Ace the AP Computer Science Exam for High Schoolers

Takeaway Skills

Learn some of the basic building blocks of computer science

Explore Java syntax and get your hands dirty writing code

Solve real problems with interactive coding projects

Understand how the exam is structured and scored

Navigate the exam confidently with three in-browser practice tests

Learn some of the basic building blocks of computer science

Explore Java syntax and get your hands dirty writing code

Solve real problems with interactive coding projects

Understand how the exam is structured and scored

Navigate the exam confidently with three in-browser practice tests

Course Overview

Welcome to your one stop shop to acing your AP Computer Science A examination. This course is a comprehensive run-through of everything you need to know to fly through your exam with confidence. With no background knowledge required, you'll learn the fundamentals of computer programm... See More

How You'll Learn

Hands-on coding environments

You don’t get better at swimming by watching others. Coding is no different. Practice as you learn with live code environments inside your browser.

Faster than videos

Videos are holding you back. The average video tutorial is spoken at 150 words per minute, while you can read at 250. That‘s why our courses are text-based.

No set-up required

Start learning immediately instead of fiddling with SDKs and IDEs. It‘s all on the cloud.

Progress you can show

Built in assessments let you test your skills. Completion certificates let you show them off.

Hands-on coding environments

You don’t get better at swimming by watching others. Coding is no different. Practice as you learn with live code environments inside your browser.

Faster than videos

Videos are holding you back. The average video tutorial is spoken at 150 words per minute, while you can read at 250. That‘s why our courses are text-based.

No set-up required

Start learning immediately instead of fiddling with SDKs and IDEs. It‘s all on the cloud.

Progress you can show

Built in assessments let you test your skills. Completion certificates let you show them off.

Course Contents

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1. Understanding the AP CS A

What Is This Course About?

2. Test Preparation Guidelines

Exam Overview

Test Structure

Scoring Guidelines

3. Before We Begin

Introduction to Computers

Introduction to Programming

4. Introduction to Java

What is Java?

Writing Your First Java Program

Printing Styles

Commenting in Java Code

Look Back: Introduction to Java

Free Response Question: Printing Styles

Solution Review: Printing Styles

Quiz Yourself on Printing Styles and Comments

5. Unit 1: Primitive Types

Variables

Types of Variables

Primitive Data Types

Operators

Arithmetic Operators

Assignment Operators

Type Casting

Rounding Double Type Variables

The final Keyword

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Look Back: Primitive Types

Free Response Question 1: Equation Construction

Solution Review 1: Equation Construction

Free Response Question 2: Expression Evaluation

Solution Review 2: Expression Evaluation

Quiz Yourself on Variables and Data Types

6. Unit 2-1: Using Objects

Introduction to Classes

Objects: Instances of Classes

Constructors

Methods

Parameters and Return Types in Methods

Different Classifications of Methods

Look Back: Using Objects

Quiz Yourself on Objects

7. Unit 2-2: Java Strings

Introduction to Strings

API, Libraries, and Packages

Basic Properties of a String

Concatenation and Escape Sequences

String Methods

More on String Methods

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Look Back: Java Strings

Free Response Question 1: Message Encryption

Solution Review: Message Encryption

Quiz Yourself on Strings

8. Unit 2-3: Java Math and Wrapper Classes

Java Wrapper Class: Integer

Java Wrapper Class: Double

Autoboxing and Unboxing

Using the Math Class

Basic Math Functions

Look Back: Java Math and Wrapper Classes

Free Response Question 1: Visualize a Triangle in a Circle

Solution Review: Visualize a Triangle in a Circle

Free Response Question 2: Visualize a Vector and Its Components

Solution Review: Visualize a Vector and Its Components

Quiz Yourself on Math and Wrapper Classes

9. Unit 3: Boolean Expressions and if Statements

Boolean Expressions

The if Statement

The if-else Structure

The else if Statement

Free Response Question 1: Assign Grades to Students

Solution Review: Assign Grades to Students

Compound Boolean Expressions

Equivalent Boolean Expressions

Comparing Objects

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Look Back: Boolean Expressions and if Statements

Free Response Question 2: Design an ATM

Solution Review: Design an ATM

Quiz Yourself on Boolean Expressions and if Statements

10. Unit 4: Iteration

Introduction to Loops

while Loops

for Loops

Nested for loops

Free Response Question 1: Car Parking Robot

Solution Review: Car Parking Robot

String Traversals

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Look Back: Iteration

Free Response Question 2: Is String a Palindrome?

