Which is easier AP Computer Science or AP Calculus AB for self-study in one month?

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1

Which is easier AP Computer Science or AP Calculus AB for self-study in one month? I am planning to write this year and only have the month of April to prepare for it.

2

@Tushar1010 Again, we cannot give you a clear and well-cut answer to this question. Either one will likely difficult to teach yourself in 1 month. Additionally, which one is easier depends on how familiar you are with algebra/trig, or if you have any programming (particularly OOP) experience.

3

I have both. I have prepared for SAT 2 Math and I know several computer languages but Java not very explicitly.

4

I finished the APCS course in about a month. I had no prior programming experience. It is either very easy or very difficult depending on your abilities.

5

Ok I’ll probably go for CS then since I have programming experience.

6

Depending on how well you do in math and how long you plan on studying every day, I’d say AP Comp Sci has generally sounded like an easier class (from what I’ve heard). I’m taking BC this year but I have some trouble with math so I barely passed first semester (the AB part) with an A if that makes any difference…

7

For me, AP Computer Science was much harder than AP Calculus. However, I had no programming experience.

8

I took AP Comp Sci last year and am taking calculus right now. Even if you do have some programming knowledge, the AP Test tests topics not all coder will know. That being said, AP Calculus isn’t an easy thing either. I have found that around 1/4 of Calculus AB is a review from Pre Calculus and if you understand concepts in Calculus, the main thing is simply applying them. It really is more about what your strengths and weaknesses are. In my opinion, CS has some very ambiguous things which you wouldn’t recognize unless you were being taught a class through which the instructor could be able to point them out to you. Calculus is more clear cut and there is only one right answer, which may make it easier to prepare for.

9

Btw, if you want to self-study AP CS, I suggest learning Java as soon as possible (don’t wait until April).

Even if you have coded before, there are quite a few differences between how Java works and how other languages work, and some things that should be simple in other languages are not that easy in Java (e.g. for me, sorting a HashMap by values).

10

@1golfer what CS course were you using that is self-paced?

im currently using the free online amplify mooc course(signed up in january but havent been able to do much tho becuz of ap classes and academic competitions)