AP Computer Science [Principles] in 9th grad help! [has programming experience, in +3 math track]

I would like to take AP Computer Science Principles in 9th grade. If you did the same, did you take any coding classes beforehand that were helpful? I know some basic Python and know some Arduino from my ROV team. I will be in Pre-Calculus Honors at the same time and very strong in math. Do most people take this class their freshman year? Do they then take AP Computer Science A sophomore year? Is that one much harder? Thanks for any advice you can offer!

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AP CS principles is intended to be similar to college courses which are gentle introductions to CS for non-CS majors and maybe-CS majors (committed CS majors usually start in a more intensive course, which sometimes is a course that AP CS A covers similar material to, but may be different). Such courses do not expect any prior computing experience. https://cs10.org is an example of such a college course.

Given your background, it does not look like AP CS principles should be difficult for you.

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Thank you! Very helpful.

Dumb question but is the CS10 Berkeley class anything like the CS50 Harvard class available via EdX?

It is different.

Seems that Harvard CS 50 is the beginning course for all, while UCB offers two entry levels of CS 10 and CS 61A, with the latter being for CS majors with prior computing experience recommended. Note that many colleges do vary in how they teach the entry level sequence of CS courses for CS majors.

You can search online for syllabus and course materials for each course.

Very doable… not difficult. The most important aspect of this AP class is to follow the rubric of the project EXACTLY. Do that and a 5 is guaranteed. Good luck!

My kid took AP CS Principles in 9th, kid had lots of self-taught coding, but never had taken a real class. There is no math, they had only taken Algebra. Might have been easiest class he has taken in HS, honestly. It is only AP open to 9th graders at their school, to give you an idea. Everyone in class got 4s and 5s I think on actual AP.

They went on to AP CS A in 10th, which was FAR harder…they aren’t sequential courses. CS A is a real intro to computer science/coding.

Have you checked to see which of AP computer anything will get you real college credit/units?

May I propose an alternative?
My S24 took all his computer classes at CC Starting Python in the 9th grade, then C++, Java. He then took three more classes in Business and Project Management and got a C++ Certificate. All 6 directly transfers to a CSU (we’re in CA). Two of these classes directly fulfill a programming req for UCLA and UCB according to Assist.org.

Best of all, he figured out he didn’t want to be a programmer and moved on.

Depending OPs school having an “AP” level class may be a boost to GPA and class rank (if applicable) so that may be why they want to take it. DE classes, in general, aren’t as highly-looked at for admissions as AP classes either.

So in other words it depends on what they want to accomplish. If they want to learn to program, I agree this isn’t the best way. If they want to look good in apps, this may be the best way. it is SUPER hard to know in 9th grade the kids application list and if it will count for school credit.

Everyone, thank you!!! Your advice is very helpful. I was wondering, do some students take AP Computer Science A in 9th grade and skip AP CS Principles all together?

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Each school’s rules are going to be different.

You can’t take CS A at my kids school as a 9th grader it is simply not allowed (and I don’t think it should be it was truly quite hard). However some 11th and 12th graders take AP CS A without ever having taken AP CS principles. It is not a pre-req at that school nor would I think the College Board imply it was.

That said, some HS may require it as a sequence, I can’t be sure. You will find some HS say you must take AP Calc AB and then AP Calc BC (as a sequence) and at some schools it is one class OR the other and you can’t do both :upside_down_face: Schools can do what they want.

As prior person said, CS Principles is kind of like computers for non-majors. AP CS A is an intro major course (ish). Different purposes. At my university, for example, the equivalent of principles wouldn’t count for a major class, only non-majors could take it. That doesn’t make it bad background or a bad class to take.

Also, remember for college admissions purposes focus your time/rigor on core courses, CS is really an elective.

thank you so much for answering my question, super helpful!

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Yes, this is very common. In fact, I don’t recommend AP CS Principles for the types of students who will be taking multiple AP classes per year and will be applying to top colleges. It is too slow and boring.

AP CS A is very much harder. Having done AP CS P won’t prepare you for it. Instead, focus on coding fundamentals and being familiar with the Java language.