AP CSP Study Guide (with Real-World Applications)

A streamlined prep resource for the AP CSP exam — connecting Big Ideas directly to software engineering practices like Agile, full-stack development, CORS, licensing, and AWS deployment.

Exam Overview

  • Format: 70 MCQ (70%), Create Task (30%)
  • Skills: Abstraction, Algorithms, Internet, Data, Global Impact
  • Connection to Industry: Exactly what you’ll see in frontend/backend coding, APIs, and deploying apps on the cloud (AWS, GitHub Pages, etc.)

Big Idea 1: Creative Development

  • Core Idea: Programs are developed through collaboration, iteration, and abstraction.
  • Real-World Link: Agile methodology (sprints, stand-ups, pull requests) → teams push features to GitHub, review code, then deploy. Abstraction is used in APIs and frameworks so devs don’t reinvent everything.

MCQs

  1. Which of the following best describes abstraction?
    • A) Exact binary code
    • B) Simplified representation of something complex
    • C) Hardware parts
    • D) A unique IP
  2. Why do Agile sprints help in creative development?
    • A) They eliminate testing
    • B) They enable iterative improvement and collaboration
    • C) They guarantee bug-free code
    • D) They prevent planning

FRQ

Describe a time when you collaborated on a project (school, coding, or other). How did iteration or abstraction help?

Big Idea 2: Data

  • Core Idea: Data representation, compression, and analysis.
  • Real-World Link:
    • Compression → faster web loads (JPEG, MP3).
    • Logging & analytics → monitoring AWS deployments.
    • Metadata (timestamps, IPs) → debugging production errors.

MCQs

  1. Which is the smallest unit of digital data?
    • A) Byte
    • B) Bit
    • C) Kilobyte
    • D) Megabyte
  2. Why is metadata valuable in large datasets?
    • A) Prevents all errors
    • B) Provides context (time, source) for deeper analysis
    • C) Makes data unhackable
    • D) Always accurate

FRQ

Suppose you are analyzing website traffic. Explain how compression and metadata might be used together to improve performance and understanding of user behavior.

Big Idea 3: Algorithms & Programming

  • Core Idea: Sequencing, selection, iteration, and efficiency.
  • Real-World Link:
    • Backend APIs → search, sort, filter.
    • Frontend → event-driven programming (buttons, forms).
    • Efficiency → AWS bills you more if your algorithm is wasteful!

MCQs

  1. Which is an algorithm?
    • A) Recipe steps for baking a cake
    • B) The oven
    • C) The flour
    • D) The flavor
  2. Which is an example of iteration?
    • A) Loop repeats until a condition is met
    • B) A single click action
    • C) One-time calculation
    • D) Static content

FRQ

Write pseudocode for a simple program that asks a user for a number and prints whether it is even or odd.

Big Idea 4: Computer Systems & Networks

  • Core Idea: Protocols, reliability, cybersecurity.
  • Real-World Link:
    • CORS: lets frontend JS safely call backend APIs.
    • HTTPS/TLS: secure AWS-deployed apps.
    • Fault tolerance: AWS load balancers keep sites up during crashes.

MCQs

  1. Which protocol guarantees delivery of packets?
    • A) HTTP
    • B) TCP
    • C) DNS
    • D) IP
  2. Why are Internet protocols layered?
    • A) To allow independent systems to work together
    • B) To reduce abstraction
    • C) To make data less secure
    • D) To give one company control

FRQ

Imagine your web app is not loading because of a CORS error. Explain what’s happening and one way to fix it.

Big Idea 5: Impact of Computing

  • Core Idea: Computing has benefits + harms (ethics, bias, access).
  • Real-World Link:
    • Licenses: MIT vs GPL decide how others use your open-source code.
    • Digital divide: unequal Internet access → AWS hosting can help reach global users, but still requires broadband.
    • Bias: ML models can discriminate → important for full-stack apps that use AI.

MCQs

  1. Which shows the digital divide?
    • A) Rural student lacks reliable internet
    • B) A file saved in multiple formats
    • C) App with frequent updates
    • D) A program written in two languages
  2. Which is bias in computing?
    • A) AI produces unfair results for some groups
    • B) A website compresses images
    • C) A database has millions of records
    • D) An app translates text correctly

FRQ

Discuss one positive and one negative impact of open-source software licenses (like MIT or GPL) on innovation.

Exam Day Tips

  • Use the pseudocode sheet (provided).
  • Think about efficiency, abstraction, and impact.
  • Connect CSP concepts → deployment:
    • Agile → teamwork
    • Data → analytics
    • Algorithms → backend/frontend
    • Networks → CORS + HTTPS
    • Impacts → licenses, access, ethics

Answer Key (MCQs Only)

Big Idea 1: 1. B, 2. B
Big Idea 2: 1. B, 2. B
Big Idea 3: 1. A, 2. A
Big Idea 4: 1. B, 2. A
Big Idea 5: 1. A, 2. A

Additional Resources