<p>Hello! So I'm a junior now, and I'm debating to self study for BC and computer science. I'm pretty decided on BC, because I'm taking calculus AB this year actually. Computer science I'm unsure about. I will have another AP senior year that my school has a class for, AP bio, but my school doesn't have a calculus BC or computer science. To people who have self studied for BC and/or computer science A I'm curious to know what you thought of the tests, did you spend a lot of time a week, etc. thanks!</p>
<p>I lack experience in self studying computer science although I am currently taking it. Toughest portion will be the beginning since after you get used to writing simple code the content isn’t particularly hard so the initial comprehension of the topic causes the most difficulty. Computer science consists primarily of two things when it’d come towards tackling. The first is practical ability since the free response does involve writing code and being able to write can make reading code in a lot of multiple choice questions much easier. When it comes to writing code I’d heavily recommend codingbat + codeacademy. Main warning is codeacademy does not use java which is the programming language the AP computer science test is using but a lot of programming concepts are common throughout languages and it contains 1000s of exercices (no you don’t have to do near that much to do well it just makes practicing pretty available) and be careful that when you learn something one codeacademy you don’t end up using the wrong syntax since while the syntax are similar at times they’re quite a few differences. The other aspect is the theory which codeacademy does teach some of but the lack of focus at java necessitates some form of prep book or text book. Textbook I’m using is exposure java by leon schram and prep book I’m using is barron’s which have both done fine and I wouldn’t even say you’d need both considering the textbook was I think designed for an ap computer science class. Gridworld is also a part of the test but that textbook and I’d assume most prep books would cover it and is something you just have to learn (difficulty really depends on how well you are in general).</p>
<p>I am self studying Calculus BC and it’s fairly easy if you’re doing well in Calculus AB. I’d mainly focus on being confident you can ace the calculus AB test before starting to study calculus BC. Calculus BC does not really have that many more topics to learn and primarily adds polar, parametric, and vector functions (which vector functions are related to parametric) along with series, logistical functions, and just more detail in some things you’ve already done. Just doing a lot of problems and being adapted to them can help in understanding it. Personal recommendation although not necessary is google proofs for a lot of the calculus theorems and most proofs will not involve math above your level which helps in really comprehending what you’re doing when you’re not being taught. </p>
<p>I’d estimate 40 hours for BC calculus total if you have a strong grounding in AB calculus. I’m not sure how much time computer science would have taken me as a self study. I’d guess 80-100 hours although quite a bit of that in my case would be directed towards doing problems on those two sites previously mentioned along with other practice problems (like doing free response problems) when it comes to being ready.</p>
<p>Both are completely doable.</p>
<p>I have heard of code academy, and I have a tiny bit of experience with code. My school has a robotics club so we have done a little bit of programming with an arduino chip. I have heard Barron’s is great for computer science A so I will be sure to get that.
I’m doing pretty well in AB, so hopefully I shouldn’t have any trouble with the extra topics of BC. Thank you for all the advice and tips!</p>
<p>BC will be easy for you, especially after taking AB this year (assuming you are doing well in AB.)</p>
<p>CS is very doable as well. My CS class was basically self taught because the instructor really didn’t do anything other than administer tests and put course material on the student drive. I’m not really sure how you can learn CS in a structured way without some form of curriculum, though (especially since you need to be able to set up GridWorld which can be complicated at first).
Given that you will probably have to spend a considerable amount of time just LOOKING for information to learn, I would start earlier than this fall, perhaps the summer. </p>
<p>Ideally, you should find a friend who has made a 5 on the exam just in case you need help, but since your school does not offer it that will be a hard person to come by.
I would be willing to help you a little bit if you need help with anything. I can’t promise speedy responses in the fall when I go off to college, but I can definitely help this summer.</p>
<p>Yeah I’m doing very well in AB so I’m not too worried about BC. I was actually wondering what exactly is GridWorld? I keep hearing it mentioned and that it’s always one FR question but I still don’t know what it is exactly. </p>
<p>Oh that would be greatly appreciated! I will probably ask for help in the summer on preparation, like what books to get an what to focus on, then I can take it from there, but thanks!.</p>
<p>Not really sure where it came from, I guess College Board made it, but it is basically a grid where each cell contains either nothing or a certain type of “critter.” There are rocks, which don’t move, bugs that move in different patterns (depending on what type is used), and some others that I’ve already forgotten.</p>
<p>Honestly, I didn’t see the point in GridWorld… I suppose it was created so they could ask you very specific questions relating certain objects and how concepts of OOP (objected oriented programming) like polymorphism, inheritance and encapsulation.
I don’t like how they made GridWorld such a big part of the test, but whatever. I believe it is 5/40 MC questions and 1/4 on the FRQ (with both MC/FR being weighted 50/50). Could be wrong since it’s been a while since APCS.</p>
<p>It was made by some university students. GridWorld really just requires having used it once or twice (and I’m assuming can be downloaded online for the java files and then you have to get it to start up) and some experience overriding it (which is essentially what the free response question on it makes you do).</p>
<p>The purpose I’ve heard was as a teaching tool to see what a large amount of neatly written code can look like. Still doesn’t make it more enjoyable though.</p>