{"id":1090,"date":"2017-04-30T22:58:32","date_gmt":"2017-05-01T03:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/?p=1090"},"modified":"2017-05-02T15:52:54","modified_gmt":"2017-05-02T20:52:54","slug":"good-luck-on-the-2017-ap-computer-science-a-exam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/good-luck-on-the-2017-ap-computer-science-a-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"Good luck on the 2017 AP Computer Science Exams!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Good luck to all on the 2017 AP Computer Science exams!<\/p>\n

Here are my predictions for this year’s 4 AP CS A Free Response Questions.\u00a0 DISCLAIMER :: I have no idea what the questions will be, but I have fun each year trying to guess the topics before the exam.\u00a0\u00a0 I have gotten pretty good at predicting the free response topics as I do spend considerable time working with the released free response questions.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 ArrayList of Classes \/ References \u2013\u00a0 You gots to know how to write code to manipulate an ArrayList<NeverSeenThisClassBefore> as it is on the exam every single year going all of the way back to 2006.\u00a0 This question type involves lots of drilling down to get to the various pieces.\u00a0 You must be comfortable with abstraction to handle this type of question.\u00a0 2010 had the CookieOrder question and 2012 had ClimbInfo.\u00a0 Sparse Array from 2015 was another cool List of classes question.\u00a0 I think making something like Sparse Array but with a list of lists is quite possible.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Make a Class from scratch \u2013 Every student should know how to make a class, implement an interface, and extend an abstract class.\u00a0 In 2014, the Trio question marked the return of the interface FR which means an abstract class Free Response can’t be too far behind.\u00a0\u00a0 Be prepared create an interface \/ abstract class in part A and then use Part A to make a new class in Part B as was the case in 2015.\u00a0 Be prepared to override some methods and make something new from something old.\u00a0 You know you will have to create a complete class or create something really similar and it will be super! \u00a0 Look at the 2005, 2006, and 2007 AP FR questions if you want some past FR examples.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Processing an Array or String – String – String \u2013\u00a0 I missed the boat on the Strings last year as there were a whopping 3 questions that did something with Strings.\u00a0 They will not get me this year as I am including both arrays and Strings here.\u00a0 I know it is kinda like cheating, but I am covering my behind this year.\u00a0 I predict a basic algorithmic array or string question.\u00a0 Look back at BatteryCharger from 2009 or the Sound question from 2011.\u00a0 Those questions are pretty good algorithm questions.\u00a0 Find a particular something in an array or string.\u00a0 I am also betting part A must be called by part B and \/ or part B must be called by part C.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 Matrices \u2013 Be on the lookout for another matrix of classes question.\u00a0 I predicted this in 2013 and was wrong, but I went with it again in 2014 and hit pay dirt as the there was a Student[ ][ ] question on the exam.\u00a0 Finally!\u00a0 There will certainly be a matrix question again this year and with PictureLab being one of the AP CS A Labs, I am thinking a matrix of references is again a distinct possibility.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I will post follow-up comments after I see the 2017 Free Response questions.\u00a0 Hopefully, my predictions will be right on this year.\u00a0 I have been pretty close in the past, but this year is a new year.<\/p>\n

A few review points to emphasize before the exam.<\/p>\n

Multiple Choice [ 90 minutes ] –\u00a0\u00a0 Manage time and get through the 40 questions more than once.\u00a0 Skip the longer questions the first time through.<\/p>\n

Free Response [ 90 minutes ] – Answer the easiest question first and do not leave any questions blank.\u00a0 Make sure to return and to call part A from B if the question says you MUST do that.<\/p>\n

If you want some great reviews the AP Computer Science A Exam,\u00a0 I have quite a review slides posted\u00a0\u00a0 AP Exam review slides<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 with Java code projects ready for students to complete.\u00a0 The Java code projects have runner files and everything students need to test student hand-written free response code.\u00a0 Feel free to use them to help your students.\u00a0 It is very beneficial for students to write the free response code on paper and then type it up.<\/p>\n

Do you need great AP Computer Science Curriculum that covers all of the topics I have listed above?\u00a0 Do you need labs, slides, tests, quizzes, and worksheets that cover arrays, arrays of references, ArrayList, ArrayList of References, Matrices, Matrices of References, Interfaces, and Abstract Classes? Take a look at the A+ Computer Science Curriculum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The A+ Computer Science Curriculum<\/a> was designed to provide students with multiple opportunities to master the core concepts covered on the AP Computer Science A Exam.<\/p>\n

If you like my humor and want to spend a few days hearing more about how to get students ready to ROCK the AP exam, check out my workshops<\/a> going on over the summer or email me about setting up a custom training at your school or for several schools.\u00a0 I will show you how to get any student ready to make a 5!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Good luck to all on the 2017 AP Computer Science exams! Here are my predictions for this year’s 4 AP CS A Free Response Questions.\u00a0 DISCLAIMER :: I have no idea what the questions will be, but I have fun each year trying to guess the topics before the exam.\u00a0\u00a0 I have gotten pretty good […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[22,48,20],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1090"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1095,"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090\/revisions\/1095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apluscompsci.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}