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We are doing course selections for my senior year and I'm interested in taking AP Computer Science A online (school doesn't offer it). I have no prior programming experience so I ruled out AB. How hard is it to do this course without programming experience? (also it may be harder than usual considering I'm taking it online)
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AP Comp Sci A is one of the easier AP exams, I think. Although I heard the reworking it (dunno if that'll come into effect next year). I had a lot of programming experience going into it, but in helping people who didn't, you can probably pull at least a 3 for sure without any, and if you have a lot of computer experience, probably a 4. If you just learn Java well, you should do fine 
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I took the AP CS A course when I was in high school, back when it was still C++. The AP exam was an easy 5 for me.
As far as I know, if you have a logical thought and a clear mind, it shouldn't be too hard.
Though I do feel that if you have an instructor it would definitely help you with your thought process in the beginning.
[Edit]
PS: FYI, I had absolutely no programming experience prior to that AP course.
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I took this course last year. I had a horrible teacher, but once you get the hang of the logic, it's very easy.
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Isn't the Java syntax hard?
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i took the class when they made the transition from c++ to java. the class wasnt easy but definately not hard.
although i did spend most of my time in class playing sc.....
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United States4991 Posts
Java syntax is pretty easy, as is the AP exam.
Also it's the sort of thing thing you can easily find help for.
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The problem with teaching java to people who don't know how to program is that they have to learn the class-object hierarchy before they even get to the basics such as loops, variables, operators, etc. which means that the learning curve is much steeper. Libraries for everything exist in java, which makes the course research rather than critical thinking unless the use of libraries is explicitly prohibited. Also, after they've learned the basics, there isn't much control over the program, as memory allocation and pointers aren't used in java. IMO C++ is better because you can learn the basics first, then move on to OOP, and then work "closer to the metal" so to speak. Then again if I designed the class, I'd use D, because it's cutting edge and fixes lots of archaic methodology in C++.
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United States24802 Posts
I'd say you want to have some kind of experience before you start an AP computer science course. I found AB difficult even though I did well in the in-class projects. I would have found A relatively easy, but only because of my previous year of C and java.
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I took A with no experience when it was c++ and got a 3, but then again we would play games most of the time
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EPT
