<p>Is it possible to do well in AP Computer Science without any background knowledge in CS? It seems like an interesting course and I really want to take it, but I don't have room in my schedule to take Pre-AP CS and then AP CS the next year. So would it be okay to just jump right into AP? What prior knowledge/experience would I be expected to have coming into AP? Could I just self-teach the stuff I need to know beforehand?</p>
<p>My school has no pre-AP CS but I took APCS without prior knowledge. Does your school expect you to know the material covered in pre-AP CS before taking APCS?</p>
<p>I’m in AP Computer Science and I can say that although prior knowledge would make the course much easier, it is very possible to excel provided you have a good teacher and are eager to learn. I’d recommend being decent with math and problem solving. Feel free to ask any questions. :))</p>
<p>yeah, i guess it might depend on the teacher, I’m taking the pre-ap cs class, and at my sch. the teacher isnt so great, so im struggling. I wouldnt suggest jumpring right into ap, unless you talk and get to know the teacher and how to survive in her class, cuz like mine only bases our grades on tests even though we do a whole bunch of homework…=), oh btw, kyletb21, i hope u dont mind if i post a couple questions i have on this thread…</p>
<p>I looked at my school’s course descriptions for Pre-AP and AP, and it says that AP “continues the study begun in Computer Science pre-AP,” so we probably are supposed to know the pre-AP material. Asking my teacher about it seems like an excellent idea, thanks! 
Do you guys have any suggestions for what to study beforehand? What are some things I should be familiar with to make starting AP CS easier?</p>
<p>At most school, many of the kids in APCS never took a CS class before, but it varies from school to school. </p>
<p>Again, talking to the teacher would be the best option. You may want to learn some of the Pre-AP CS material over the summer so you don’t feel behind when you start APCS that school year. You should ask the teacher about this. He/she may be able to provide you with some study materials so you will be prepared.</p>
<p>APCS is the kind of class where some kids have no problem and excel naturally and other kids just can’t keep up and have no idea what’s going on If you’re good at logic math and problem solving then you’re most likely the former, and can probably jump right into it. If you already have prior knowledge you’ll feel that the year moves really slowly, but without it its not really that bad. At my school we spent like 3 weeks learning arrays and sorting algorithms. Really the class is pretty much like a foreign language class but a lot more practical and involves more math and thinking.</p>
<p>yeah, I feel like the latter ^. as for stuff to know, familiarize yourself with classes, objects and types.those are the essentials that expand radually.</p>
<p>Nah of course I don’t mind questions! But liquidbunn wrapped it up very well. It is very much like learning a new language (it actually is since your’e learning a programming “language”) and requires you to be able to memorize and properly execute different commands and be able to utilize them cohesively. I’m assuming you’ll be learning Java like I am so you’ll start with basic println commands, then go on to math, loops, objects, and arrays. Sorry if I sound a bit scatterbrained.</p>