11 AP Computer Science Principles Study Tips : How to Get a 4 or 5 in 2022 | Albert

Albert.io
16 Mar 202108:55
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video offers 11 study tips to excel in the AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) exam. It emphasizes the importance of performing well on the multiple-choice section, which consists of 70 questions worth 70% of the total score. The video suggests focusing on the five big ideas that cover 85% of the exam content, using multiple-choice strategies like guessing and process of elimination, and familiarizing oneself with the College Board's question phrasing. For performance tasks, tips include collaborating with peers, choosing an interesting problem, covering all requirements, using video editing software effectively, writing succinct responses, and understanding the scoring guidelines. The video also recommends reviewing sample student portfolios for insight into grading and encourages the use of Albert for practice.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Start with multiple-choice tips: For the AP CSP exam, you have 120 minutes to answer 70 questions, which constitute 70% of your score.
  • 🎯 Focus on big ideas: Understanding the five big ideas related to algorithms, programming, data, and computing impacts can cover 85% of the multiple-choice content.
  • 🤔 Use multiple-choice strategies: Always guess on every question, as there's no penalty for wrong answers on AP exams.
  • ⏱️ Time management: Allocate nearly two minutes per question and use active reading techniques to manage time effectively.
  • 📈 Process of elimination: Improve your guessing accuracy by eliminating incorrect answer choices.
  • 📈 Familiarize with question phrasing: Review sample questions and use resources like Albert to get accustomed to the way questions are asked.
  • 👥 Collaborate with peers: Engage in collaborative work to gain new ideas and perspectives for performance tasks.
  • 🤩 Choose a task you're interested in: Since you'll invest significant time, pick a problem that genuinely interests you.
  • 📋 Cover all requirements: Ensure your performance task meets all specified criteria, including input, data collection, and output instructions.
  • 🎬 Prepare video editing: Decide on your video editing software and storyboard your project summary to meet the one-minute maximum requirement.
  • ✍️ Write succinct responses: For the written responses, be concise and assume the reader has a background in computer science.
  • 📊 Understand scoring: Reference the College Board's scoring guidelines to know how your performance task will be evaluated.
  • 📚 Review sample portfolios: Study past student work to understand grading criteria and common mistakes to avoid.
Q & A

  • What is the duration and question count for the multiple-choice section of the AP Computer Science Principles exam?

    -The multiple-choice section of the AP Computer Science Principles exam consists of 70 questions that must be answered within 120 minutes.

  • How does the scoring work for the multiple-choice section of the AP CSP exam?

    -Each of the 70 questions in the multiple-choice section is worth 1% of the overall exam score, contributing to 70% of the total exam score.

  • What are the five big ideas in Computer Science Principles that students should focus on?

    -The five big ideas in Computer Science Principles are related to algorithms, programming, data, and the impacts of computing. Focusing on these areas can cover 85% of the multiple-choice section content.

  • Why is it important to guess on multiple-choice questions even if you don't know the answer?

    -It is important to guess on multiple-choice questions because the College Board does not deduct points for incorrect answers on AP exams; points are only earned for correct answers.

  • What is the process of elimination (POE) and how can it help in the multiple-choice section?

    -The process of elimination (POE) involves systematically ruling out incorrect answer choices to increase the likelihood of selecting the correct one, even if only one incorrect option can be eliminated.

  • How much time should one ideally spend on each question in the 70-question section of the AP CSP exam?

    -With 120 minutes allocated for 70 questions, ideally, one should spend approximately two minutes on each question.

  • What is a recommended strategy for approaching the multiple-choice section of the AP CSP exam?

    -A recommended strategy includes actively reading the questions by circling or underlining key phrases, guessing on every question, and familiarizing oneself with the way the College Board phrases questions.

  • Why is collaboration with peers important when preparing for the performance tasks in the AP CSP exam?

    -Collaboration with peers can expose students to new ideas and perspectives, enhancing their understanding and approach to the performance tasks.

  • What is a key consideration when choosing a challenge or problem for the performance task section of the AP CSP exam?

    -It is important to choose a challenge or problem that genuinely interests the student, as this will likely lead to a more engaging and invested approach to the project.

  • What are the key components that a performance task should cover according to the requirements?

    -A performance task should cover instructions for input, collection of data, lists of procedure, sequencing, selection, iteration, and instructions for output.

  • What is the maximum duration for the video component of the performance task, and what are the other video requirements?

    -The video should be a maximum of one minute, with no voice narration, demonstrating input, output, and functionality, and should be in the proper size and format as required.

  • How can students prepare for the written responses in the performance task section of the AP CSP exam?

    -Students should practice writing succinct responses, assuming the reader has a background in computer science, focusing on explaining their work, how the program accomplishes the task, and demonstrating an understanding of the program's functionality within a 750-word limit.

  • What resource can students use to understand how performance tasks are scored in the AP CSP exam?

    -Students can refer to the previously released scoring guidelines by the College Board and review sample student portfolios to understand the grading criteria and common mistakes to avoid.

Outlines
00:00
📚 AP CSP Exam Preparation Tips

This paragraph introduces the video's purpose, which is to provide 11 study tips for the AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) exam. It emphasizes the importance of the multiple-choice section, which comprises 70 questions worth 70% of the exam score. The video is sponsored by Albert, an online platform offering practice for AP exams. The paragraph also suggests focusing on the 'big ideas' in CSP, which cover 85% of the multiple-choice content. Lastly, it advises using well-known multiple-choice strategies, such as guessing on all questions and employing the process of elimination.

