AP Computer Science Principles AP 计算机科学原理
📌 Course at a glance
· 5 units · key topics drilled across the official outline
· Next exam: 2026-05-14 · 2026-05-14
📝 Full chapter-by-chapter lecture walkthroughs are being written. This page is the course outline — every unit and topic that will be covered, with key concepts you can already start to recognise. Use it as a study map; the chapter notes drop in over the coming weeks.
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Course outline
Unit 1 · Creative Development 创意开发
Exam weight: 10-13%
1.1 — Collaboration in Computing 计算中的协作
· Team programming · Pair programming · Importance of diverse perspectives · Collaboration tools
1.2 — Program Design and Development 程序设计与开发
· Program development process · Incremental development · Iterative development · Requirements analysis
1.3 — Program Documentation 程序文档
· Code comments · Program purpose description · Development process documentation · API documentation
1.4 — Identifying and Correcting Errors 识别与纠正错误
· Syntax errors · Logic errors · Runtime errors · Debugging strategies · Test cases
Unit 2 · Data 数据
Exam weight: 17-22%
2.1 — Binary Numbers 二进制数
· Binary representation · Number base conversion · Bits and bytes · Data storage units
2.2 — Data Compression 数据压缩
· Lossless compression · Lossy compression · Compression algorithms · Data redundancy
2.3 — Extracting Information from Data 从数据中提取信息
· Data collection · Data cleaning · Data analysis · Data visualization · Metadata
2.4 — Using Programs with Data 使用程序处理数据
· Processing datasets · Filtering and sorting · Pattern recognition · Data-driven decision making
2.5 — Data and Privacy 数据与隐私
· Personally Identifiable Information (PII) · Data security · Privacy policies · Ethical issues in data collection
Unit 3 · Algorithms and Programming 算法与编程
Exam weight: 30-35%
3.1 — Variables and Assignments 变量与赋值
· Variable types · Assignment statements · Data abstraction · Constants
3.2 — Data Abstraction 数据抽象
· Lists · Data structures · Abstract data types · Information management
3.3 — Mathematical Expressions 数学表达式
· Arithmetic operations · MOD operation · Mathematical functions · Expression evaluation
3.4 — Strings and String Operations 字符串与字符串操作
· String concatenation · Substrings · String length · String methods
3.5 — Boolean Expressions and Conditionals 布尔表达式与条件语句
· Boolean values · Relational operators · Logical operators · Conditional statements (IF/ELSE)
3.6 — Iteration and Loops 迭代与循环
· REPEAT loops · REPEAT UNTIL loops · Iterating through lists · Nested loops
3.7 — Procedures and Functions 过程与函数
· Procedure definition · Parameters · Return values · Procedural abstraction · Modularity
3.8 — Algorithms 算法
· Algorithm design · Search algorithms · Sorting algorithms · Algorithm efficiency · Undecidable problems
3.9 — Developing Algorithms 开发算法
· Combining algorithms · Sequential structure · Selection structure · Iterative structure · Pseudocode
3.10 — Simulations 模拟
· Computer simulations · Random numbers · Model building · Advantages and limitations of simulations
Unit 4 · Computing Systems and Networks 计算系统与网络
Exam weight: 11-15%
4.1 — The Internet 互联网
· Internet protocols (TCP/IP) · Data packets · Routing · Bandwidth · Latency
4.2 — Fault Tolerance 容错性
· Redundancy design · Network topology · Fault recovery · Distributed systems
4.3 — Parallel and Distributed Computing 并行与分布式计算
· Parallel processing · Sequential vs. parallel execution · Distributed computing · Speedup
4.4 — Computer Systems and Devices 计算机系统与设备
· Hardware components · Software layers · Input/output devices · Operating systems
4.5 — Cybersecurity 网络安全
· Encryption techniques · Public key cryptography · Digital certificates · Malware · Phishing
Unit 5 · Impact of Computing 计算的影响
Exam weight: 21-26%
5.1 — Beneficial and Harmful Effects of Computing 计算的有益与有害影响
· Dual nature of technology · Impact of automation · Social media impact · Unintended consequences of computing innovations
5.2 — Digital Divide 数字鸿沟
· Inequality in technology access · Economic factors · Geographic factors · Educational gaps
5.3 — Computing Bias 计算偏见
· Algorithmic bias · Training data bias · Discriminatory outcomes · Fairness considerations
5.4 — Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science 众包与公民科学
· Crowdsourcing concept · Open-source software · Collaborative computing · Citizen participation in scientific research
5.5 — Legal and Ethical Concerns 法律与伦理问题
· Intellectual property · Copyright and licensing · Open-source licensing · Ethical guidelines · AI ethics
5.6 — Safe Computing 安全计算
· Personal information protection · Authentication · Multi-factor authentication · Social engineering attack prevention