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
Diagnostic Exam Answers and Explanations 43
Step 3 Develop Strategies for Success
4 Strategies to Help You Do Your Best on the Exam 59
Strategies for the Multiple-Choice Section 60
Strategies for the Free-Response Section 61
Step 4 Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High
Unit 0 Background on Software Development 67
What Is Java? 68
What Is a Software Developer? 68
What Is OOP (Object-Oriented Programming)? 69
Viewing the World Through the Eyes of a Software Developer 69
For the Good of All Humankind 69
Choosing Your IDE 70
HelloWorld 70
The Software Development Cycle 71
Designing Class Hierarchy 72
Testing 73
Rapid Review 75
Review Questions 75
Answers and Explanations 76
Unit 1 Primitive Types 77
Introduction 78
Syntax 78
The Console Screen 78
Primitive Variables 79
Mathematical Operations 82
Modifying Number Variables 83
Arithmetic Overflow 86
Types of Errors 87
Rapid Review 88
Review Questions 89
Answers and Explanations 91
Unit 2 Using Objects 93
The Java API and the AP Computer Science A Exam Subset 94
The String Variable 94
The String Object 95
A Visual Representation of a string Object 96
String Concatenation 96
The Correct Way to Compare Two string Objects 97
Important String Methods 97
A string Is Immutable 102
Escape Sequences 103
The Math Class 103
The Integer Class 105
The Double Class 107
Autoboxing and Unboxing 107
Summary of the Integer and Double Classes 108
Rapid Review 108
Review Questions 110
Answers and Explanations 113
Unit 3 Boolean Expressions and if Statements 117
Introduction 118
Relational Operators 118
Logical Operations 119
Precedence of Java Operators 122
Conditional Statements 122
Rapid Review 126
Review Questions 126
Answers and Explanations 129
Unit 4 Iteration 131
Introduction 132
Looping Statements 132
Standard Algorithms 139
Rapid Review 142
Review Questions 142
Answers and Explanations 147
Unit 5 Writing Classes 151
Overview of the Relationship Between Classes and Objects 152
The class Declaration 152
Instance Variables 153
Constructors 153
Methods 155
Putting It All Together: The circle and circleRunner Classes 158
Understanding the Keyword new When Constructing an Object 160
The Reference Variable Versus the Actual Object 161
The null Reference 162
Parameters 163
Overloaded Constructors 165
Overloaded Methods 166
Static, static, static 167
Data Encapsulation 170
Scope 171
Documentation 171
The Keyword this 174
IllegalArgumentException 175
Rapid Review 175
Review Questions 178
Answers and Explanations 184
Unit 6 Array 189
What Is a Data Structure? 190
The Array 191
How We Use Algorithms 196
Why Algorithms Are Important 197
Algorithm Versus Pseudocode Versus Real Java Code 197
Rapid Review 202
Review Questions 204
Answers and Explanations 208
Unit 7 ArrayList 213
The ArrayList 214
Important ArrayList Methods 216
Array vs ArrayList 221
The Accumulate Advanced Algorithm 221
The Find-Highest Advanced Algorithm 224
The Twitter-Sentiment-Analysis Advanced Algorithm 227
The Sequential (or Linear) Search Algorithm 230
Sorting Data 232
Insertion Sort 233
Selection Sort 235
Rapid Review 236
Review Questions 238
Answers and Explanations 242
Unit 8 2D Array 249
The 2D Array 249
More Algorithms 253
The Accumulate Algorithm 253
The Find-Highest Algorithm 254
The Connect-Four Advanced Algorithm 255
Rapid Review 259
Review Questions 260
Answers and Explanations 263
Unit 9 Inheritance 267
Inheritance 268
Polymorphism 272
The object Class 277
Rapid Review 280
Review Questions 281
Answers and Explanations 286
Unit 10 Recursion 289
Recursion Versus Looping 290
The Base Case 291
Merge Sort 296
Binary Search 298
Rapid Review 301
Review Questions 302
Answers and Explanations 306
Step 5 Building Your Test-Taking Confidence
AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 1 313
AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 1, Part I (Multiple Choice) 315
AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 1, Part II (Free Response) 336
Practice Exam 1 Answers and Explanations, Part I (Multiple Choice) 345
Practice Exam 1 Answers and Explanations, Part II (Free Response) 357
Scoring Worksheet 369
AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 2 371
AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 2, Part I (Multiple Choice) 373
AP Computer Science A: Practice Exam 2, Part II (Free Response) 397
Practice Exam 2 Answers and Explanations, Part I (Multiple Choice) 408
Practice Exam 2 Answers and Explanations, Part II (Free Response) 419
Scoring Worksheet 431
Appendix 433
Java Quick Reference 435
Free-Response Scoring Guidelines 437
List of Keywords in Java 439
List of Required Runtime Exceptions 441
Language Features and Other Testable Topics 443
Common Syntax Errors for Beginning Java Programmers 447
Online Resources 449
