AP CS Principles Documentation

This is your primary resource. When you get stuck, start here — not with your teacher. Every concept has explanations, code examples, common traps, and links to related pages. Ctrl+F is your friend.

The year opens with a two-week Scratch get-to-know-you starter, then Units 1-8 build the game (Unity + C#, from Sep 14). Unit 9 is the AP big ideas Unity cannot teach alone. Units 10-12 are the jams, the Create performance task, and the exam. See theCED Coverage Matrix for the topic-by-topic map and the Pacing Calendar for when each unit happens.

Map

CED Coverage Matrix

Every required topic family, when we teach it, with what
Ref

Unity + C# Quick Reference

Every API, method, and pattern this course uses — one page
Unit 1

Setup & Movement

The editor, scripts, variables, input, vectors
Unit 2

Stats & Pickups

Triggers, collisions, Debug.Log, if statements
Unit 3

The Turret

Distance, Instantiate, cooldowns
Unit 4

The Enemy

Patrol, chase, attack — the state machine
Unit 5

The Axe & The Cave

Items, UnityEvents, scene loading
Unit 6

Jumping

AddForce, ground checks, double jump
Unit 7

Level Building & Ladders

Tilemaps, collision, climbing, level design
Unit 8

The Boss Fight

Spec first, then build: your first solo design
Unit 9

Data & Systems

Binary, compression, datasets, the Internet, encryption, impact
Unit 10

Game Jams

2-Button Jam, card games, lists & ScriptableObjects
Unit 11

Create PT & the Exam

The 30% task, the written responses, MC strategy
Unit 12

Season 2

Grid/Symmetry Jam, placeholder jams, the retro

Built for the Unity game-development course. Every concept connects to something you ship.