05:01
🤝 Collaborative and Project-Based Tips for AP CSP Performance Tasks

The second paragraph focuses on tips for succeeding in the performance tasks section of the AP CSP exam. It advises students to collaborate with peers, choose a challenge that interests them, and ensure their task meets all requirements, including coding instructions for various programming concepts. The paragraph also emphasizes the importance of early and efficient use of video editing software, practicing succinct written responses within a word limit, understanding the scoring guidelines, and learning from sample student portfolios. It concludes with a reminder about the changes in the performance task structure starting from 2021 and the value of reviewing past exams and portfolios for insights into common mistakes.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡AP Computer Science Principles test
The AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) test is a standardized examination offered by the College Board for high school students. It covers a broad range of topics in computer science, including programming, algorithms, data, and the impacts of computing. In the video, the AP CSP test is the central focus, with the presenter offering study tips and strategies to help students achieve a high score.
💡Multiple choice questions
Multiple choice questions are a type of question where respondents are asked to select the correct answer from a list of possible answers. In the context of the AP CSP exam, these questions constitute 70% of the exam score and include both single and multi-select types. The video emphasizes the importance of performing well on these questions and provides strategies for tackling them.
💡Big ideas
In the AP CSP curriculum, 'big ideas' refer to the fundamental concepts that form the core of computer science principles. These include algorithms, programming, data, and the impacts of computing. The video suggests that focusing on these big ideas can cover a significant portion of the exam content, highlighting their importance in studying for the AP CSP test.
💡Process of elimination (POE)
The process of elimination (POE) is a strategy used when taking multiple-choice exams where students eliminate the answer choices that they know are incorrect. This technique helps to narrow down the options and increases the chances of selecting the correct answer. The video recommends using POE to boost the likelihood of answering questions correctly on the AP CSP exam.
💡Performance tasks
Performance tasks are a component of the AP CSP exam that require students to demonstrate their understanding and skills through practical application, often in the form of a project or presentation. The video provides several tips for excelling in performance tasks, such as collaborating with peers, choosing an interesting problem, and ensuring all requirements are met.
💡Collaboration
Collaboration in the context of the AP CSP exam refers to the act of working with peers to complete tasks or projects. The video suggests that collaborating can introduce new ideas and perspectives, which can be beneficial when preparing for performance tasks that may involve group work.
💡Video editing software
Video editing software is a type of application used to edit video footage, such as adding captions, changing the format or size, and ensuring the final product meets specific requirements. In the AP CSP performance task, students may need to use such software to create a summary video of their project, as mentioned in the video script.
💡Written responses
Written responses are a part of the AP CSP performance task where students must communicate their work in a concise manner. The video emphasizes the importance of writing succinctly, assuming the reader has a background in computer science, and focusing on explaining the program's functionality and the student's understanding of it.
💡Scoring guidelines
Scoring guidelines are the criteria established by the College Board to evaluate and grade student work for the AP CSP performance tasks. The video advises students to reference these guidelines to understand how their tasks will be scored and to avoid common mistakes that could lead to lost points.
💡Sample student portfolios
Sample student portfolios are collections of work from previous AP CSP students that have been graded. The video suggests reviewing these portfolios to understand how students were scored and to learn from their successes and mistakes. This can provide valuable insights into what the graders are looking for in a performance task.
💡Albert
Albert is an online platform mentioned in the video that offers practice questions and resources for students preparing for AP exams, including the AP CSP test. The video encourages students to create a free account on Albert to access practice materials and improve their preparation for the exam.
Highlights

This video provides 11 study tips to help score a four or five on the AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) exam.

Albert offers a free account for practicing AP CSP exam, accessible through the link in the video description.

The CSP exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions worth 70% of the exam score, with each question contributing 1%.

Understanding the five big ideas of Computer Science Principles can cover 85% of the multiple-choice content.

For time-pressed students, focus on areas more frequently tested in the CSP exam.

Employ multiple-choice strategies such as guessing for every question since no points are deducted for wrong answers.

Utilize process of elimination and think about the type of answer you're looking for to improve guessing accuracy.

Allocate approximately two minutes per question and actively read the multiple-choice section for better comprehension.

Familiarize yourself with the College Board's question phrasing by reviewing sample practice questions and using resources like Albert.

Collaborate with peers for performance tasks to gain new ideas and perspectives.

Choose a performance task challenge or problem that genuinely interests you to maintain engagement throughout the project.

Ensure the performance task meets all requirements, including input, data collection, and output instructions.

Storyboard your video before creating it to ensure it meets the one-minute maximum duration and other key requirements.

Practice writing succinct responses for the three written responses in the performance task, with a 750-word limit.

Understand the scoring guidelines by the College Board to avoid common mistakes and effectively demonstrate your program's functionality.

Review sample student portfolios to see how students were graded and learn from their successes and errors.

Since 2021, the AP CSP exam only includes a create performance task, not an explore section.

Albert provides access to thousands of practice questions for a 30-day trial for educators.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

15 AP Biology Study Tips: How to Get a 4 or 5 in 2022 | Albert

15 AP English Language Tips: How to Get a 4 or 5 in 2022 | Albert

15 Must Know AP Computer Science A Study Tips : How to Get a 4 or 5 in 2022 | Albert

15 Must Know AP Chemistry Study Tips | How to Get a 4 or 5 in 2022 | Albert

15 AP English Literature Tips: How to Get a 4 or 5 in 2022 | Albert

15 AP Physics 1 Tips: How to Get a 4 or 5 in 2022 | Albert

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
AP ExamStudy TipsMultiple ChoicePerformance TasksComputer ScienceAlgorithmsProgrammingEducationalCollaborationVideo EditingExam StrategiesCollege BoardPractice QuestionsExam Preparation