Tips and my Experience in AP Computer Science Principles 

Learning how to code

The Workload

The amount of work that we get in this class is not a lot. We usually have enough time to complete all of our assignments during class time. For the first semester most of our work is on Code HS. We would do around 2-3 lessons each class period in code HS. Anything that we did not complete in class would become our homework. We also get a flash card assignment for each unit. We have to write the vocabulary words on one side of the flash card and write the definiton on the other side. This assignment was really easy and for bigger units the flash cards could be done in 20 or less minutes. CodeHS: link. Tips would be to not procrastinate.

Recomedations for next year students

The class is not too difficult. Do not stress over this class. As long as you finish your work on time and you don’t get behind you will be perfectly fine. It is easy to get an A for the entire year. Even the semester exams. If you only care about the grade then this is a good class and you even get to learn how to code which is really cool. This is a good elective class for sophomores and juniors becuase they can’t have any open periods. If you need an extra elective then this is a good class.

How to Study for the AP test

If you choose this class for the grade do not stress over the AP test. You should still study to get a four or five on the AP test. In AP Classroom you will take practice tests of past AP tests. Once you complete them you will be given a score. You will also see a report of what standards you still need to proactice on. All of the standards are assciated with about 3 videos. As part of studying you should look at the standards that you did poorly in and watch the videos.

You should also take notes on parts of the videos that you find to be important. In class you will have time to do this but I recomend to study at home as well. This are some important tips. In class you will also do pratice tests on the writing part. The writing part consists of four questions. These questions will be answerd byt code snipits of you final project.

How to do well in the AP test

Some tips are to study for the test. You will also make a project for the AP test. You have to make something out of code. It is important to study becuase on paper it is not hard to get a 5 on exam.

Create Preformance Task

For this project you will code something useing everything that you learned. This can literaly be anything that you want. You could make a story, or color filters. You could even make a chess game. This project has to have some certian things. You have to have a procedure and lists, and should include parameters. This project is fun and you will have plenty of time to complete this.

My project was a color filter. My code would include three color filters which you code choose from. This would ask the user to choose a number from 1, 2, 3 and would choose that filter. Then my code would ask the user if they want to rotate the image. The user would put in any number and the image would rotate the number in degrees. Tips.