Books for AP Computer Science and AP Psychology

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>At my school, freshmen and sophomore's aren't allowed to take AP classes(which I find stupid) and I have been extremely bored the past year, so I have decided to self-study AP Computer Science and AP Psychology.</p>

<p>What books do I need?
I know I need Barron's for Psychology, but what do I need for Computer Science?</p>

<p>I currently have these books:
JAVA - Fundamentals of Computer Science Using Java
Data Structures & Algorithms in Java
Object-Oriented Data Structures Using Java</p>

<p>Will any of those books work?</p>

<p>I also have a few of Barron's pretests for Computer Science.</p>

2

<p>[Head</a> First Java | O’Reilly Media](<a href=“http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596004651/]Head”>O'Reilly Media - Technology and Business Training)</p>

<p>Dont know about psych, but Head First is great. Will teach and keep you mildly interested, you know, for a AP study book.</p>

3

<p>For AP Psych, Barron’s is the best, although PR is a fine second-choice alternative/supplement.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the replies</p>

<p>@ch33zer
I’ll definitely get this book.</p>

<p>What role does GridWorld play in the exam/class? </p>

<p>@Protagonizer
I’ll check out the PR one when I get a chance.</p>

5

<p>Barron’s for Psych. I used it and it was extremely comprehensive and went over everything you need to know. (I got a 5)</p>

<p>I’ve also heard Barron’s for Computer Science is really good. (Never took it)</p>

6

<p>Barron’s is really good for Computer Science. But I used *Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java<a href=“Litvin”>/I</a>, which isn’t as detailed as Barrons, but has accurate test prep. I got a 5 in the AB exam. </p>

<p>Follow the syllabus. There is a lot of stuff you don’t need to know for the A exam. Years and years worth of stuff.</p>

7

<p>It’s too bad that your school won’t let you take AP courses… :(</p>

<p>I also used Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java for the Comp Sci AB exam. I got a 5, but it was more from programming for five years… For Comp Sci I would genuinely learn to program in Java. It’s loads of fun–just make a bunch of your own programs and games; the class is an excuse to have fun. ;)</p>

<p>It’s helpful to look up the API documentation of the classes you read about, to learn about the different methods that the book might not teach. The set of methods you should know for the exam is pretty small; you should be sure you know those very well before the exam. You should also know the case study pretty well. You can survive without it, but it’s helpful to grab a few easier multiple choice questions.</p>

<p>The actual AP exam I found had a lot of time pressure on the multiple choice section (I didn’t even finish), but the free response was a lot easier. I think I finished it in 25-ish minutes and reread my answers for the rest of the given time.</p>

<p>I used David G. Myers to self-study Psychology, and Barron’s as a study guide. I got a 4, but this is more because I didn’t review Psychology beforehand (I read Barron’s over spring break in March, and studied for Chemistry instead the night before since I had two exams that day). You can probably easily pull off a 5 if you read Myers’ Psychology a few months before the exam and Barron’s as review the night before.</p>

<p>As for the exam, Psychology AP exam has much less time pressure than any other exam I took.</p>