Hey everyone,
I was wondering if you are expected to have taken a couple years of computer programming before you take AP Computer Science. Or, is it a course I could prep for in one year? Also, if you have taken the class, what did you think? Is the AP test difficult? Thanks!
Taking the class next year but have a lot of friends who took it this year. All of my friends took an intro class but still did not feel adequately prepared for the test as the teacher at our school is not great. I know people who go in with no experience and get 5s, but the main thing is what kind of teacher you have. I would ask around at your school and maybe even meet the teacher
There were no prerequisites for AP CS A at my school, although many of them did take an intro class. IMO it wasn’t necessary at all.
At my school, just like @GMKoon , there were no pre-reqs for CS A.
However, each school is different, so ask your counselor.
I’ll give it to you as one of the self-studying perspective (I didn’t take the test because it would have interfered with some school events and our school didn’t offer the class to begin with, but I would have almost definitely made a 5).
Some schools are NOW implementing a suggested prerequisite in AP CS Principles (which I took; it was SO easy). Chances are that your school does not offer this, but even if it does, it is not per say NECESSARY, as it only tests on basic pseudocode concepts like for/while/if loops, function utilization, and basic systematic logic as far as programming is concerned.
If you are already a software dabbler/developer/programmer, AP CS A will probably be really ok. I will not tell anybody that the test will be EASY per say, as you have to write out full lines of Java code by hand without a compiler. Just look at the FRQ releases and answers to see what I mean.
I would say go for it. Your teacher may not be the best (I hear some have a tendency of doing that). However, there are a lot of free online study resources that are very easy to self-teach if you are interested. There is a good selection of free content on EDX that you can use that are GREAT! The archived one from Purdue and the open one from Cooper Union are really good. If you actually love the topic and are interested in coding, just learn it on your own pace and play around with the language; you will be WAY more prepared that the bunch of schmucks that study it exclusively in class and make 1’s on the test because “logic and naming stuff is so hard”.
Just practice writing on paper and good luck!
EDIT: And yes; most people prep in one year w/o prerequisites in a traditional classroom setting. You’re not being thrown to the sharks just yet.
@MON824 thanks for the detailed response! I’m not already a computer person, but if the course is able to be learned in a year, I’m willing to put in the time to learn and study for the AP test. My school does not recommend AP CS principles and the teacher for AP CS A is not good. Do you think it would still be reasonable for me to take, and mostly self-study, the class?
I’d say yeah, but I’m a computer person (web designer) going for CS/Biz dual major at URichmond next year, so… I might be a bit biased.
Try out the EDX courses (just go to the website and type in AP Computer Science and find the Purdue and Cooper Union ones). Try them out and see if they are “engaging”. If you want to, look up and maybe try Codecademy’s Java course for fun. Even though I don’t recommend it for those trying to get great industry knowledge (it gives a false sense of hope and encourages picking up a plethora of languages to a basic level, which gives an array of knowledge that cannot do a single significant thing), it may be great for getting you into the mindset of “this is actually really easy and not what everybody was telling me. I can do this all day and it’s fun.”
This mindset can make any kid learn a programming language, much less a high school student. Even with self-study, the right kind of mindset will get you through. Hope this helps.
EDIT: Oh yeah! I almost forgot! UC3M did a really cool course series on Java on EDX that you should probably try out. I enjoyed it and it was pretty challenging, and although it’s not catered to AP CS A (and they have a heavy Spanish accent) this level of thoroughness (which is self-paced and free) would help tremendously on the exam. Plus, and I think they cover everything anyways.
@MON824 thanks so much for the info!