AP Computer Science A: The Rundown
Computer science is arguably becoming the most popular field of study for college undergraduates. Whether students begin learning at the young age of 5 or take their first computer science class in college, they all work towards the same goal: furthering technological advancements in our community. AP Computer Science A is an effective and popular way to expose students to the field of computer science and what it offers. The course is offered by CollegeBoard for students who are ready for the rigor of the class and want the opportunity to earn three college credits.
Preparation for the AP Computer Science A Class
Though some schools may not offer it, AP Computer Science Principles is a common class to take before taking AP Computer Science A, as it acts as an introductory computing course that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. In AP Computer Science Principles (APCSP), students design and evaluate solutions that apply to computer science to solve simple problems through programming. Students also take a deep dive into how computing innovations and computing systems work, explore their impacts, and contribute to a collaborative academic culture. The course includes Creative Development, Data, Algorithms and Programming, Computer Systems and Networks, and Impact of Computing.
Since AP CS P is not available in many high schools and middle schools, there are other ways to prepare for AP Computer Science A. One way is through online courses and academies like Runestone Academy and Computer Science YouTube Channels, where students can access online textbooks and resources to get a step-by-step run-through of the experience.
Just a note, anyone who is interested in taking AP Computer Science A should have a strong foundation in Algebra and English, functions, and general reasoning skills to make the learning curve smoother.
The Actual AP Computer Science A Class
There are many things that comprise the actual AP Computer Science A class; whether it’s a lab, group work, or a test, students will constantly be utilizing their technical problem-solving and reasoning skills.
The most common way to practice these skills is via labs. Most teachers will go through a new unit, and students will be tasked with programming a game, mad libs, databases, etc. Teachers generally assign two or three labs at the beginning of a unit, go through all the lessons in that one unit, then allocate work time for the students and time to ask for help for the rest of the classes until the test. At the beginning of the year, students may be tasked with simple Java programming labs such as a binary number converter, but as the year progresses, students may be asked to recreate Matt Parker's Maths Puzzles, and by the end of the year, students will have a final project where they may be asked to code Battleship. Different teachers will assign different labs, depending on what they see fit for that unit.
Tests in AP Computer Science A will generally be in AP format—keep scrolling in this blog to see the APCSA Exam format.
Although group work in AP Computer Science A is rare, when the time comes, it will be a fun way for students to relax and work together to code a project from start to end.
AP Computer Science A Curriculum
There are 10 main units in AP Computer Science A that all teachers should cover before the exam:
Primitive Types; learn the fundamentals of Java, a programming language, as well as other foundational concepts for coding.
Using Objects; explore reference data as a way to represent real-world objects in a digital world and discover methods to perform more complex operations.
Boolean Expressions and if Statements; delve into the building blocks of algorithms and focus on using conditional statements to solve problems and control results.
Iteration; learn about iteration, another building block of algorithms that are for repetition.
Writing Classes; explore how real-world interactions can be expressed digitally by organizing behaviors and attributes into classes, and you’ll examine the legal and ethical implications of computer programming.
Arrays; learn techniques and standard algorithms to work with collections of related data, known as data structures.
ArrayList; delve deeper into data sets, exploring ArrayList objects for larger amounts of data, as well as the privacy concerns related to personal data storage.
2D Arrays; branch out into 2D arrays and experiment with data sets represented in a table.
Inheritance; learn how to manipulate programming without altering existing code by using subclasses to create a hierarchy.
Recursion; work on solving larger problems by solving smaller, simpler versions of the same problem using recursive methods.
Source of units and descriptions: CollegeBoard
Preparing for the AP Computer Science A Exam
Preparing for the AP Computer Science A exam is as important as taking the actual exam. Here will be how you can properly prepare for the exam on May 6.
Before you start grinding for the exam, you must know the basics. Efficient studying is difficult if you don’t understand the materials being asked and need to learn along the way.
Once you understand the units and the basics, invest in a Barrons or Princeton AP Computer Science A Exam Review Book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. The highest-rated books for studying for the exam are: 5 Steps to a 5: AP Computer Science A by Dean Johnson, Barron’s AP Computer Science A, Decoding AP Computer Science A, and Princeton’s Cracking the AP Computer Science A Exam book.
If you aren’t interested in buying a $20+ book on Amazon, fear not! There are countless YouTube channels that are useful for studying for the exam. The official CollegeBoard account holds annual AP review sessions on YouTube for all AP classes before the AP exams.
Another effective way of studying is via practice MCQs and FRQs. You can find loads of previous years' tests and practice problems online that you can print out and practice and grade by yourself in the comfort of your house.
Note to start studying a few weeks in advance to make the most out of the exam!
AP Computer Science A Exam Format
The AP Computer Science A exam is held on May 6, 20XX, where students sit down and spend three hours of their life fighting against the clock to get the highest score possible.
The exam is divided into two sections, each one and a half hours worth 50% of the grade, comprising of 44 total questions.
The first section consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, evaluating the examinee's ability to identify code errors, predict a program’s output based on the input, or determine the input corresponding to a given output. The second section includes 4 free-response questions that assess knowledge of Java Syntax, specifically, control structures and methods, classes, as well as one- and two-dimensional arrays.
AP Computer Science A Exam Day & Final Words
If you have thoroughly reviewed all the books and YouTube videos, there is nothing more you can do. The day before the exam, do not look at anything computer science related. You have exhausted all resources, and you need a full night's sleep to get a 5 on the AP Computer Science A exam. Regardless of how the test goes, showing interest in CS is already something to be proud of. Believe in yourself and code away!
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