Solution Review: Is String a Palindrome?

Quiz Yourself on Iteration

11. Project I: Guess the Right Number

Getting Started

The Game Logic

Time to Code

Solution Review

12. Unit 5: Writing Classes

The Anatomy of a Java Class

Access Specifiers

The Role of a Constructor

Accessor Methods

Mutator Methods

Introduction to Data Hiding

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Static Variables and Methods

The this Keyword

Ethical and Social Implications of Computing Systems

Look Back: Writing Classes

Free Response Question: Design a PlayStation

Solution Review: Design a PlayStation

Quiz Yourself on Classes

13. Unit 6: Arrays

Introduction to Arrays

Array Creation and Access

Traversing Arrays

Enhanced for Loop for Arrays

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Look Back: Arrays

Free Response Question: Find the Top Scorer in a Class

Solution Review: Find the Top Scorer in a Class

Quiz Yourself on Arrays

14. Unit 7-1: ArrayList

Introduction to ArrayList

ArrayList Methods

Traversing an ArrayList

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Look Back: ArrayList

Free Response Question 1: Removing Duplicates From an ArrayList

Solution Review: Removing Duplicates From an ArrayList

Free Response Question 2: Is ArrayList a Palindrome?

Solution Review: Is ArrayList a Palindrome?

Quiz Yourself on ArrayList

15. Unit 7-2: Searching and Sorting Algorithms

Searching Algorithms

Selection Sort

Insertion Sort

Ethical Issues Around Data Collection

Look Back: Searching and Sorting Algorithms

Tracing Challenge: What's the Order?

Quiz Yourself on Searching and Sorting Algorithms

16. Unit 8: 2D Arrays

Two Dimensional (2D) Arrays

Traversing 2D Arrays

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Look Back: 2D Arrays

Free Response Question 1: Mirror a 2D Array

Solution Review: Mirror a 2D Array

Free Response Question 2: Multiply the Matrices

Solution Review: Multiply the Matrices

Quiz Yourself on 2D Arrays

17. Project II: Tic-Tac-Toe

Getting Started

Time To Code: Task I to III

Solution Review: Task I to III

Time To Code: Task IV

Solution Review: Task IV

Time To Code: Task V and VI

Solution Review: Task V and VI

18. Project III: Amazon's Top 50 Bestselling Books Dataset

Getting Started

Reading the Dataset

Time To Code

Solution Review

19. Unit 9-1: Inheritance

Introduction to Inheritance

Superclasses and Subclasses

Constructors of Subclasses

Types of Inheritance

Look Back: Inheritance

Free Response Question: Design a Banking Application

Solution Review: Design a Banking Application

Quiz Yourself on Inheritance

20. Unit 9-2: Polymorphism

Introduction to Polymorphism

Overriding Methods

Polymorphism in Action

Object Superclass

Look Back: Polymorphism

Free Response Question: Manage the Sign Boards

Solution Review: Manage the Sign Boards

Quiz Yourself on Polymorphism

21. Unit 9-3: Abstract Classes and Interfaces

Abstraction in Java

Interfaces in Java

Look Back: Abstract Classes and Interfaces

Quiz Yourself on Abstraction and Interfaces

22. Unit 10: Recursion

Overview of Recursion

The Structure of a Recursive Program

Example 1: The Factorial of a Number

Example 2: The Fibonacci Series

Example 3: Merge Sort

Look Back: Recursion

Free Response Question: Recursive Binary Search

Solution Review: Recursive Binary Search

Quiz Yourself on Recursion

23. Project IV: Doctor on Call

Getting Started

Time To Code: Task I to Task V

Time To Code: Task VI to Task IX

Solution Review: Task I to Task V

Solution Review: Task VI to Task IX

24. Java Tools and Tips

Debugging in Java

Best Java Coding Practices

Javadoc

25. Wrapping Up

Appendix: Java Quick Reference

Conclusion

Course Assessment

AP CS A Practice Exam 1

Course Assessment

AP CS A Practice Exam 2

Course Assessment

AP CS A Practice Exam 3