Customer Reviews

Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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!

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.

I took the APCS AB Exam and got a 5. My teacher did NOT know any of AB material. After using this incredible book by the Litvins, in addition to the Barron's Teukolsky review book, I was incredibly prepared. Highlights of this book: the Big-O notation of common algorithms and practice tests. I recommend using the Barron's Teukolsky book to learn the material (if you don't already know it) first, then use this to review the material, using the Barron's Teukolsky book's practice exams, and then using this book's practice exams. The practice tests in this book were HARDER THAN THE AP EXAM for me.

I give my highest recommendation for this outstanding review book.

Let me start off by saying that I got a 5 on the APCS AB exam in 2001 and we used Litvin's C++ for You++ as well as this review book. It gives good practice part II questions (The radix sort question was almost exactly like the AP question), but the multiple choice questions are too long and more difficult than the actual AP questions. They also didn't match up in quantity - there were more Big-O questions on the AP and fewer in the book, while there were more stack and queue questions in the book and fewer on the AP. The explanations for the sample questions scattered throughout the chapter are good, but the typical student would have been unable to draw the conclusion reached by Litvin by only reading the text before the question. Much better than C++ for You++ as a textbook, but as a review book it fails to prepare a student for the Multiple Choice section of the test.

I found the book very useful. I read through the whole book the weekend before the test. This was my only preparation. I didn't even take the class in school. But I got my 5 on the test. I already know and use C++, but this book was perfect for bringing me up to speed for what was on the test.

This is a wonderful book: my students loved it. They have a Java version now (Be Prepared for the AP CS Exam in Java, ISBN 0965485358), which is completely rewritten for the new exams in Java. The Marine Biology case study chapter, which used to be online for this book, is included in the Java version.

I had high hopes for this book. My teacher isn't very good, but I'm really good at java programming so I thought I would get a 3 or 4 even though I'm only a sophomore. I got my score today and I got a disappointing 1! The book doesn't really review that well and it combines A and AB into a small book. It had alot of info which is included on the reference card of the ap test. I stressed studying this stuff too much when it's included on the test. Skip this one and buy another. I'm taking AB next year and I'm going to find another book.

I used the textbook written by the same author in class, which was one of the most dense, example-less books I've ever read. The prep book is slightly better, explaining things clearly and briefly, but sometimes it does lack in depth. It should review more of the basics, even if they are elementary, such as how to write functions, or the order of accessing multiple functions. It was annoying to have to go online in the middle of a practice test to get the Marine Bio Case Study questions. But what really bothered me was that there were no EXPLANATIONS for the practice test multiple choice questions, only a list of one-line hints for about 10 out of 40 questions. I really can't learn from mistakes if they don't explain why the answers are right/wrong.

I purchased this book and (with much frustration) tried to plod my way through APCS material. Frankly, this is a terrible book! It doesn't give an adequate review over the material needed. Also, it doesn't have nearly as many review problems as the Barron's book. Another thing, this book has NO FREE RESPONSE practice nor does it have the marine biology case study (they refer you to their web-site instead). I highly recomend purchasing Barron's review guide by Roselyn Teukolsky. It [the Barron's book]is exponentially superior.