APCS: AP Computer Science A @sfhs

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The first semester exam will be in two parts on December 16 and 17, 2024 In Room 405. The average of the two quarter exams is worth 20% of your grade. The first semester exam is a cumulative exam that covers the summer assignment, Turtle graphics, chapters 3 through 10 of the textbook, and the related topics of these chapters that are part of coding bat and the [[https://apclassroom.collegeboard.org|apclassroom]] practice problems. 

There will be multiple choice and short answer questions on Monday Dec 16, and free response questions on Tuesday Dec 17.   (On the actual AP Exam, the multiple choice question pace is 2 minutes, 15 seconds each, and the free response questions pace is about 22 minutes each). The AP Exam will be at noon, Wednesday May 7, 2025. 

It is a good idea to review your code from homework and the labs, the [[http://www.skylit.com/javamethods/ppt/index.html|powerpoint slides]], as well as  [[https://runestone.academy/runestone/default/user/login|SFHS Java]] (runestone).
Don't forget that you don't need a computer to practice writing code at [[https://codingbat.com/java|https://codingbat.com/java]].  [[https://codingbat.com/java/Warmup-1|"Warm up"]] , [[https://codingbat.com/java/Logic-1|"logic"]], [[https://codingbat.com/java/String-1| String-1]], [[https://codingbat.com/java/String-2| String-2]], [[https://codingbat.com/java/String-3| String-3]], [[https://codingbat.com/java/Array-1|Array-1]], [[https://codingbat.com/java/Array-2|Array-2]], [[https://codingbat.com/java/Array-3|Array-3]], and [[https://codingbat.com/java/AP-1|AP-1]] are good categories to practice.  

To practice free response questions try 

  * [[https://myap.collegeboard.org/|2024 Practice Sessions 5, 7, and 8 ]] See ''2024 Review'' in class ''Topics'' (or go to AP Classroom and select ''AP Computer Sci A'', then ''Course Guide'', then ''Review'', then look for ''2024 AP-Exam On-Demand Review'')
  * [[https://myap.collegeboard.org/|Sem 1 FRQ Practice ]] @AP Classroom 
  * [[https://runestone.academy/runestone/default/user/login|SFHS Java (runestone)]] 1.10, 2.13, 3.11, 4.9, 5.13, 5,16, 6.7 (But anything from units 1-6 will help)
  * [[https://mathorama.com/wiki/doku.php?id=clock_frame_app|Making Clock subclasses]]
  * [[http://apcs.mathorama.com/index.php?n=Main.APQuestionScrambleWord|ScrambleWord AP Test Question]]
  * [[https://mathorama.com/apcs/pmwiki.php?n=Main.2013SkyView|SkyView]]
  * [[https://mathorama.com/wiki/doku.php?id=2019_frq_s|AP Questions from 2019]] 1,2,& 4 (skip #3 because it requires  chapter 11 stuff)

To Practice multiple choice questions try
 
  * [[https://myap.collegeboard.org/|2024 Practice Sessions 1, 2, 3 and 4]] @AP Classroom (Just skip Question 2 in seesion 3 since it is about Arraylists, our next chapter in the book)
  * [[https://myap.collegeboard.org/|Sem 1 MC Practice]] @APClassroom 
  * [[https://runestone.academy/runestone/default/user/login|SFHS Java]] 1.11, 2.15, 3.12, 4.10, 5.16, 6.8

Things to watch out for:
  - Constructors should initialize the class's  fields  (fields are ''private'', to encapsulate) 
  - When initialzing fields in a constructor, **Do not** mention its type- this accidentally makes a local variable instead of initializing the classes field that has the same name.
  - Remember to make fields ''private'' and methods ''public'', 
  - Remember local variables are **never** public nor private
  - Remember method names should use () for the parameter list, even if there are no parameters
  - Watch for dangling else statements (p 148) - without brackets, the last ''else'' belongs to the previous ''if''
  - **Do not** add a ''System.out.print'' when no printing is requested (This can be a 1 or 2 point **Extraneous code that causes side effect** penalty on the AP Exam)
  - **Do not** use local variables before first declaring them ( also a AP scoring penalty).  
  - Variables are declared ONLY ONCE, not every time.
  - **Do not** assign a value to a parameter inside a method unless you are asked to (also a AP scoring penalty called **Destruction of data**)
  - **Never** use ''return'' in a constructor
  - Remember to ''return'' something of the same type as a method's header. 
  - **Do not** ''return'' something when writing a ''void'' method ( a method that isn't supposed to return something (This too has a AP scoring penalty)
 
Finally, please remember to get a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast!
Good Luck!

PS: I have found other helpful free online tutorials for the Basics at [[https://www.learnjavaonline.org/| LearnJavaOnline.com]].