Mastering AP CS A FRQs: What to Expect & How This Series Helps You
AP Computer Science A is an introductory college-level programming course that focuses on object-oriented programming using Java. It is offered in high schools across the United States and is widely taken by students aiming to get college credit or a head start in computer science.
The exam includes two main parts:
- ✅ Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) – 40 questions
- ✅ Free Response Questions (FRQs) – 4 in-depth Java programming problems
What Are FRQs, and Why Are They So Important?
FRQs test your ability to:
- Write correct and efficient Java code
- Implement methods or classes
- Solve problems involving arrays, ArrayLists, inheritance, logic, and algorithms
- Follow the AP Java subset and style guidelines
You’re expected to write real Java code — not just pseudocode — and show clear understanding of class design, loops, conditionals, method calls, and more.
What You’ll Find in This Blog Series
This blog will cover selected past FRQs from official AP exams, starting from the most recent problems (like 2024). Each post will include:
- 📄 A paraphrased version of the problem
- 💡 Explanation of the concept involved
- 🧪 The complete Java solution
- 🧠 A walkthrough of the logic and test output
You’ll also find links to the full code on our GitHub repository, including test classes to try the code yourself.
Useful Resources to Help You Prepare
- 🔗 AP Computer Science A Course Page (College Board)
- 📄 Java Quick Reference Sheet (PDF)
- 💾 Past FRQs with Scoring Guidelines
How to Use This Blog
Each post is standalone. You can:
- Browse through specific years or problem types
- Read explanations and run the code on your local machine or in an IDE like IntelliJ or Eclipse
- Share the posts with friends or students preparing for AP CS A
If you’re a teacher, feel free to use this as a supplementary resource for your class.
What’s Coming Next
📌 First FRQ Post: 2024 Problem 1 – The Feeder Class
Coming up next, we’ll dive into Problem 1 of the 2024 FRQ set, which involves designing and implementing a class with some specific behaviors. Stay tuned!
Got feedback or suggestions? I’d love to hear from you:
📬 support@codeboid.com