2011 AP Computer Science Survivors - Unite!

Yacova · 05-03-2011, 05:51 PM

Remember, do not share your knowledge of the multiple choice questions and wait 48 hours before spouting out all the answers for the free-response.

Other than that, if you took the 2011 AP Computer Science Test, please share your experience in this thread.

IndestructibleSD · 05-03-2011, 05:57 PM

I thought the multiple choice was very fair (some might even call it easy). The low quantity of questions relating to certain topics was surprising (I'm talking to you, recursion). The FRQs were interesting and for the most part I found them fun, except for the GridWorld FRQ. I just harvested points because I figured my attention was going to better use on the other 3 FRQs.

Yacova · 05-03-2011, 06:00 PM

Using some practice tests I took as comparison, yes the AP was I would call medium. I did not have time for the last part of the last free response. But my greatest fear was that we might get one about writing a mergesort/selection sort/insertion sort in the free-response. I would have been done for if that was on there.

whschaps · 05-03-2011, 06:44 PM

Multiple choice was easy, possibly 38/40.
short answer was easy, put i spent like half the time on the grid world frq, i couldn't solve the last one for both a and b.

Recoveringhobo · 05-03-2011, 09:19 PM

I failed the 2-dimensional array FRQ. The multiple choice was much harder than the past one that I took as a practice test.

bunsofsteel · 05-03-2011, 09:53 PM

Gridworld FRQ was hell. I really hope the curve is skewed this year, i'm pretty sure the Gridworld FRQ average is gonna be less than 4. Multiple choice was alright, just hate the I, II, or III ones.

Instance · 05-03-2011, 10:38 PM

Honestly, I think this test was hard... The multiple choice questions were long, and a majority of them involved reading and interpreting page-length code segments, to save time I ended up skimming each piece of code and making educated guesses on a lot of the questions. On a few I just plain guessed. Realistically I probably got around 20-30 right

In my opinion, the FRQ's were easier, but I still wouldn't call them easy. They were challenging, but I think they were do-able to a certain extent

As a whole, this test was HARDER than the other practice AP's where I got around 30-35 MC, and most if not full credit on each FRQ. But, it was a tiny bit easier than the Barron's tests/review questions which were for the most part ridiculously hard and involved. Going into the test (based on the prior AP tests I did), I thought that it was a good possibility that I would get a 5. However, the test was comparatively difficult and I have the feeling I missed an opportunity for a 5, and now I'm hoping for a 4, fearing a 3. I never thought I would be that pressed for time that I had to guess and answer questions without at least some confidence, I'm sad and disappointed.

Lawliet99 · 05-03-2011, 10:55 PM

compared to barron's, i thought it fairly easy. I thought id get my butt whooped on the multiple choice, but it seemed easier. The things that barron focused on in their tests didnt weigh with as much importance in the other test. I'm going to guess if my logic was right on the frq's, i have a solid upper 4/5.

and to the guy that said the gridworld frq will probably average 4, im going to guess a little higher, but not too much. I'm more worried about the minor/major mistakes you can make which they dock you on each one.

ps. I HATE MYSTERY METHODS.

orzogen · 05-03-2011, 11:50 PM

I felt like the multiple choice was ok. Thinking back, I know I made a few stupid mistakes, so I'm guessing that I got anywhere from a 34- 37. That said, the questions were very long, and I took the entire amount of time. The FRQs were for the most part straightforward. The Grid World one was sort of confusing, and the last one was also a bit strange. Part A for the last one was pretty good, but I had to restart part B 2 or 3 times because I was not fully sure of what they wanted. I feel like I may have gotten a 5, but it is much more likely that I will get a 4.

chaseholl · 05-04-2011, 10:52 AM

I didn't take the test, but a friend who did said it was "fairly easy" and straightforward.

I did the GridWorld practice stuff for fun ... I just hate Java's interface. The UI is so nonstandard.

hahagooman · 05-05-2011, 12:30 AM

MC I thought was fairly straight forward. FRQ was definitly harder. First one was fine. Gridworld was, IMO, pretty easy. (I would say how I did it but I think that I'm not allowed to?) Third one messed me up due to a dumb misunderstanding. Fourth one took a long time but isn't too bad.

Lightning55 · 05-05-2011, 02:08 PM

I didn't think the test was too difficult. It seemed about right. It might just be me, but I don't remember anything about sorting at all. I think, overall, the gridworld frq was the most difficult by far. Every recursive question had the mystery method, which bothered me. Can they seriously not come up with a better name such as the enigma method or something? Still, I hope they curve it a bit more this year. It can't hurt if more of us get 5's right?

Z4C4TT4CK · 05-05-2011, 06:23 PM

Actually, you didn't need to do anything for the constructor. The constructor was inherited from the super class Critter and it is included by default. nothing needed to be written. Also, in the first multiple choice question, the if, else if, else if case worked as well as the if(a||b||c) case, correct?

Z4C4TT4CK · 05-05-2011, 08:49 PM

correct. Anyone remember what the answer to the short circuit question was?

Z4C4TT4CK · 05-05-2011, 09:13 PM

Also, there are different algorithms that you can use for the frq's that give the same answer, and receive full credit, right?