That is correct: AP Comp Sci is not an introductory class. It is merely a standardized test, with an accompanying standardized curriculum. How schools decide t

That is correct: AP Comp Sci is not an introductory class. It is merely a standardized test, with an accompanying standardized curriculum. How schools decide to teach that curriculum is up to them. For example, I had to take two semesters of Java before I could take the AP/IB CS class; however, my high school currently allows students to enter AP CS (material unique to International Baccalaureate pushed back to an independent study) straight from Honors Algebra II.