AP Computer science A

INTRODUCTION

AP Computer Science A introduces students to computer science through programming. Fundamental topics in this course include the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language. 

AP Computer Science A is equivalent to a first-semester, college-level course in computer science. 

COURSE PATHWAY

You must have completed AP Computer Science Principles and Python Programming prior to taking this course (although some exceptions may be made for students in the Class of 2023-2024). This class is an elective credit, meaning you do not have to take it to graduate high school. This course is the third level of the Software Development CTE pathway at PHS. 

COMPUTER LANGUAGE

The AP Computer Science A course requires that solutions of problems be written in the Java programming language. Because the Java programming language is extensive, with far more features than could be covered in a single introductory course, the AP Computer Science A Exam covers a subset of Java. 

LAB REQUIREMENT

The AP Computer Science A course must include a minimum of 20 hours of hands-on, structured lab experiences to engage students in individual or group problem solving. Thus, each AP Computer Science A course includes a substantial lab component in which students design solutions to problems, express their solutions precisely (e.g., in the Java programming language), test their solutions, identify and correct errors (when mistakes occur), and compare possible solutions.

SECTION I - MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS [50% OF EXAM]

There are 40 multiple choice questions in the first section of the exam. You will have a total of 90 minutes to complete this section of the exam. 

SECTION II - FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS [50% OF EXAM]

In the FRQ section, you will be given 4 FRQs, each of which count for 12.5% of your exam score.

• FRQ 1: Methods and Control Structures: focuses on assessing students’ ability to write program code to create objects of a class and call methods and write program code to satisfy method specifications using expressions, conditional statements, and iterative statements.

• FRQ 2: Class: focuses on assessing students’ ability to write program code to define a new type by creating a class and write program code to satisfy method specifications using expressions, conditional statements, and iterative statements.

• FRQ 3: Array/Array List: focuses on assessing students’ ability to write program code to satisfy method specifications using expressions, conditional statements, and iterative statements and write program code to create, traverse, and manipulate elements in 1D array or Array List objects.

• FRQ 4: 2D Array: focuses on assessing students’ ability to write program code to satisfy method specifications using expressions, conditional statements, and iterative statements and write program code to create, traverse, and manipulate elements in 2D array objects.

You will have a total of 90 minutes to complete this section of the exam.

Coming Soon...