Task 1: AP CSP Create Task Scoring Language (What You Must Be Able to Show)

On the AP CSP Create Task, you are scored on whether your program and your written responses clearly demonstrate specific programming concepts. This practice is designed to build those exact skills.

1) Program Purpose and Function

• You can clearly state what your program is intended to do (the purpose).
• You can explain what the user does (the input) and what the program does in response (the output).
• Your program has a meaningful goal (not just random commands).

2) Data / Variables

• Your program uses at least one variable to store data.
• You can explain how the variable’s value changes and why it matters to the program’s behavior.

3) Algorithm (Sequencing, Selection, Iteration)

• Sequencing: Steps happen in a specific order.
• Selection: Your program uses a decision like if / else.
• Iteration: Your program repeats something using a loop (for example: for or while).
• You can identify and describe an algorithm in your code that includes these parts.

4) Abstraction (A Student-Developed Procedure)

• You create a procedure (a function you wrote) with a clear name and purpose.
• Your procedure is used in your program (it gets called).
• Optional but strong: Your procedure uses one or more parameters to make it more flexible.
• You can explain how your procedure helps manage complexity (it makes your code easier to reuse or understand).

5) Testing (Proving Your Code Works)

• You can describe at least two test cases:
  • What input you tried
  • What output you expected
  • What output actually happened
• Your test cases show that your code works in more than one situation.