiple choice plus 60% of free-response credit = 63.5 → about a 4.How the AP CSP score is calculated
The calculator adds up each part of the exam using College Board’s section weights:
composite % = MCQ correct ÷ 70 × 70 + Section II points ÷ 6 × 30
The composite (0–100) is then compared with estimated cutoffs for a 5, 4, 3 and 2. Worked example: with 65% of the multiple-choice questions right (about 46 of 70) and 60% of the free-response credit, your composite is 70 × 0.65 + 30 × 0.6 = 63.5, which maps to an estimated 4. Section II is scored on 6 points, 1 point each (College Board 2025 scoring statistics), and counts 30% of the score.
AP CSP exam format (May 2027)
The 2027 exam is fully digital (Bluebook) + Create task via AP Digital Portfolio. Section by section:
| Section | Questions | Minutes | Share of score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I: End-of-Course Multiple Choice | 70 | 120 | 70% |
| Section II: Create Performance Task + Written Response | 2 | 60 | 30% |
2027 changes: No format change announced for 2027. Create task submission deadline: 2027-04-30 11:59 p.m. ET. The calculator uses the current structure.
Free-response point breakdown
| Question | Points | Counts for |
|---|---|---|
| Create task + written responses | 0–6 | 30.0% of the score |
| Multiple choice correct (1 point each) | 0–70 | 70.0% of the score |
AP CSP score distribution: 2026 and 2025
| AP score | 2026 (preliminary) | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10% | 10.7% |
| 4 | 23% | 19.9% |
| 3 | 30% | 31.2% |
| 2 | 21% | 21.4% |
| 1 | 16% | 16.8% |
| 3 or higher | 63% | 61.8% |
2026 figures are College Board’s preliminary whole-number percentages. In 2025, 175,174 students took AP Computer Science Principles; 10.7% earned a 5.
Estimated AP CSP cutoffs
| Estimated AP score | Composite needed (of 100) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 67 or higher |
| 4 | 55 – 67 |
| 3 | 42 – 55 |
| 2 | 31 – 42 |
| 1 | below 31 |
Basis: single third-party estimate (RemNote score calculator, “based on previously released exams”; not published by College Board). College Board does not publish current cut scores, so treat every number in this table as an estimate with a margin of a few points.
What you need for a 3, 4 or 5 on AP CSP
Free-response result needed at three multiple-choice levels, using the estimated cutoffs above (assumes the same % correct on every multiple-choice part):
| Multiple choice correct | For a 3 | For a 4 | For a 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50% (≈35 of 70) | 2 of 6 FRQ points | 4 of 6 FRQ points | not reachable |
| 65% (≈46 of 70) | reached with MCQ alone | 2 of 6 FRQ points | 5 of 6 FRQ points |
| 80% (≈56 of 70) | reached with MCQ alone | reached with MCQ alone | 3 of 6 FRQ points |
Adjust the boxes in the calculator above to test your own mix; it also shows how many more questions or points you need for the next score.
AP CSP exam date 2027
The AP Computer Science Principles exam is on Friday, May 14, 2027 (Session 1, 8 a.m. local), per College Board’s 2027 AP exam schedule. Scores are usually released in early July; the 2027 release date has not been announced. See every exam on the AP Score Calculator hub.
AP® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse this site.
AP CSP score distribution, 2019–2026
In 2025, 61.9% of 175,174 AP CSP test takers scored 3 or higher and 10.7% earned a 5 (mean score 2.87). That compares with a 71.9% pass rate and 13.8% fives in 2019, a change of -10.0 percentage points. The 2020 and 2021 exams were shortened or moved online because of COVID-19, so compare those years with care.
| Year | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 or higher | Test takers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 10% | 23% | 30% | 21% | 16% | 63% | – |
| 2025 | 10.7% | 19.9% | 31.2% | 21.4% | 16.8% | 61.9% | 175,174 |
| 2024 | 10.9% | 20% | 33.1% | 20.3% | 15.7% | 64% | 175,261 |
| 2023 | 11.5% | 20.6% | 31.1% | 20.5% | 16.4% | 63.1% | 164,505 |
| 2022 | 11.4% | 21% | 31.1% | 19.9% | 16.6% | 63.5% | 134,651 |
| 2021 | 12.4% | 21.7% | 32.5% | 19.9% | 13.6% | 66.5% | 116,466 |
| 2020 | 10.9% | 23.6% | 37.1% | 19.8% | 8.6% | 71.6% | 116,751 |
| 2019 | 13.8% | 21% | 37.1% | 18.8% | 9.3% | 71.9% | 96,105 |
* Preliminary whole-number percentages as displayed by College Board; test-taker counts not yet published. Earlier years from College Board's annual Student Score Distributions PDFs. Compare every AP exam in our AP score distributions study.
Frequently asked questions
What score do you need to get a 5 on AP Computer Science Principles?
What percentage of students get a 5 on AP CSP?
Is a 3 a passing score on the AP CSP exam?
When is the AP CSP exam in 2027?
How is the AP CSP score calculated?
Sources & method
- Exam format, section weights and 2027 changes: College Board AP Central — AP Computer Science Principles exam.
- College Board source: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions/ap-computer-science-principles
- FRQ point values: College Board 2025 scoring statistics / scoring guidelines (apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/), 2027 values where the format changes.
- Cutoff estimate: single third-party estimate (RemNote score calculator, “based on previously released exams”; not published by College Board).
- Exam date: College Board 2027 AP exam schedule.
Data checked October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us via the about page.