AP Computer Science A

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm in 9th grade planning to take AP cs next year. I talked to my counselor and she said that I needed to be in pre-calculus to take the course (Im taking geometry next year), or I could talk to the main guy who runs the class in my school and ask him about putting me in. So I'm planning to get Barron's AP computer science a book. To anybody here that's taken AP computer science A do you need to have any background on coding? Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I know a 9th grader who took that class. He need a background in java but he had only taken algebra and was finishing geometry when he took the test. The test is a programming test essentially so yeah you need to have programming skills</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>I’m planning to get Barron’s AP cs book will that be enough?</p>

4

<p>Do you know java or any other language? Are you going to be in the class or self study?</p>

5

<p>I somewhat know java, I’m supposed to be taking pre calculus (I’m only in geometry next year), but my counselor said if I have some background knowledge I can take it next year, but I have to talk to the person running the class. So my source of background knowledge will be reading the Barron’s AP cs book.</p>

6

<p>You should be good, The math knowledge isn’t a big deal, and you will probably simply need to increase your java knowledge. I would read the Barron’s book plus look at Java stuff online.</p>

7

<p>You need Algebra 1 at most, I know many friends who took it. Counselors these days are clueless. You’l be fine!</p>

8

<p>Most of the math in AP CS is basic arithmetic and pre algebra/algebra 1 stuff. The only time algebra 2/precalc stuff comes in is when you discuss program efficiency(like O(nlog n),O(n^2), etc), but that is not covered by all classes nor the AP test.</p>