Every AP Computer Science A (Comp Sci) FRQ Sorted By Unit

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Jason Kuma

Founder · Educator | Fremont, CA

UPDATED for the 2026-27 School Year. Below is every single AP Computer Science A FRQ from 2015-2026 sorted by topic.

At the end is the predicted FRQs for the upcoming 2027 exam. Good luck!

PRO TIP: Links open in FRQ Atlas — You find the FRQ and upload your working for free, free grading based on scoring guidelines.

FRQ Types

Breakdown by question style. Click to explore.

Methods and Control Structures

9 Questions. Writes methods using loops and conditionals. Tip: Watch out for off-by-one errors in loops.

Class Design

11 Questions. Design a full class from scratch. Tip: Don’t forget the private visibility modifier for instance variables.

Data Analysis (ArrayList)

10 Questions. Manipulate ArrayLists. Tip: Be careful when removing items while iterating; traverse backwards to avoid skipping elements.

2D Array

10 Questions. Grid manipulation. Tip: Remember `arr.length` is rows and `arr[0].length` is columns.

Skills

Drill down by computational thinking skill.

Design Code (8)

1.A: Program Design

7 Questions. Determine appropriate class structure.

1.B: Data Extraction

1 Question. Determine knowledge from data.

Develop Code (76)

2.A: Algorithms

32 Questions. Implement logic and control flow.

2.B: Data Abstractions

28 Questions. Managing data in structures.

2.C: Procedural Abstractions

9 Questions. Writing methods and helpers.

Analyze Code (3)

3.B: Data Analysis

2 Questions. Output from data code.

3.C: Procedural Analysis

1 Question. Output from method calls.

Units

The 4 main pillars of the exam.

Unit 1: Objects & Methods

32 Questions. The core of the exam; focuses on writing algorithms and manipulating objects.

Unit 2: Selection & Iteration

31 Questions. Nearly identical frequency to Unit 1, testing logic flow and looping structures.

Unit 3: Class Creation

13 Questions. Writing complete classes, including constructors, private variables, and methods.

Unit 4: Data Collections

20 Questions. Using ArrayLists and 2D Arrays to store and analyze larger datasets.

Unit 1: Using Objects and Methods

  • 2026 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Account username builder, string methods, loops.
  • 2026 Q2 (Class Design) — Bottle class, constructors, capacity tracking.
  • 2026 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Course attendance, ArrayList methods, counting enrollment overlap.
  • 2026 Q4 (2D Array) — Game board row points, 2D array traversal, scoring.
  • 2025 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Dog walker simulation, calculating earnings.
  • 2025 Q2 (Class Design) — SignedText class, formatting names.
  • 2025 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Tournament pairing, ArrayList manipulation.
  • 2025 Q4 (2D Array) — SumOrSameGame puzzle, clearing pairs.
  • 2024 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Bird feeder simulation, randomization.
  • 2024 Q2 (Class Design) — Scoreboard class, tracking teams.
  • 2024 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Word list analysis, substring chains.
  • 2024 Q4 (2D Array) — Grid path sum, neighbor search.
  • 2023 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Appointment scheduling, time blocks.
  • 2023 Q2 (Class Design) — Electronic sign, text wrapping.
  • 2023 Q4 (2D Array) — Candy box, item movement.
  • 2022 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Game score simulation, level completion.
  • 2022 Q2 (Class Design) — Textbook subclass, edition handling.
  • 2022 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Review analysis, rating calculation.
  • 2022 Q4 (2D Array) — Grid data generation, column counting.
  • 2021 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — WordMatch, substring scoring.
  • 2021 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Club member management, array addition.
  • 2019 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — APCalendar, leap year logic.
  • 2019 Q2 (Class Design) — StepTracker, daily statistics.
  • 2019 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Delimiters, balanced string check.
  • 2019 Q4 (2D Array) — LightBoard, grid state evaluation.
  • 2018 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Frog simulation, distance hopping.
  • 2018 Q2 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Word pairs, matching counts.
  • 2018 Q3 (Class Design) — CodeWordChecker, string validation interface.
  • 2018 Q4 (2D Array) — Latin squares, array validation.
  • 2017 Q1 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Digits class, number splitting.
  • 2017 Q2 (Class Design) — MultPractice, interface implementation.
  • 2017 Q3 (Methods and Control Structures) — Phrase class, substring replacement.
  • 2016 Q1 (Class Design) — Random string chooser, inheritance.
  • 2016 Q2 (Methods and Control Structures) — Log message processing, string parsing.
  • 2016 Q3 (2D Array) — Crossword puzzle, grid construction.
  • 2016 Q4 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — String formatter, text justification.

