What is the current AP CSA exam format?
AP CSA is a Java-based course and the current exam is fully digital in Bluebook. Section I has 42 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes and is worth 55%. Section II has 4 FRQs in 90 minutes and is worth 45%. The 2025-26 revision that removed Inheritance and Polymorphism from required content and added File I/O and Dataset Processing is presented separately as historical context.
Author: CIT Education Team | Reviewer: CIT Curriculum Team | Published: March 12, 2026 | Checked: August 3, 2026 | Next review: when College Board updates the exam format or CED
The current AP CSA exam runs in Bluebook and has 42 multiple-choice questions (90 minutes, 55%) and 4 FRQs (90 minutes, 45%). The 2025-26 revision removed Inheritance and Polymorphism from required content and added File I/O and Dataset Processing. That revision year is historical context; current preparation should follow the Course and Exam Description for the student's exam year.
Sources: College Board AP CSA exam format · AP CSA course guidance
| Item | Old curriculum (through the 2024-25 school year) | New curriculum (2025-26 onward) |
|---|---|---|
| Inheritance · Polymorphism Inheritance / Polymorphism |
Included in required exam scope | remove Removed from required scope |
| File I/O · Dataset Processing File I/O / Dataset Processing |
Not included | New Added to required scope |
| Exam format | Paper exam | Changed Fully digital Bluebook |
| Core OOP concepts | Classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, interfaces | Class- and object-centered: reduced emphasis on inheritance/polymorphism |
| Data handling | Arrays, ArrayList | Arrays, ArrayList + File I/O, datasets |
| Taking the exam in Korea | Check that year's school or test-center registration guidance | Check the school AP coordinator and official exam-year registration guidance |
Correct. With the College Board's 2025-26 overhaul, Inheritance and Polymorphism were removed from the AP CSA required exam scope. The reason this change matters is clear.
Before instruction begins, CIT checks the Course and Exam Description for the student's exam year and identifies material in older resources that no longer matches the required scope.
The current AP CSA exam is fully digital in the College Board Bluebook app. Students should use the official test preview to learn the Java-response input flow for their exam year.
Test locations and outside-student registration vary by school, center, and exam year. Ask the student's school AP coordinator first. If the school does not register the student, check Fulbright Korea and the College Board registration guidance for current availability, procedures, and deadlines. CIT is not a test center and cannot confirm a center's capacity.
AP CSA (Computer Science A) and AP CSP (Computer Science Principles) are both AP CS courses administered by the College Board, but they differ greatly in content and difficulty. It's important to choose the right course based on your child's current level and goals.
| Distinction | AP CSA | AP CSP |
|---|---|---|
| Programming language | Java | No language restriction (mainly Python, JavaScript) |
| Exam format | 42 multiple-choice (55%) + 4 FRQs (45%) Bluebook digital | 70 multiple-choice questions (70%) + Create Task and 2 written responses (30%) |
| Difficulty | High (college CS1 level) | Medium (intro CS level) |
| Recommended for | Students with prior programming experience or those aiming for a CS major | CS beginners and students who want to learn a broad range of CS concepts |
| Selection factors | School availability, current Java readiness, intended field, and workload | School availability, need for a computing introduction, and overall course plan |
→ In-depth comparison of the two courses: AP CSA vs AP CSP, Which course is right for your child?
AP CSA: Java syntax, classes & objects, data structures, algorithms, recursion, File I/O, dataset processing covered according to the latest College Board framework. AP CSP: includes computational thinking, data, the Internet, algorithms, and programming fundamentals.
Students repeatedly take practice tests that mirror the Bluebook digital exam environment on CIT's in-house ExamPrep platform. An adaptive system automatically analyzes weak units to support efficient studying.
The format is set after consultation based on the student's level and goals, using either 1:1 or a small class. Instruction targets weak units, FRQ coding, question patterns, and time management.
CIT is an in-person academy in Apgujeong, Seoul, but for students who need a final push right before the AP CSA exam, we offer 6-8 weeks of online 1:1 or small-group (1:n) intensive coaching right before the May digital exam. It runs with the same curriculum and instructors regardless of location.
Online intensive coaching runs separately from the in-person Apgujeong classes, and a hybrid format (in-person classes + online reinforcement) is also available. Spots are limited, so we recommend reaching out at least two months before the exam.
AP course grades and exam scores can be part of a student's academic record, but colleges interpret them in the context of the school, course access, intended field, and the rest of the application. No AP score guarantees an admission result.
Weighted-GPA treatment varies by school, and AP credit policies vary by college. CIT does not decide those policies. We prioritize course preparation and only add a separate USACO path or student-owned AI project when it fits the student's workload and goals.
See the dedicated page for strategies and study tips to score a 5 on AP CSA. → Strategies and study methods to score a 5 on AP CSA / AP CSA perfect-score guide
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, College Board revised AP CSA: Inheritance and Polymorphism left the required scope, File I/O and Dataset Processing were added, and the exam moved to Bluebook. The revision year is historical context; use the official Course and Exam Description for the student's current exam year.
Correct. With the 2025-26 revision, Inheritance and Polymorphism left the required exam scope. If you use older material, compare its units with the current College Board Course and Exam Description.
The current AP CSA exam is fully digital in Bluebook. Use the official test preview to learn the Java input flow, study the current framework, and practice 42 multiple-choice questions and 4 FRQs in their respective 90-minute sections. Confirm the date and registration process in the official guidance for the student's exam year.
Test locations and outside-student registration vary by school, center, and year. Ask the school AP coordinator first. If the school does not register the student, check Fulbright Korea and College Board's current registration guidance for center availability, procedure, and deadlines. CIT is not a test center or registration provider.
AP CSA focuses on Java programming and algorithms, while AP CSP covers broader computing concepts and includes the Create Task. CSA requires deeper Java coding; CSP is more accessible to beginners. Choose after checking school availability, current experience, workload and the target colleges' current requirements.
Prior Java experience helps, but it isn't required. CIT's AP CSA course starts from Java fundamentals and systematically covers everything in the exam scope. That said, we recommend securing enough prep time (six months or more).
No course can guarantee a 5. Preparation time depends on current Java and algorithm skills, school-course coverage and weekly study capacity. Start with a timed diagnostic in the current format, then sequence concept review, multiple-choice practice and FRQs.
Use the student's exam-year school calendar and current Java readiness. A timed diagnostic during the preceding term leaves more room for concept study and FRQ practice; a student without Java experience may need a longer runway.
The current AP CSA exam is a 3-hour fully digital exam in Bluebook. Section I has 42 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes and is worth 55% of the score. Section II has 4 free-response questions in 90 minutes and is worth 45%. College Board can revise the format, so check the official exam page for the student's exam year.
The AP exam score and the school GPA are separate, while weighted-GPA treatment varies by school. Check the school's current academic policy and each target college's current AP score or credit policy.
Yes. CIT runs 6-8 weeks of online 1:1 or small-group (1:n) intensive coaching right before the May exam. Students outside central Seoul (Bundang, Ilsan, Incheon, etc.) and Korean students living in Singapore, Hong Kong, or the U.S. East Coast all study with the same curriculum regardless of location. Please reach out via our KakaoTalk channel or at 02-540-2922.
Not sure how to begin preparing for the AP CSA/CSP exams? Through a placement test and a free consultation, we'll design a customized study plan for you. Available both in person in Apgujeong and via online 1:1 or small-group (1:n).
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