AP Computer Science A
Advanced Placement Computer Science A focusing on Java programming and object-oriented design.
Study Strategies
Reading and Understanding Code
Practice Makes Perfect
One of the best ways to prepare for AP Computer Science A is by reading lots of code! Don’t just write—analyze code samples, trace variables, and predict outputs before running the program.
Underline or highlight variable changes as you go.
- Watch for tricky logic in loops and conditionals.
- Try explaining code out loud as if teaching a friend.
These habits make it easier to tackle multiple-choice and free-response questions on the exam.
Examples
Tracing the value of a variable through several lines of code.
Predicting what a code snippet will print before running it.