For details on the 2024 AP Computer Science A Exam, check this article.
Unlike 2020 and 2021, when the College Board modified the AP exams as a response to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the 2022 AP exams will return to its original format.
This year, the AP exams will take place over a two-week period in May: May 2–6 and May 9–13.
The College Board may change the format, however, if schools are disrupted in the spring due to COVID-19.
“We’ll continue to monitor global, national, and local health conditions, putting the health and safety of students first, and if there are widespread school closures in spring 2022, we’ll provide options similar to those offered in 2021,” the College Board noted here.
We will, of course, update this guide if that should happen.
The AP Computer Science A exam for 2022 will be a full-length paper-and-pencil exam that students can take in school only.
Here is what you need to know to do well in the upcoming AP Computer Science A exam.
Will I get college credit for the 2022 AP Computer Science A exam?
Students who take the 2022 AP Computer Science A exam will be eligible for college credit.
As in previous years, a student must obtain a score of 3, 4, or 5 to be eligible for college credit.
How long is the 2022 AP Computer Science A exam?
The 2022 AP Computer Science A exam will be 3 hours long.
What’s the 2022 AP Computer Science A exam date and time?
The 2022 AP Computer Science A exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 4 at 12 PM local time.
What will be tested on the 2022 AP Computer Science A exam?
The 2022 AP Computer Science A exam will test students on the whole course content, so be prepared to answer questions on these topics:
- Unit 1: Primitive Types
- Unit 2: Using Objects
- Unit 3: Boolean Expressions and if Statements
- Unit 4: Iteration
- Unit 5: Writing Classes
- Unit 6: Array
- Unit 7: ArrayList
- Unit 8: 2D Array
- Unit 9: Inheritance
- Unit 10: Recursion
What is the AP Computer Science A exam format for 2022?
The 2022 AP Computer Science A exam will be split equally between two sections: multiple-choice and free-response questions. Each section is worth 50 percent of the exam score.
You will have 1 hour, 30 minutes to answer 40 multiple-choice questions and 1 hour, 30 minutes to answer 4 free-response questions.
The chart below shows the breakdown of the exam components.
| Section | # Questions | Time Allocation | Exam Weight |
| I: Multiple Choice | 40 | 1 hour, 30 mins | 50% |
| II: Free Response | 4 | 1 hour, 30 mins | 50% |
Does the College Board offer any free AP Computer Science A exam prep resources?
The College Board is offering a number of free AP Computer Science A exam resources to students to help them prepare for the exam.
AP Computer Science A Practice Tests
You can get examples of free-response questions from past AP Computer Science A exams for free. You can use these as practice tests to supplement other test prep materials you use.
Check here for free-response questions posed in the 2021 AP Computer Science A exam. You can also log in to the AP Classroom Question Bank for questions posed in the 2020 exam.
And check here for free-response questions from the 1999-2019 AP Computer Science A exams.
AP Computer Science A Courses
The College Board’s AP YouTube channel gives students access to APLive classes and recordings delivered by AP teachers from across the country. Additionally, to help students review course content and skills before their exam, the College Board gives students access to the AP Daily: Live Review sessions for the 2021 AP Computer Science A exam.
What are my other options for preparing for the 2022 AP Computer Science A exam?
If you don’t have an AP Computer Science A review book already, check out TUN’s Textbook Save Engine to compare prices and get the best deals.
There are also online resources that you can use to help you prepare for the 2022 AP Computer Science A exam.
EdX
EdX AP Computer Science A: Java Programming
Taught by professors from Purdue University, this edX AP Computer Science A: Java Programming course will teach you the basics of programming in the Java language and cover topics relevant to the AP Computer Science A course and exam.
This course is free to audit, but there’s a fee of $49.99 to obtain a Verified Certificate.
Udemy
Decoding AP Computer Science A
This free Udemy Decoding AP Computer Science A course is intended to help you prepare for and ace the AP Computer Science exam, according to its creator. The course consists of 115 lectures and over 10.5 hours of content, and each chapter comes with exercises that will help you put the skills you learn into practical use right away. You will learn Java fundamentals in their entirety and understand the concept behind object-oriented programming (OOP).
More than 37,000 students have taken this course to date.
Java Programming Essentials: AP Computer Science A
This Java Programming Essentials: AP Computer Science A course, available through Udemy, is the first of two courses — the second one is described below — meant to help students prepare for the AP Computer Science A exam. In this course, the instructor covers the first part of AP Computer Science A, including a complete introduction for Java programming. This course covers topics such as elementary programming in Java, program structures, OOP, and basic data structures. It includes 20.5 hours on-demand video, 19 articles, and 379 downloadable resources.
This course is currently available for $59.99.
Java Object-Oriented Programming: AP Computer Science B
This Java Object-Oriented Programming: AP Computer Science B course is the second course — the first one is described above — meant to help students prepare for the AP Computer Science A exam. This course includes complete tutorials for OOP, program analysis, and introduction to algorithms. It includes 1.5 hours on-demand video, 46 articles, and 490 downloadable resources.
This course is currently available for $59.99.
If you’re taking more than one AP exam in 2022, check TUN’s AP Exam Review for details on other AP exams.
