5 Steps to a 5: AP Computer Science A 2019

by Dean R. Johnson, Carol A. Paymer, Aaron P. Chamberlain

Overview

A PERFECT PLAN FOR THE PERFECT SCORE


Score-Raising Features Include:
•3 full-length practice exams
•Hundreds of practice exercises with thorough answer explanations
•Comprehensive overview of the AP Computer Science A exam format
•AP scoring guideline for the free-response section of the practice exams
•Two full sections devoted to algorithm writing and two levels of sample questions for each Java concept (basic & advanced)
•Clear and complete explanations for all multiple-choice questions, free-response problems, as well as the Java code solutions
•Demonstrations of the multiple ways to solve problems by providing alternate solutions to many free-response questions
•Specific common errors section for each free-response question as well as driver code programs for selected free-response questions
FREE AP Planner app that delivers a customizable study schedule for tests in the book, and extra practice questions to your mobile devices (see the last page of the books for details)
The 5-Step Plan:
Step 1: Set up your study plan with three model schedules
Step 2: Determine your readiness with an AP-style Diagnostic Exam
Step 3: Develop the strategies that will give you the edge on test day
Step 4: Review the terms and concepts you need to achieve your highest score
Step 5: Build your confidence with full-length practice exams

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781260122640
Publisher:	McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing
Publication date:	07/27/2018
Pages:	512
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Dean Robert Johnson and Aaron P. Chamberlain teach AP Computer Science in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
Carol A. Paymer teaches AP Computer Science in Moraga, California.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

About the Authors xiii

Introduction xv

The Five-Step Program xix

Step 1 Set Up Your Study Program

1 What You Need to Know About the AP Computer Science A Exam 3

Background Information 3

Frequently Asked Questions About the Exam 4

2 How to Plan Your Time 9

Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Computer Science A Exam 9

Calendars for Preparing for Each of the Plans 11

Step 2 Determine Your Test Readiness

3 Take a Diagnostic Exam 17

Using the Diagnostic Exam 17

AP Computer Science A Diagnostic Exam, Part I 23

AP Computer Science A Diagnostic Exam, Part II 37

Diagnostic Exam Answers and Explanations 44

Step 3 Develop Strategies for Success

4 Strategies to Help You Do Your Best on the Exam 61

Strategies for the Multiple-Choice Section 62

Strategies for the Free-Response Section 63

Step 4 Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

Concept 0 Background on Software Development 69

What Is Java? 69

What Is a Software Developer? 70

What Is OOP (Object-Oriented Programming)? 71

Viewing the World Through the Eyes of a Software Developer 71

For the Good of All Humankind 71

Choosing Your IDE 72

Hello World 72

Rapid Review 73

Concept 1 Fundamentals of Programming 75

Introduction 76

Syntax 76

The Console Screen 76

Primitive Variables 77

Mathematical Operations 80

Modifying Number Variables 81

Relational Operators 84

Logical Operations 85

Conditional Statements 87

Looping Statements 90

Bases Other Than Decimal 98

Commenting Your Code 99

Types of Errors 100

Rapid Review 102

Review Questions 104

Answers and Explanations 110

Concept 2 Classes and Objects (Basic Version) 117

Overview of the Relationship Between Classes and Objects 118

The class Declaration 118

Instance Variables 119

Constructors 119

Methods 121

Putting It All Together: The Circle and CircleRunner Classes 123

Understanding the Keyword new When Constructing an Object 125

The Reference Variable Versus the Actual Object 126

The null Reference 127

Rapid Review 128

Review Questions 130

Answers and Explanations 132

Concept 3 The string Class 135

The string Variable 135

The string Object 136

A Visual Representation of a string Object 137

String Concatenation 137

The Correct Way to Compare Two string Objects 138

Important string Methods 139

A string Is Immutable 143

Escape Sequences 143

Rapid Review 144

Review Questions 145

Answers and Explanations 148

Concept 4 The Math, Integer, and Double Classes 151

The Java API and the AP Computer Science A Exam Subset 152

The Math Class 152

The Integer Class 155

The Double Class 156

Summary of the integer and Double Classes 157

Rapid Review 157

Review Questions 158

Answers and Explanations 161

Concept 5 Data Structures 165

What Is a Data Structure? 166

The Array 167

The 2-D Array 172

The ArrayList 176

Important ArrayList Methods 178

Rapid Review 183

Review Questions 186

Answers and Explanations 190

Concept 6 Algorithms (Basic Version) 195

How We Use Algorithms 196

Why Algorithms Are Important 196

Algorithm Versus Pseudocode Versus Real Java Code 196

The Swap Algorithm 197

The Copy Algorithm for the Array and ArrayList 197

The Sequential Search Algorithm 199

The Accumulate Algorithm 201

The Find-Highest Algorithm 203

Rapid Review 206

Review Questions 207

Answers and Explanations 209

Concept 7 Classes and Objects (Advanced Version) 215

Parameters 216

Overloaded Constructors 219

Overloaded Methods 220

Static, static, static 221

Data Encapsulation 224

Scope 224

Documentation 225

The Keyword this 227

IllegalArgumentException 228

Rapid Review 228

Review Questions 230

Answers and Explanations 235

Concept 8 Inheritance and Polymorphism 239

Inheritance 240

Polymorphism 243

The object Class 249

Rapid Review 251

Review Questions 253

Answers and Explanations 258

Concept 9 The abstract class and the interface 261

The abstract class 262

The interface 265

Rapid Review 270

Review Questions 271

Answers and Explanations 276

Concept 10 Recursion 279

Recursion Versus Looping 280

The Base Case 281

Beginner Example: The Factorial Recursive Method 281

Advanced Example: The Fibonacci Recursive Method 284

Rapid Review 286

Review Questions 286

Answers and Explanations 290

Concept 11 Algorithms (Advanced Version) 293

The Accumulate Advanced Algorithm 294

The Find-Highest Advanced Algorithm 298

The Connect-Four Advanced Algorithm 302

The Twitter-Sentiment-Analysis Advanced Algorithm 306

Rapid Review 309

Review Questions 309

Answers and Explanations 311

Concept 12 Sorting Algorithms and the Binary Search 313

Background on Sorting Data 313

Insertion Sort 314

Selection Sort 316

Merge Sort 317

Binary Search 319

Rapid Review 322

Review Questions 323

Answers and Explanations 325

Concept 13 Seeing the Big Picture: Design 329

The Software Development Cycle 330

Designing Class Hierarchy 331

Testing 332

Rapid Review 334

Review Questions 335

Answers and Explanations 336

Step 5 Building Your Test-Taking Confidence

AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 1 339

AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 1, Part I (Multiple Choice) 341

AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 1, Part II (Free Response) 362

Practice Exam 1 Answers and Explanations, Part I (Multiple Choice) 375

Practice Exam 1 Answers and Explanations, Part II (Free Response) 387

Scoring Worksheet 402

AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 2 403

AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 2, Part I (Multiple Choice) 405

AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 2, Part II (Free Response) 432

Practice Exam 2 Answers and Explanations, Part I (Multiple Choice) 448

Practice Exam 2 Answers and Explanations, Part II (Free Response) 458

Scoring Worksheet 476

Appendix 477

Quick Reference Guide 479

Free-Response Scoring Guidelines 481

List of Keywords in Java 483

List of Required Runtime Exceptions 485

Common Syntax Errors for Beginning Java Programmers 487

Online Resources 489