AP Computer Science Principles Exam
2026 Questions and Answers
Agile software development - Correct answer-An approach to software
development that emphasizes a flexible and ready response to meet a shifting
target.
Benchmarking - Correct answer-Running a program on many data sets to be sure
its performance falls within required limits; timing the same algorithm on two
different machines.
Code library - Correct answer-A collection of thoroughly tested object code for
various useful tasks.
Coding - Correct answer-The process of translating the detailed designs into
computer code.
Divide-and-conquer - Correct answer-A program design strategy in which tasks are
broken down into subtasks, which are broken down into sub-subtasks, and so on,
until each piece is small enough to code comfortably. These pieces work together
to accomplish the total job.
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,Empirical testing - Correct answer-Designing a special set of test cases and running
the program using these test data.
Executable module - Correct answer-The resulting object code after a linker inserts
requested code from code libraries.
External documentation - Correct answer-Any materials assembled to clarify the
program's design and implementation.
Feasibility study - Correct answer-A step in the software development life cycle
that evaluates a proposed project and compares the costs and benefits of various
solutions.
Integrated development environment (IDE) - Correct answer-A collection of
programs that support software development, such as debuggers, editors, toolkits,
and libraries, that lets programmers perform several tasks within the shell of a
single application.
Integration testing - Correct answer-After unit testing, integration testing is done to
see that the modules communicate the necessary data between and among
themselves and that all modules work together smoothly.
Internal documentation - Correct answer-Documentation that is part of the program
code itself.
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,Logic error - Correct answer-An error in the algorithm used to solve a problem.
Object code - Correct answer-Machine language instructions.
Pair programming - Correct answer-Involves two programmers at a single
workstation. At any given point in time, one is writing code and the other is
actively observing, watching for possible errors
but also thinking about the overall approach.
Problem specification - Correct answer-A step in the software development life
cycle that involves
developing a clear, concise, and unambiguous statement of the exact problem the
software
is to solve.
Procedural language - Correct answer-A program written in a procedural language
consists of sequences of statements that manipulate data items.
Program design phase - Correct answer-A step in the software development life
cycle that plans the structure of the software to be written.
Program maintenance - Correct answer-The process of adapting an existing
software product due to errors, new system requirements, or changing user needs.
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, Program verification - Correct answer-Used to prove that if the input data to a
program satisfies certain conditions, then, after the program has been run on these
data, the output data satisfies certain other conditions.
Regression testing - Correct answer-If anything is changed on an already-tested
module, regression testing is done to be sure that this change has not introduced a
new error into code that was previously correct.
Runtime error - Correct answer-An error that occurs when the program is run using
certain sets of data that result in some illegal operation, such as dividing by zero.
Semantics - Correct answer-The meaning of correctly written programming
statements.
Source code - Correct answer-High-level language instructions.
Syntax error - Correct answer-An error that occurs because a program statement
fails to follow the correct
rules of syntax.
Technical documentation - Correct answer-Documentation that enables
programmers who later have to modify the program to understand the code.
Third-generation language - Correct answer-Another name for high-level
programming language as
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
2026 Questions and Answers
Agile software development - Correct answer-An approach to software
development that emphasizes a flexible and ready response to meet a shifting
target.
Benchmarking - Correct answer-Running a program on many data sets to be sure
its performance falls within required limits; timing the same algorithm on two
different machines.
Code library - Correct answer-A collection of thoroughly tested object code for
various useful tasks.
Coding - Correct answer-The process of translating the detailed designs into
computer code.
Divide-and-conquer - Correct answer-A program design strategy in which tasks are
broken down into subtasks, which are broken down into sub-subtasks, and so on,
until each piece is small enough to code comfortably. These pieces work together
to accomplish the total job.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Empirical testing - Correct answer-Designing a special set of test cases and running
the program using these test data.
Executable module - Correct answer-The resulting object code after a linker inserts
requested code from code libraries.
External documentation - Correct answer-Any materials assembled to clarify the
program's design and implementation.
Feasibility study - Correct answer-A step in the software development life cycle
that evaluates a proposed project and compares the costs and benefits of various
solutions.
Integrated development environment (IDE) - Correct answer-A collection of
programs that support software development, such as debuggers, editors, toolkits,
and libraries, that lets programmers perform several tasks within the shell of a
single application.
Integration testing - Correct answer-After unit testing, integration testing is done to
see that the modules communicate the necessary data between and among
themselves and that all modules work together smoothly.
Internal documentation - Correct answer-Documentation that is part of the program
code itself.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Logic error - Correct answer-An error in the algorithm used to solve a problem.
Object code - Correct answer-Machine language instructions.
Pair programming - Correct answer-Involves two programmers at a single
workstation. At any given point in time, one is writing code and the other is
actively observing, watching for possible errors
but also thinking about the overall approach.
Problem specification - Correct answer-A step in the software development life
cycle that involves
developing a clear, concise, and unambiguous statement of the exact problem the
software
is to solve.
Procedural language - Correct answer-A program written in a procedural language
consists of sequences of statements that manipulate data items.
Program design phase - Correct answer-A step in the software development life
cycle that plans the structure of the software to be written.
Program maintenance - Correct answer-The process of adapting an existing
software product due to errors, new system requirements, or changing user needs.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Program verification - Correct answer-Used to prove that if the input data to a
program satisfies certain conditions, then, after the program has been run on these
data, the output data satisfies certain other conditions.
Regression testing - Correct answer-If anything is changed on an already-tested
module, regression testing is done to be sure that this change has not introduced a
new error into code that was previously correct.
Runtime error - Correct answer-An error that occurs when the program is run using
certain sets of data that result in some illegal operation, such as dividing by zero.
Semantics - Correct answer-The meaning of correctly written programming
statements.
Source code - Correct answer-High-level language instructions.
Syntax error - Correct answer-An error that occurs because a program statement
fails to follow the correct
rules of syntax.
Technical documentation - Correct answer-Documentation that enables
programmers who later have to modify the program to understand the code.
Third-generation language - Correct answer-Another name for high-level
programming language as
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
