<p>Hello, I’m currently a junior in high school and I self-studied the AP Computer Science course last year and got a score of 4. I was wondering whether I should repeat the AP, since one of my possible majors is Electronic Engineering/ Computer Science. If I do redo the AP, what choices do I have regarding my previous score. Is it possible for universities to see my scores in both sittings or do I have to cancel the previous score (this is only if I get a 5)?</p>
<p>My daughter will be taking the AP CS test and, with a degree in CS, I am acting as her tutor or coach or irritating parent depending on the day you might ask her. The course has been reasonably paced with reasonably frequent quizzes, exams and programming assignments. Data types, conditionals, loops, strings (with nice exercises in using the library for manipulation) and single dimension arrays (with a merge problem) have been covered to date. Methods and procedure calls, discussion of how primitive and class variable are passed (by value or reference) are the current topics. User-defined classes, advanced classes, algorithms, two-dimensional arrays and a unit on exam prep are on the schedule.</p>
<p>There is an active forum associated with the course. The instructors have been very quick to join in on discussions and to help with questions. I would rate this team very highly.</p>
<p>There was one brief discussion about the “free response” portion of the AP test with the instructor. She helpfully pointed out this section of the test is scored with rubrics so, even if you cannot come up with a segment of code to solve a problem, you can easily earn points by knowing such things as 1) a for loop is needed, 2) there should be an if statement, 3) a String variable should be initialized to, “Hello World!” and so forth. Writing down these statements, even if they are not syntactically or semantically correct, will earn you points. More practice on the “free response” part of the test is planned later in the course.</p>
<p>Finally, you can apparently join this free course at any time and, using the forum, find help with any sections that aren’t clear.</p>
<p>GridWorld is gone as in “bye bye, sayonara”. No questions on either the multiple-choice or free-response sections dealing with GridWorld. (The free response section will still have four questions.)</p>
<p>Hey guys, I arranged Computer Science A 5th edition Barrons from somewhere, but currently there is a 6th Edition as well. Considering GridWorld case study has been removed and all, is it worth it for me to buy the 6th edition? Has this change been made in it?</p>
<p>I have a similar question as @bolt1234 Looking on amazon, it seems the Barrons 6th edition and Litvins (links attached) are from 2013, so I’m guessing that these books have not been updated to account for the removal of GridWorld. Does anyone know if these books are still worth buying or if the writers are going to come up with new books (and if they do when they would come out)?
Barron’s 6th edition
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-Computer-Science-6th-Edition/dp/1438001525”>http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-Computer-Science-6th-Edition/dp/1438001525</a>
Litvin’s
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Prepared-Computer-Science-Exam-Java/dp/098247752X/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=11BKVE3WZV4MSHN85XZ2”>http://www.amazon.com/Prepared-Computer-Science-Exam-Java/dp/098247752X/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=11BKVE3WZV4MSHN85XZ2</a></p>
<p>@Cherrybark: is your daughter using the Amplify or TeenCoder course?</p>
<p>@bolt1234: Amazon has a Barrons 7th edition to be released 1/1/2015 - can be preordered. May want to wait a week or pre-order it?</p>
@Cherrybark As someone who has taken the AP exam and gotten a 5 on it, your list of what material to cover for the exam is dead on.
@C SinPA - My daughter is following the Amplify course. It has the advantage of a being a regularly pace schedule of video lessons to cover the material. A typical unit has one or two short teaching videos, a few multiple choice questions, a programming assignment or two and a quiz. The programs are directed towards the topic of the unit and haven’t been especially difficult now that she is beyond the initial struggle of Java punctuation.
One concern with the Amplify course is that topics introduced in the early sections will be forgotten as the test date nears. So we will start supplementing with other materials including:
- Selections from YouTube video series, "Java (Beginner) Programming Tutorials" and "....(Intermediate)..." by "thenewboston". He has an irreverent style and the videos are a great way to review past material. These video collections go beyond the AP requirements but Beginner 1 - 49 and Intermediate 1 - 16 seem on topic. You could breeze through these, watching two or three each evening, as a nice review.
- The "Teencoder" course has the serious disadvantage of being a book. "Here you go daughter, study this.", doesn't go over as well as watching videos. If I had know about the Amplify course, I wouldn't have purchased this book. It might serve as a helpful reverence but the internet is full of Java references.
- Finally, with roughly four months to practice, she will start working through the non-GridWorld free-response questions from past exams posted at http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/exam_information/2000.html This is a way to practice Java programming, get familiar with the types of questions and build confidence with this part of the exam.
None. The university to which you send your scores will see both scores. IMO, it’s not worth retaking the exam.
What units/topics have you guys covered in your classes to date? My computer science teacher isn’t the greatest; I just want to have an idea of if we’re behind, ahead, etc, so I can study accordingly. Thanks.
My son plans to self-study for AP Computer Science exam. What should he do with the new lab requirements? Should he submit something online to collegeboard? thanks!
@lwlwlw As far as I know, the “lab requirements” are for the course itself, not the examination. If your son is not taking an official AP-sanctioned course, but signing up for the examination independently, I don’t believe there’s anything your son would need to do. You should check with the CollegeBoard directly, though; I’m not familiar with that process.
Hi fellow AP CompSci folks,
For those taking the Amplify, the FLVS/Global, and/or eIMACS’ AP CompSci courses online - how’s it going?
I’m planning to take this course online next school year as my high school doesn’t offer it. I’m considering FLVS’ course ($800) and Amplify’s (free)? FLVS’ isn’t cheap but is authorized AP course, so I could get an “8” weighted course added to my high school’s GPA, but free is nice too.
FLVS just sent me their syllabus from 2013(?) (with GridWorld) so that concerns me but they use the eIMACS course plus some re-packaging?? I just checked eIMACS website - the AP CompSci outline doesn’t include GridWorld. Go figure. I’ve just inquired if FLVS’ course is going to be updated/reauthorized for 2015-2016. (good thing I’m a CS person and been reading up on this). Registering for AP CompSci directly with eIMACS is $995.
Looking for direction as course signups for Fall are coming up. I have about 9 months of Java experience and a few months of HTML and a little PHP exposure. Mostly taking this course to fill in gaps, prepare for the AP Exam and have it on my transcript. Thanks!
FYI: there’s nothing “wrong” with using GridWorld as a part of the APCS curriculum; it covers many important concepts that are part of the APCS syllabus. The only difference is that questions regarding GridWorld will not appear on either part of the APCS exam.
Definitely get yourself Barron’s AP Computer Science 7th edition.
With the exam coming up next Thursday, I want to give a friendly little reminder …
According to the instructions you’ll receive at the exam, you’re not permitted to discuss the details of multiple choice portion of the exam with anyone after the exam. You’re also not permitted to discuss details of the free response questions with anyone until they are publicly released, which is usually 72 hours or so after the exam finishes on the West Coast.
It’s very tempting to get on social media, or forums like this, right after the exam and de-brief a bit. Just keep in mind that there’s a difference between general statements (“wow, I think I got a 5”) and specific queries (“does anyone remember the answer to the question about the jabberwocks?”).
SOS: I accidentally bought the 6th edition of Barron’s instead of the 7th. My book contains GridWorld, but nothing about the labs and such.
In the Barron’s 7th, what are the lab based questions like? Will I be still be on the track to getting a 5 without reading through it if we have done the required labs (such as Elevens, ZooWorld, etc) in class?
You’ll be just fine. The AP-released labs (Elevens, etc.) aren’t testable material. The GridWorld FRQ will just be replaced by another non-GridWorld question.
the barrons book i think isnt too good… the MC questions are hard as hell