23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Book Is God-Sent..., August 18, 2000
This review is from: Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam (Paperback)
I have absolutely no idea what I would have done without this book, or what I would have gotten on the test(probably too horrible to think about). Do not even think about getting any other prep book for the AP Computers Exam without getting this one first(unless Barron's or Princeton Review decides to come out with one, but even then...). I started studying about six days before the actual test. After being fed up with my horrible teacher(never reviewed and did absolutely nothing except play computer games the two months before the test) and REA's horrendous prep book(never get...see my review on its page for the reasons why), I armed myself with a print-out of the 100 page or so case study released by the college board, and this book. For some miraculous reason, I not only passed, but I passed with a four. Pretty good for six days of learning a year's worth of material huh?=)
But anyways, since you're interested about this book, and not me, here are some wonderful reasons why this book is so absolutely wonderful -
1. Everything is explained so clearly and nicely. No complex wording, no flowery speech, just what you need to know.
2. It's brief, concise, and to the point.
3. Its sample questions basically teach you what tricks you need to watch out for, and believe me, there isn't a trickier AP test out there in terms of the multiple choice part.
4. The sample tests are harder than the actual AP test. This was the first AP test that I had ever taken and I was totally nervous for it. But once I started working on it, I was like, wow, this is just like what was in the book, only easier.
5. In terms of my test, there wasn't a subject covered on the test that wasn't in this book nor was there a subject in this book that wasn't on the test. That's how accurate it was.
I cannot say enough how helpful this book was. Maria Litvin, you're seriously the best! Anyone who's taking the test and isn't familiar with the material on like a professional level or something, needs this book!
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26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stunning APCS review book, January 28, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam (Paperback)
This is a wonderful review book for the AP Computer Science Exam. Not only does it include the requisite content -- an overview of the AP C++ subset -- but it also contains 52 example multiple choice questions in the text itself, the answers to which are explained in detail.
In addition, four complete sample exams are provided: two for the A course and two for the AB. What sets these apart from other review books (and, indeed, from the exam itself) is the fact that there is no repetition between the four exams: 160 total multiple choice test questions and 16 total extended response questions (40 m/c and 4 extended response per test).
The best part of the book, however, is that it separates the static content -- the AP subset -- from the dynamic content. The Case Study changes every few years, and each year's test brings new extended response questions. In order to remain current, the last two chapters of the already hefty book exist only on the companion web page:
skylit.com/beprepared
These chapters deal exhaustively with the case study (currently Large Integer, but that should be replaced next year) and an analysis of solutions to the 1999 extended response questions. The web site also contains the last four multiple choice and one extended response question for each of the four sample tests -- these questions relate to the case study, and will likewise change in a year's time.
I'm delighted to have copies to use with my students. Highly recommended!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
By far the best APCS review book, April 7, 2001
This review is from: Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam (Paperback)
As a high school computer science teacher, I have looked at all the APCS review books around, and I can tell you with confidence that this book is unquestionably the best preparation for the AP Computer Science exam. It offers a solid review of all the APCS material; especially impressive is the thorough and creative review of the marine biology case study on the website. The book also has plenty of review exercises and four complete practice exams, including free-response questions. Simply put, those of my students who used this book did the best on the exam.
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