CodeHS Midterm Study Guide: AP CSA (Cortado 2025) & AP CSP (Python + JavaScript)
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CodeHS Midterm Prep Guide: AP CSA (Cortado, 2025–26) + AP CSP (Python & JavaScript)
If you’re using CodeHS, the midterm rewards one thing more than anything else: tracing and explaining. This guide gives you a CodeHS-specific plan for the updated AP CSA (Cortado) course and for AP CSP in either Python or JavaScript.
AP CSA Midterm (CodeHS Cortado): What to Study
CodeHS Cortado uses a four-unit structure: Unit 1: Using Objects and Methods and Unit 2: Selection and Iteration come first, and those are the most common midterm focus.
✅ Unit 1 Checklist (Using Objects & Methods)
- Java program structure + reading code without running it
- Primitive types, Strings, operators, casting
- Calling methods (Math, String methods, and other library methods)
- Parameters vs return values (what a method call evaluates to)
- Writing and interpreting method signatures
Study goal: you should be able to look at a method call and confidently say what it returns (and why).
✅ Unit 2 Checklist (Selection & Iteration)
- Boolean expressions, De Morgan’s, equivalent logic
-
if/else if/ nested conditionals - Loop tracing:
whilevsfor - Common loop patterns: accumulator, counter, sentinel, bounds
- Nested loops + “off-by-one” errors
Study goal: you should be able to trace loops with a table and predict the final value of variables.
AP CSP Midterm (CodeHS): Python vs JavaScript Prep
CodeHS offers AP CSP courses in multiple languages, including Python and JavaScript. The midterm tends to test both: (1) conceptual CSP ideas (data, internet, algorithms) and (2) language-specific programming fluency.
AP CSP (Python) — What to Drill
- Variables, types, and expressions (especially mixed types)
- Conditionals + compound logic (and avoiding indentation mistakes)
- Loops: tracing repeated updates to variables
- Functions: parameters, return values, and scope
- Lists: building, indexing, traversals, common list algorithms
If your misses come from “I knew the concept but got the code wrong,” it’s usually indentation, return vs print, or a list index.
AP CSP (JavaScript) — What to Drill
- Variables (
var/let/constdepending on course style) - Conditionals + boolean logic (and reading
==vs===if taught) - Loops: off-by-one + updating counters correctly
- Functions: return values, parameters, calling functions inside loops
- Arrays: traversals + list algorithms
Practice should be heavy on “predict output” questions and “find the bug” questions.
A Simple 7-Day CodeHS Midterm Study Plan
Use this if you want a clear schedule (30–60 minutes/day).
Day-by-day
- Day 1: Diagnostic — do 20 timed questions; log mistakes by category
- Day 2: Tracing — 15 “predict output” problems (loops + conditionals)
- Day 3: Fix your #1 weakness — build a mini set of 20 questions for that topic
- Day 4: Mixed practice — 30 questions + review explanations
- Day 5: Create your own problems — rewrite 5 missed questions in your own words
- Day 6: Timed half-exam — focus on pacing + accuracy
- Day 7: Light review — error log + key patterns + 10 confidence questions
The secret is the error log. If you don’t track why you missed a question, you’ll repeat the same mistake under time pressure.
Common CodeHS Midterm Traps (CSA + CSP)
CSA (Cortado) traps
- Confusing
==vs.equals()for objects/Strings - Misreading loop bounds (the #1 off-by-one cause)
- Forgetting that
returnstops a method immediately - Assuming a method changes an object when it returns a new value
CSP traps
- Answering with a “definition” instead of applying the concept
- Mixing up what an algorithm step actually does in sequence
- Confusing list traversal vs list modification
- Getting syntax right but missing the logic (or vice versa)
Recommended Resources (Fast Links)
AP CSA (Cortado / 2025)
Need targeted CodeHS midterm help?
If you’re stuck on loops/conditionals (CSA) or list algorithms/functions (CSP), one focused session can fix weeks of confusion. Book a tutoring session here.
Sources: CodeHS confirms the AP CSA course redesign into AP CSA (Cortado) aligned to 2025–26, and outlines the new four-unit structure (Units 1–4). Your JS midterm quiz covers Units 3–7 programming skills typical of CodeHS midterm prep.