AP Exams
AP Computer Science Principles Pass Rate
63% of students who took AP Computer Science Principles in 2026 scored a 3 or higher, and 10% scored a 5. That is the 3rd lowest pass rate of the 40 AP exams.
Pass rate (3+)
63%
3rd lowest of 40
Scored a 5
10%
38th highest of 40
Scored a 4 or 5
33%
2026 exam
Computer Science Principles score distribution, 2026
| Score | Percent of test takers |
|---|---|
| 5 | 10% |
| 4 | 23% |
| 3 | 30% |
| 2 | 21% |
| 1 | 16% |
Keep these numbers
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass rate for AP Computer Science Principles?
63% in 2026, according to College Board. Passing means a score of 3 or higher.
What percent of students get a 5 on AP Computer Science Principles?
10% scored a 5 in 2026 and 23% scored a 4, so 33% earned a score that many selective colleges require for credit. That is the 38th highest share of 5s among the 40 exams.
Is AP Computer Science Principles hard?
By pass rate it ranks 3rd of 40, where 1st is the lowest pass rate. 37% of test takers scored a 1 or a 2. Pass rates depend on who takes the exam as well as on the exam itself, so use them as one signal, not a verdict.
Source: College Board, 2026 AP Score Distributions. Percentages are whole numbers as College Board publishes them.
