How to study for AP Computer Science??

Hi! I’m a HS sophomore taking the AP CS exam in about 2.5 weeks. I am freaking out. I got an A in the class, but primarily because my teacher is fairly easy. Most people in her class last year got As, and most of them got 3s on the exam. I really want to get at least a 4, but I’m not sure how to study. I have been on several websites, including:

www.learnerator.com

https://www.tracy.k12.ca.us/sites/clunetta/Java/practice/practice.htm

http://manatee.cc.gt.atl.ga.us/apExam/begin_test.jsp

Some (such as learnerator) I was able to easily ace the questions, and some (such as tracyk12) I couldn’t get right after several tries. I don’t know how to prep. I have a Barron’s book, but it seems like reading the entire thing will take forever, and I have three other tests to study for. My teacher gives up practice FRQs, but on the last couple I have gotten 2s and 3s (out of 9) because I overthink the question and end up with some really complicated program that doesn’t actually work.

At this point, I am considering simply paying my parents back for the exam and not taking it at all (I want to be a national AP Scholar, and it requires an exam average of at least 4 I believe, so a 1 or 2 on this exam would bring down my average). Would it hurt me on college aps (to schools like Columbia, NYU, Brown, etc.) if I got an A in the class but didn’t take the exam?

Thanks!

Litvin’s Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java and Barron’s are both great, and have great explanations (though I think there were a couple mistakes in the Barron’s book). I can’t speak to the National AP Scholar award, but I don’t think that colleges will frown upon you not taking the exam after an AP course. Taking an AP course affects your resume positively. Scoring well on an AP exam affects your resume positively. Doing both affects your resume positively.

As far as resources, feel free to check out my Java guide, and feel free to email me with any questions.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/mathematics-computer-science/1729732-ap-computer-science-exam-review-guide.html