AP Java

Since this is the first year for the Java AP test, I''m guessing no one here has taken it.

Last year''s test on C++ was pretty darn easy. You just need to relax. Take you time while taking the exam. The test makers really enjoy tricking people, so read the questions extremely carefully and watch out for common pitfalls (if your instructor is not pointing out where the College Board likes to set traps, then he/she is not a very good instructor).

Also, try to keep a steady pace. Take your time to read the question, but don''t get bogged down trying to figure out the answer. I forget exactly how many questions are on the test, but make sure you budget enough time for every question. It''s better to skip questions you don''t know than it is to waste time on them, only to end up selecting the wrong answer.

Good luck. I wish I were back in high school and could take the AP tests again. I actually enjoy tests like that.

|.dev-c++.|.the gimp.|.seti@home.|.dbpoweramp.|.torn.|.=w=.|

First thing to remember:
They give you the implementations to the case study. It was true in C++, it''s still true in Java. In short, this means that if you''re even vaguely competent at reading code, you can go in almost cold and do ok with the case study. Familiarize yourself with its setup, but don''t break yourself trying to memorize largely unimportant details.

what type of mistakes are you making on the practice tests? If you elaborate I'm sure I (and others who took it in the past in C++) can help you out.

[edited by - cozman on April 27, 2004 10:34:45 PM]

I too took the test last year when it was in C++. I can verify the statement Promit made about the case study. I went in without any prior knowledge to the format of the test and without ever reading the case study, and I got a 5. I even realized that I totally f*cked up an entire free response question. The most valuable thing is that you actually know what you're doing. Learning the dirty tricks help too though. It's not as difficult as you think. The AP tests are designed to leave a lot of head room so people don't make perfect scores, so if you think you aren't doing well, you probably are doing well and you don't know it. If you were actually going to fail, you'd know it for sure before you walked in. Just relax and be confident and remember that they expect to fool you at least a handful of times so if you're completely stumped, forget it and move on.

[edited by - pi_equals_3 on April 27, 2004 10:42:22 PM]

I''m taking it next week with nearly no preparation. I suppose that automatically gives me a 5.

BTW, props to Promit for the advice. You''re the man!

Ugh, the AP tests, worthless sacks of shit who make those tests up. I really really hate them. Collegeboard.com is the most unorganized trash on the internet.

With that out of the way, i took the AP CS I and CS II exams, not java because they didnt offer it last year. HOWEVER, know youre sorting algorithims, big 0, and how to read questions carefully. Also, the whole thing about not answering questions you dont know is crucial.

If i remember right, one incorrect answer is the same as three left blank. THREE. skip all questions you seem the least bit concerned with and revisit them later. my highest score was on a test that i answered the fewest questions. they REALLY dont want you pretending that you know when you dont.

remember that picking two of the last four essays to really work out extensively is a good idea. the four essays are 50% of the grade. should you answer half of those correctly, youll have 25% solid correct answers on the test, and when you add that to about decent score on the multiple choice section (also 50%) you should guarentee yourself a 3 or more as a final grade.

Always keep in mind that those who made that god forsaken test probably hate their miserable jobs more than you hate taking the test, so no matter what, you win.

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To clarify a little the whole skipping vs. guessing thing:
A right answer results in one point toward your grade. (duh)
A wrong answer results in .25 points subtracted from your grade.
An answer left blank gives you no points.

A good rule I''ve gone by is that if you can confidently eliminate two, and leave yourself with three choices to guess from, guessing is in your favor. If you have no clue, leave it blank. Eliminating nothing will give you a 1 in 5 chance that you won''t lose 1/4 pt, which is not in your favor. Taking a 1 in 3 chance that you won''t get the 1/4 subtracted is much better and will probably improve your score.

quote:

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Original post by pi_equals_3
To clarify a little the whole skipping vs. guessing thing:
A right answer results in one point toward your grade. (duh)
A wrong answer results in .25 points subtracted from your grade.
An answer left blank gives you no points.

A good rule I''ve gone by is that if you can confidently eliminate two, and leave yourself with three choices to guess from, guessing is in your favor. If you have no clue, leave it blank. Eliminating nothing will give you a 1 in 5 chance that you won''t lose 1/4 pt, which is not in your favor. Taking a 1 in 3 chance that you won''t get the 1/4 subtracted is much better and will probably improve your score.

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yea, thats the most common way to look at it

quote:

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If i remember right, one incorrect answer is the same as three left blank. THREE

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Well, you remember wrong.

Some of the AP curriculums are excellent. The AP Physics and Calculus sequences are, IMO, very good.

Comp Sci...isn't. I got a 5 on the AP CS AB test, but that doesn't mean it was hard. Know the basic algorithms they expect you to know, know your typical CS concepts (this made even EASIER this year due to the inherent hand-holding of Java), and don't do anything stupid.

[EDIT] The case study, btw, involves fish moving in a tank with absolutely no rules about movement, except for no overlaps. Yay.

[edited by - Promit on April 28, 2004 6:37:12 PM]

I''m going to be taking the test this year, AB, and feel ok about it. I really want to get a 5, but I''m not so sure how that will go. I''m fairly confident that I can atleast get a 3. It''s pretty tough to study for due to the fact that it is an independent study at our school and of the two other people I''m working with, only one person is really studying at all. One of the people I''m working with is going to fail. They don''t know anything about Java and have just been messing around all semester. Without an instructor, it''s pretty tough, but I think it is much easier than C++. What I''m most worried about is sorting algorithms and Big O.

Good Luck to anyone taking the test.

Pfft, I never took the class. Never talked to a teacher about it, either.