AP Computer Science A — Pacing Guide 2025–26

Aug 19, 2024 – Apr 2, 2025 · 33 Calendar Weeks · 28 Instructional Weeks

Aligned to the 2025–26 College Board CED (4-Unit Revision) and Oracle Java Foundations (1Z0-811)

Instructional Calendar Snapshot

Break

Dates

Weeks Lost

Thanksgiving

Nov 25 – Nov 29

Week 15

Winter Break

Dec 23 – Jan 8

Weeks 19–21

Spring Recess

Mar 31 – Apr 2

Week 33 (partial)

28 instructional weeks total. Exams and projects are embedded within each unit block — no dedicated review weeks are counted separately.

Course Overview

Unit

Title

Exam Weight

Instructional Weeks

Calendar Span

Unit 1

Using Objects and Methods

15–25%

5

Aug 19 – Sep 20

Unit 2

Selection and Iteration

25–35%

6

Sep 30 – Nov 8

Unit 3

Class Creation

10–18%

4

Nov 11 – Dec 13

Inheritance

Inheritance (Oracle + AP supplement)

—*

3

Dec 16 – Jan 24

Unit 4

Data Collections

30–40%

9

Jan 27 – Mar 28

AP Prep

Practice Exams + Final Project

—

1

Mar 24 – Mar 28

* Inheritance was removed from the 2025–26 AP CSA CED exam but is retained here for Oracle Java Foundations (1Z0-811) alignment and deeper OOP understanding.

Key 2025–26 AP CED Changes: 10 units consolidated into 4 · Inheritance (old Unit 9) removed from AP exam · File I/O with Scanner added (Unit 4) · Exam fully digital via Bluebook · 42 MCQ / 4 FRQ

UNIT 1 — Using Objects and Methods

Exam Weight: 15–25% · Instructional Weeks 1–5 (Aug 19 – Sep 20)

Week

Dates

AP CSA Topics

Oracle 1Z0-811 Alignment

Project

1

Aug 19–23

Orientation & Course Structure · 1.1 Algorithms, Programs & Compilers

What Is Java? · Features & real-world applications · JDK & JRE · Compile & execute a program

2

Aug 26–30

1.2 Variables, Data Types & Expressions · 1.3 Assignment Statements & Input (Scanner)

Working with Java Data Types · Declare & initialize variables · java.lang package · Basic Java Elements: conventions, reserved words, comments

3

Sep 2–6

1.4 Compound Assignment Operators · 1.5 Casting and Ranges of Variables

Working with Java Operators · Arithmetic, increment/decrement, relational & assignment operators · Casting & type promotion

4

Sep 9–13

1.6 Class (Static) Methods & the Math Class · 1.7 Objects, Instantiation & References

Working with the Random and Math Classes · OOP components · Class vs. instance variables

5

Sep 16–20

1.8 Calling Instance Methods · 1.9 String Objects & String Methods · 1.10 APIs, Documentation & Comments

Java Methods · Working with the String Class · String methods & escape sequences · Comments & import

—

Sep 23–27

★ Unit 1 Exam · Oracle 1Z0-811 Practice: What Is Java? / Java Basics / Data Types / Operators / String Class

✔

UNIT 2 — Selection and Iteration

Exam Weight: 25–35% · Instructional Weeks 6–11 (Sep 30 – Nov 8)

Week

Dates

AP CSA Topics

Oracle 1Z0-811 Alignment

Project

6

Sep 30–Oct 4

2.1 Boolean Expressions · 2.2 if Statements & Control Flow · 2.3 if-else Statements

Working with Java Operators · Relational & conditional operators (&&, ||, ?) · Using Decision Statements: if-then, if-then-else

7

Oct 7–11

2.4 else-if Statements · 2.5 Compound Boolean Expressions · 2.6 Equivalent Boolean Expressions (De Morgan’s)

Using Decision Statements · switch statement · == on primitives vs. objects

8

Oct 14–18

2.7 Comparing Objects · 2.8 while Loops

Using Decision Statements · compareTo & equals · Using Looping Statements: while, do-while

9

Oct 21–25

2.9 for Loops · 2.10 Developing Algorithms Using Strings

Using Looping Statements · for & enhanced for · break & continue · String methods in loops

10

Oct 28–Nov 1

2.11 Nested Iteration · 2.12 Informal Code Analysis & Debugging

Using Looping Statements · Compare for/while/do-while · Debugging & Exception Handling · Syntax vs. logic errors · try/catch

11

Nov 4–8

Unit 2 Review & FRQ Practice

Oracle 1Z0-811 Practice: Decision Statements / Looping / Debugging

—

Nov 11–15

★ Unit 2 Exam

✔

UNIT 3 — Class Creation

Exam Weight: 10–18% · Instructional Weeks 12–15 (Nov 11 – Dec 13)

Week

Dates

AP CSA Topics

Oracle 1Z0-811 Alignment

Project

12

Nov 11–15

3.1 Anatomy of a Class · 3.2 Constructors

Classes & Constructors · main method · private modifier · Class vs. instance vs. local variables · Default & parameterized constructors · Overloading constructors

13

Nov 18–22

3.3 Documentation & Comments · 3.4 Accessor Methods · 3.5 Mutator Methods

Basic Java Elements · Javadoc comments · Java Methods: accessor & mutator methods

—

Nov 25–29

🦃 Thanksgiving Break

14

Dec 2–6

3.6 Writing Methods · 3.7 Static Variables & Methods · 3.8 Scope & Access

Java Methods · Overloaded methods · Static methods · private modifier scope

15

Dec 9–13

3.9 this Keyword · 3.10 Ethical & Social Implications · Unit 3 Review

Classes & Constructors · Object fields & constructor relationship

—

Dec 16–20

★ Unit 3 Exam

✔

—

Dec 23–Jan 8

❄️ Winter Break

INHERITANCE — Superclasses, Subclasses & Polymorphism

Oracle Required · AP Supplemental · Instructional Weeks 16–18 (Jan 13 – Jan 31)

Inheritance is retained to satisfy Oracle Java Foundations (1Z0-811) requirements and provides valuable OOP depth. While removed from the AP CSA exam, it reinforces Unit 3 class design skills.

