AP Computer Science Exam: 2 Tips on How to Prepare
Written by Sterling Kalogeras
Image courtesy of Unsplash
So you’re taking AP Computer Science A.
AP Computer Science A is a great formal introduction into programming for many (like myself). At first, the course can seem a bit intimidating. However, I have two easy tips for you to do the best you can in the course and get a 5 on the AP exam in May.
Two Easy Tips
DOWNLOAD JGRASP
jGRASP is an amazing Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for programming in Java. An IDE is just, well, where you go to program your code! This is because it has a fantastic debugger that not many other IDEs have.
Here is how jGRASP’s debugger works. You first click next to any line of code. A red octagon will be placed next to the line, signaling that is where you chose to start debugging. You then click on the red ladybug icon at the top of jGRASP.
This starts the debugging. To debug, you can click on the blue arrows on the top left side of the screen. The two main arrows are as follows. The down arrow takes you into the next line. The right arrow steps into the line.
This means that if you called a method in that line, the debugger will take you into that method to see what’s happening behind the scenes. Other than that, you can view all of your variables and data structures (and even see what’s inside of them). For example, if part of your program modifies an ArrayList, you can use the debugger to expand the list to see what elements are being modified inside of the list.
The main benefit of the debugger is that instead of having to find errors yourself, the debugger will catch them for you, as the program will crash if you try to step into a line that has an error in it. Seeing all the variables and data structures also makes it very simple to trace through your code, or go through it to see what is happening line by line. When you’re doing homework, assignments, or practice for the exam, I highly suggest using jGRASP as your IDE.
You can download jGRASP here: https://spider.eng.auburn.edu/user-cgi/grasp/grasp.pl?;dl=download_jgrasp.html
RESOURCES YOU CAN USE TO STUDY
Here is a list of other resources you can use to study for tests and the AP Computer Science Exam.
YouTube is a great platform to find content that other former students, teachers, and tutors post to try to help current students like you! Try to find videos that have the most amount of views, as these likely have better content.
Buy a review book. Yes, this can be a bit of an investment, but it is so worth it.
Review books not only explain all the content of the course, but also provide plenty of practice problems and exams to help you test your skills. I recommend Barron’s book for AP Computer Science A.
You can buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Barrons-Computer-Science-Online-Tests/dp/1438009194
Ask your teacher! Your teacher can be a great resource in pointing you to different places to practice. If you’re ever struggling, don’t shy from attending an extra help session or two. It is important that you stay on top of the material, so don’t be afraid to ask!
I hope this helps! Good luck on the AP Computer Science exam!
