<p>Who here is taking AP Computer Science, and if you are, what is your class currently on? Are there any good books to prep for the AP Exam? I looked thru the PR one at the library and didn't have a good impression of it- coverage was short in some areas and the practice questions seemed too easy.</p>
<p>I did it in C++; it's in Java now. It's not a hard test. In fact, it teaches you almost nothing that you need "real world", although that's also my teacher's fault (math teacher - doesn't know squat about programming). Basically, read over the AP study guide; if it all makes sense, you're probably ready.</p>
<p>I am taking AP Computer Science right now.</p>
<p>We finished all of the material before January and have focused on the Marine Biology Case Study since then.
We finished up to chapter 4 in that.</p>
<p>We've also done practice AP exams.</p>
<p>Don't use PR for Comp Sci prepping, it sucks.
Actually most books suck for Comp Sci because they don't really teach you how to program.
You might want to try Barron's for prepping. (its the best non-textbook I know of for comp sci. -- it isn't that good either, but better than PR)</p>
<p>And like magefile said, it doesn't teach you anything you need to know in the "real world"
This is like basic programming that doesn't really help you in programming competitions ( I know )..... real computer science is a lot more in depth than the class course and is more about thinking.
The Java taught sucks.
Personally, its better to self teach yourself programming instead of doing AP Computer Science (a waste of time).
Or take courses at a uni for better teaching.</p>
<p>^^ i agree. the APCS cirriculum is extremely poor. I liked my class still though since I never worked with OOP before and always wanted to, plus our teacher lets us do projects and stuff.</p>
<p>And yeah, the APCS Marine Biology Case Study is utter bull****.</p>
<p>Wow, you guys (previous post) are prepared... We're still on recursion and haven't really started to look at the MBS yet, thats why im only taking A. We do, however, cover the concepts quite comprehensively and think the class is pretty good. We use the Lewis, Loftus, Cocking => Java, software solutions book. I think it's pretty good, try it.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>We don't have any paper text book, using online lessons from ICT. I'm planning to take the AB exam, though the instructor says we might not cover all the material in time (currently on Linked Lists). </p>
<p>This is basically my class: lecture followed by assigning programming assignment (due in 3 days to a week), lab days, quizzes and tests once every two weeks on average. Usually on lab days people just fool around on the computers. </p>
<p>It's a good class and teacher is knowledgeable, but I agree that the curriculum is not that applicable (esp. MBS), I took Introductory Java last summer and found it more practically useful.</p>
<p>"This is basically my class: lecture followed by assigning programming assignment (due in 3 days to a week), lab days, quizzes and tests once every two weeks on average. Usually on lab days people just fool around on the computers."</p>
<p>haha, that sounds EXACTLY like my class!</p>
<p>I think my class is behind too because the teacher said that we might not cover everything. So I went ahead and bought Barron's book and do some self studying/review. Only 1.5 months left to go over this book and the textbook. :-</p>
<p>
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We use the Lewis, Loftus, Cocking => Java, software solutions book. I think it's pretty good, try it
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</p>
<p>We use this same textbook and I thought it was worthless.
Its alright for introductory, but you don't get good grasp of concepts using it even for the AP curriculum.</p>
<p>A better book (which isn't AP) is Java for Dummies in 21 Days.</p>
<p>Also go on <a href="http://www.gamedev.net%5B/url%5D">www.gamedev.net</a>, great site for programming in any language.
Check out the forums, lots of knowledgeable people with programming skills that I would never learn in AP Comp Sci (a bull**** programming course)</p>