Week

Dates

Topics

Oracle 1Z0-811 Alignment

Project

16

Jan 13–17

9.1 Creating Superclasses & Subclasses · 9.2 Writing Constructors for Subclasses

Classes & Constructors · Relationship between objects and members · OOP components

17

Jan 20–24

9.3 Overriding Methods · 9.4 super Keyword

Java Methods · Method overriding vs. overloading · super constructor calls

18

Jan 27–31

9.5 Reference Hierarchies · 9.6 Polymorphism · 9.7 Object Superclass · Review

OOP components · Polymorphism · Object class methods (toString, equals)

—

—

★ Inheritance Exam

✔

UNIT 4 — Data Collections

Exam Weight: 30–40% · Instructional Weeks 19–27 (Feb 3 – Mar 28)

Week

Dates

AP CSA Topics

Oracle 1Z0-811 Alignment

Project

19

Feb 3–7

4.1 Array Creation & Access · 4.2 Traversing Arrays · 4.3 Enhanced for Loop for Arrays

Arrays and ArrayLists · One-dimensional arrays · Compare array vs. ArrayList · Enhanced for loop

20

Feb 10–14

4.4 Developing Algorithms Using Arrays · Arrays Review & FRQ Practice

Arrays and ArrayLists · Traversal algorithms

—

Feb 14

★ Arrays Exam

21

Feb 17–21

4.5 Introduction to ArrayList · 4.6 ArrayList Methods

Arrays and ArrayLists · Create & manipulate ArrayList · Wrapper Classes: Integer, Double

22

Feb 24–28

4.7 Traversing ArrayLists · 4.8 Developing Algorithms Using ArrayLists

Arrays and ArrayLists · Traverse with iterators & loops (incl. enhanced for)

23

Mar 3–7

4.9 Searching (Linear & Binary) · 4.10 Sorting (Selection & Insertion) · 4.11 Ethical Issues Around Data Collection

—

Mar 7

★ ArrayList Exam

✔

24

Mar 10–14

4.12 2D Arrays · 4.13 Traversing 2D Arrays

—

Mar 14

★ 2D Array Exam

✔

25

Mar 17–21

4.14 File I/O with Scanner (NEW 2025–26) · 4.15 Recursion

Using Looping Statements · hasNext(), nextInt(), nextLine()

26

Mar 24–28

4.16 Recursive Searching & Sorting · Unit 4 Review · AP Practice Exams (2014, 2015, 2020)

—

Mar 28

★ Unit 4 Exam

—

Mar 31–Apr 2

🌱 Spring Recess

Final Project — White Tower

Event

Date

Project Assigned

Mar 24

Spring Recess

Mar 31 – Apr 2

Project Due / Presentations

Apr 2

AP Exam (Bluebook, Digital)

May 2025

Oracle Java Foundations (1Z0-811) — Complete Topic Coverage Map

1Z0-811 Domain

AP CSA Coverage

When

What Is Java? · Java Basics

1.1 Algorithms & Compilers · JDK/JRE

Week 1

Basic Java Elements

1.3 Assignment & Input · 1.10 APIs & Comments

Weeks 2, 5

Working with Java Data Types

1.2 Variables & Expressions · 1.5 Casting

Weeks 2–3

Working with Java Operators

1.4 Compound Assignment · 2.1–2.5 Boolean & Relational

Weeks 3, 6–7

Working with the String Class

1.9 String Objects & Methods

Week 5

Working with Random & Math Classes

1.6 Static Methods & Math Class

Week 4

Using Decision Statements

2.2–2.7 if / else-if / switch / Comparing Objects

Weeks 6–8

Using Looping Statements

2.8–2.11 Loops · 4.3 Enhanced for · 4.14 File I/O

Weeks 8–10, 19, 25

Debugging & Exception Handling

2.12 Debugging · try/catch

Week 10

Classes & Constructors

3.1–3.2 Anatomy of a Class · Constructors

Week 12

Java Methods

3.4–3.8 Accessor / Mutator / Overloaded / Static Methods

Weeks 13–14

Arrays and ArrayLists

4.1–4.8 Arrays · ArrayList · Traversal · Algorithms

Weeks 19–22

OOP & Inheritance (1Z0-811 only)

9.1–9.7 Superclasses · Subclasses · Polymorphism · Object

Weeks 16–18

Assessment Calendar

Assessment

Date

Project?

Unit 1 Exam

Sep 23–27 (Week 6)

✔

Unit 2 Exam

Nov 11–15 (Week 11)

✔

Unit 3 Exam

Dec 16–20 (Week 15)

✔

Inheritance Exam

Jan 27–31 (Week 18)

✔

Arrays Exam

Feb 14 (Week 20)

ArrayList Exam

Mar 7 (Week 23)

✔

2D Array Exam

Mar 14 (Week 24)

✔

Unit 4 Exam

Mar 28 (Week 26)

White Tower Final Project

Apr 2

✔

AP Exam (Bluebook, Digital)

May 2025

AP CSA 2025–26 CED: apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-a Oracle 1Z0-811 Exam: education.oracle.com/java-foundations/pexam_1Z0-811