<p>What is the best book for self-studying AP Computer Science?</p>
<p>I think Comp Sci is more of a hands-on course.</p>
<p>: /</p>
<p>Definitely the Litvin book (you can find it at <a href="http://www.skylit.com/index.shtml)%5B/url%5D">http://www.skylit.com/index.shtml)</a>. While glucose101 is correct in saying that, in an ideal world, Comp Sci should probably be a "hands-on" subject, a class isn't absolutely necessary. The test questions are quite straightforward, so you don't need to have a lot of programming experience - I had never actually written code in my life (just learned the syntax), and the comp sci AB exam wasn't too bad (got a 5). Since there aren't any involved questions, once you've learned the syntax, you've learned basically all you need for the test.</p>
<p>Even though it's true that you don't need a class necessarily, it would be equivalent to saying the same for like Biology self-study. Of course you can study on your own and pull of a 5, but you won't get lab experience, and that is a big part of Biology that you will be missing out on! I'd have to disagree with randomperson. The test questions aren't so straightforward if you don't practice on what your code does. For all we know, randomperson could have guessed his way, and randomly put something for the free response that was just decent, and popped out a 5. I'm not saying he did...but the more practice you have with actual programming (a class would add structure to your learning) in real life, the more beneficial. You can realize why your program doesn't work, learn from your mistake, and move on.</p>
<p>Yeah... again, I think that it's definitely best to practice, from the "actual learning" perspective, and glucose101's biology analogy is very apt. Strictly for test purposes, however, it's not absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>You can study it on your own, but to really get something out of it, you should definitely write some actual code.</p>
<p>Ya. :-) 0</p>
<p>The Barron's review book is outstanding. I took the A test last year, and had plenty of extra time self study, it was fairly easy, and the Barron's book tells you all the commands you need to know.</p>
<p>For the actual studying I used the Java Software Solutions book.</p>
<p>In addition, I also recommend making sure you do make some programs of your own, the JSS book has very good program exercises at the end of each chapter. Also, make sure you dedicate a week or two before the AP test for the marine bio case study, I procrastinated until the day before the test, so the case study questions were really tough, but I still scraped a 5.</p>
<p>thanks everyone and Nalcon too :) </p>
<p>Nalcon: Can you give me more info on the JSS book? I mean I googled it and found a million different things</p>
<p>The book I used is the one at <a href="http://www.phschool.com/atschool/java_solutions/promo.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.phschool.com/atschool/java_solutions/promo.html</a>
I got mine off e-bay for like $30 i think.</p>
<p>: / I have this thing against eBay. I got screwed over that site once already....</p>
<p>I used Barron's. It was boring. Got a 5.
My friend used PR. It was... less boring? Got a 5.</p>
<p>Then again, we probably owe most of our success to our class. We were introduced to a new concept one day, then worked on programs with it for about a week. Try that - incorporate everything into a program. Hell, you have an entire school year to do it.</p>