Unit 2: Selection and Iteration

  • 2026 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Account username builder, string methods, loops.
  • 2026 Q2 (Class Design) — Bottle class, constructors, capacity tracking.
  • 2026 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Course attendance, ArrayList methods, counting enrollment overlap.
  • 2026 Q4 (2D Array) — Game board row points, 2D array traversal, scoring.
  • 2025 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Dog walker simulation, earnings calculation.
  • 2025 Q2 (Class Design) — SignedText class, name formatting.
  • 2025 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Tournament pairing, competitor initialization.
  • 2025 Q4 (2D Array) — SumOrSameGame puzzle, array management.
  • 2024 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Bird feeder, simulation logic.
  • 2024 Q2 (Class Design) — Scoreboard class, score tracking.
  • 2024 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Word list checker, substring analysis.
  • 2024 Q4 (2D Array) — Grid path sum, finding neighbors.
  • 2023 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Appointment scheduling, helper methods.
  • 2023 Q2 (Class Design) — Electronic sign, message display.
  • 2023 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Weather data, heat wave patterns.
  • 2023 Q4 (2D Array) — Candy box, traversal search.
  • 2022 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Game score simulation, high score finding.
  • 2022 Q2 (Class Design) — Textbook subclass, book substitution.
  • 2022 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Review analysis, comment extraction.
  • 2022 Q4 (2D Array) — Grid data generation, increasing elements.
  • 2021 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — WordMatch, string comparison logic.
  • 2021 Q2 (Class Design) — CombinedTable, restaurant seating rules.
  • 2019 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — APCalendar, day calculation.
  • 2019 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Delimiters, token filtering.
  • 2019 Q4 (2D Array) — LightBoard, column state evaluation.
  • 2018 Q1 (Methods and Control Structures) — Frog simulation, success rate calculation.
  • 2018 Q2 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Word pairs, pair generation.
  • 2018 Q3 (Class Design) — CodeWordChecker, length validation.
  • 2018 Q4 (2D Array) — Latin squares, column extraction.
  • 2017 Q1 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Digits class, increasing digit check.
  • 2017 Q3 (Methods and Control Structures) — Phrase class, find and replace.
  • 2017 Q4 (2D Array) — Successors, position finding.
  • 2016 Q2 (Methods and Control Structures) — Log message processing, filtering.
  • 2016 Q3 (2D Array) — Crossword puzzle, boolean grid logic.
  • 2016 Q4 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — String formatter, gap width calculation.

Unit 3: Class Creation

  • 2026 Q2 (Class Design) — Bottle class, constructors, capacity tracking.
  • 2025 Q2 (Class Design) — SignedText class, string formatting.
  • 2025 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Tournament pairing, constructor initialization.
  • 2024 Q2 (Class Design) — Scoreboard, active team tracking.
  • 2023 Q2 (Class Design) — Electronic sign, multi-line display.
  • 2022 Q2 (Class Design) — Textbook subclass, inheritance.
  • 2021 Q2 (Class Design) — CombinedTable, object composition.
  • 2019 Q2 (Class Design) — StepTracker, state maintenance.
  • 2018 Q2 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Word pairs, pair counting class.
  • 2018 Q3 (Class Design) — CodeWordChecker, interface implementation.
  • 2017 Q2 (Class Design) — MultPractice, problem generation.
  • 2016 Q1 (Class Design) — Random string chooser, no replacement.
  • 2016 Q2 (Methods and Control Structures) — Log message processing, parsing constructor.
  • 2016 Q3 (2D Array) — Crossword puzzle, square labeling logic.

Unit 4: Data Collections

  • 2026 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Course attendance, ArrayList methods, counting enrollment overlap.
  • 2026 Q4 (2D Array) — Game board row points, 2D array traversal, scoring.
  • 2025 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Tournament pairing, match creation.
  • 2025 Q4 (2D Array) — SumOrSameGame puzzle, clearing logic.
  • 2024 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Word list checker, list modification.
  • 2024 Q4 (2D Array) — Grid path sum, small neighbor search.
  • 2023 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Weather data, pattern identification.
  • 2023 Q4 (2D Array) — Candy box, item searching.
  • 2022 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Review analysis, average calculation.
  • 2022 Q4 (2D Array) — Grid data, random population.
  • 2021 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Club members, adding/removing items.
  • 2021 Q4 (2D Array) — Array resizer, non-zero row filter.
  • 2019 Q3 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Delimiters, list filtering.
  • 2019 Q4 (2D Array) — LightBoard, light status check.
  • 2018 Q2 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Word pairs, matching analysis.
  • 2018 Q4 (2D Array) — Latin squares, square validation.
  • 2017 Q1 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — Digits class, digit splitting.
  • 2017 Q4 (2D Array) — Successors, 2D array construction.
  • 2016 Q1 (Class Design) — Random string chooser, array selection.
  • 2016 Q2 (Methods and Control Structures) — Log message processing, filtering list.
  • 2016 Q3 (2D Array) — Crossword puzzle, grid labeling.
  • 2016 Q4 (Data Analysis with ArrayList) — String formatter, justifying text.

2027 FRQ Topics Prediction

We used Phy AI + the frequency of topics above to make an educated guess on what you might see on the upcoming 2026 AP Computer Science A Exam FRQ:

  • Unit 1: Using Objects and Methods — 36 appearances. Expect a simulation problem involving randomization or state management, similar to the Bird Feeder or Dog Walker questions.
  • Unit 2: Selection and Iteration — 35 appearances. Highly likely to see complex string manipulation or game logic requiring nested loops and conditionals.
  • Unit 4: Data Collections — 22 appearances. Prepare for a 2D array question involving grid navigation or pattern searching, and an ArrayList question focusing on filtering or modifying lists.
  • Unit 3: Class Creation — 14 appearances. Expect to design a full class that interacts with other objects or implements an interface, likely involving scorekeeping or data tracking.

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