💻 AP Computer Science A – 2025 Cheat Sheet | @thinkfiveable | -> See complete study guides

🐒Unit 1 – Primitive Types 📱Unit 2 – Using Objects ✅Unit 3 – Boolean Expressions & if Statements
●​ Boolean expressions evaluate to either true or false, and are used
●​ Create objects: Know how to create objects using the new in if statements to determine whether to execute a block of code.
keyword, initialize object fields using constructors and setters, Make sure you understand how to create boolean expressions using
and use the this keyword to refer to the current object. comparison operators (such as ==, !=, <, >, <=, and >=) and logical
●​ Classes and objects to solve problems: Practice creating classes operators (such as &&, ||, and !).
and objects to model real-world concepts and use them to ●​ If statements: if statements are used to control the flow of
●​ byte: a signed 8-bit integer. Its range is from -128 to 127. implement solutions to problems. execution in a program. Make sure you understand how to use if
●​ short: a signed 16-bit integer. Its range is from -32,768 to ●​ Inheritance and polymorphism: Understand how to use statements to execute different blocks of code based on different
32,767. inheritance to inherit fields and methods from a parent class, and conditions.
●​ int: a signed 32-bit integer. Its range is from -2,147,483,648 how to use polymorphism to allow objects to be treated as ●​ Else and else if statements: else and else if statements can be
to 2,147,483,647. instances of their parent class or any of their implemented used to execute different blocks of code when the condition in the if
●​ long: a signed 64-bit integer. Its range is from interfaces. statement is false.
-9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807. ●​ Interfaces: Understand how to create interfaces and use them in ●​ Nest if statements: You can nest if statements inside other if
●​ float: a single-precision 32-bit floating point number. Its your code to define a set of methods that a class must statements to test for multiple conditions.
range is from 1.4E-45 to 3.4028235E38. implement. ●​ Short-circuit evaluation: When using logical operators such as &&
●​ double: a double-precision 64-bit floating point number. Its ●​ Access modifiers: Understand the different access modifiers and ||, the right-hand side of the expression may not be evaluated
range is from 4.9E-324 to 1.7976931348623157E308. (private, protected, and public) and how they control the visibility if the left-hand side determines the outcome of the expression. This
●​ boolean: a boolean type, which can have either a true or and accessibility of fields and methods in a class. is known as short-circuit evaluation.
false value. ●​ ArrayLists and other collections: Understand how to use ●​ Ternary operator: The ternary operator (?:) can be used as a
●​ char: a single 16-bit Unicode character. Its range is from ArrayLists and other collections to store and manipulate groups shorthand for if-else statements when assigning a value to a
'\u0000' (or 0) to '\uffff' (or 65,535). of objects, including methods such as add(), remove(), and size(). variable.
●​ Object methods: Understand how to use object methods such ●​ Switch statements: switch statements can be used as an
as equals(), hashCode(), and toString() to compare objects, alternative to if-else statements when testing for multiple
generate hash codes, and convert objects to strings. conditions on a single variable.
●​ Static methods and variables: Understand how to use static ●​ Boolean variables: boolean variables can be used to simplify
methods and variables to define methods and fields that are boolean expressions and make code easier to read and understand.
associated with a class rather than with objects of the class.

🕹Unit 4 – Iteration ⚙️Unit 5 – Writing Classes ⌚️Unit 6 – Array

●​ Understand the different types of loops: 3 types of loops
in Java: while loops, do-while loops, and for loops.
●​ While loops and do while loops: while loops - used when ●​ The concept of classes and objects: A class is a template or ●​ The difference between an array and an ArrayList: An array is a
you want to execute a block of code repeatedly while a blueprint for creating objects, which are instances of a class. fixed-size collection of elements of the same type, while an ArrayList
certain condition is true. Do-while loops - similar to while Make sure you understand the difference between a class and an is a dynamic-size collection of elements that can be of different
loops, but guarantee that the loop body will execute at object, and how to create objects in Java. types. Make sure you understand the differences between these
least once before checking the loop condition. ●​ Define class attributes and methods: Class attributes are two data structures and how to use them in Java.
●​ For loops: Are used when you want to execute a block of variables that define the state of an object, while class methods ●​ Declare and initialize arrays: Arrays are declared with a specific
code a fixed number of times, or when iterating over a are functions that define the behavior of an object. Make sure size and type. Make sure you understand how to declare and
collection of objects. you understand how to define class attributes and methods, and initialize arrays in Java, and how to access and modify their
●​ Continue and break statements: continue is used to skip their data types and return types. elements.
over a single iteration of a loop, while break is used to exit ●​ Use constructors: Constructors are special methods that are ●​ Use loops with arrays: Loops are often used with arrays to iterate
the loop entirely. used to initialize the state of an object when it is created. Make over their elements. Make sure you understand how to use for and
●​ Nested loops: Can be used to iterate over multiple sure you understand how to define constructors and their while loops with arrays in Java.
dimensions of an array, or to generate all possible parameters. ●​ Use ArrayLists: ArrayLists are a more flexible alternative to arrays,
combinations of a set of variables. ●​ Use access modifiers: Access modifiers such as public, private, allowing you to add, remove, and modify elements dynamically.
●​ The scope of loop variables: Loop variables declared in a and protected are used to control the visibility of class attributes Make sure you understand how to declare and initialize ArrayLists,
for loop are only visible within the loop body, while and methods. Make sure you understand how to use access and how to use the various methods to manipulate them.
variables declared outside the loop can be accessed from modifiers to control access to class members. ●​ Use enhanced for loops: Enhanced for loops are a convenient way
anywhere in the program. ●​ Use inheritance: Inheritance allows you to create new classes to iterate over the elements of an array or an ArrayList. Make sure
●​ Efficient algorithms:When solving problems with loops, based on existing classes. This helps you to reuse code and to you understand how to use enhanced for loops in Java.
be sure to use efficient algorithms to minimize the number create a hierarchy of classes. Make sure you understand how to ●​ Use multidimensional arrays: Multidimensional arrays are arrays
of loop iterations required. create subclasses and how to override methods inherited from a of arrays. Make sure you understand how to declare, initialize, and
superclass. access elements of multidimensional arrays in Java.
 💻 AP Computer Science A – 2025 Cheat Sheet | @thinkfiveable | -> See complete study guides

💾Unit 7 – ArrayList 💻Unit 8 – 2D Array 👨‍👦‍👦Unit 9 – Inheritance

●​ Different types of searching and sorting algorithms:
There are various searching and sorting algorithms such
as linear search, binary search, selection sort, insertion ●​ Recursion: Recursion is a programming technique where a ●​ Understand the concept of two-dimensional arrays:
sort, bubble sort, and merge sort. Make sure you function calls itself. Make sure you understand how recursion Two-dimensional arrays are arrays that have both rows and
understand the concept behind each algorithm, and how works, and how it can be used to solve problems. columns. Make sure you understand how to declare and initialize
to implement them in Java. ●​ Identify base cases and recursive cases: Recursive functions two-dimensional arrays in Java.
●​ Know when to use each algorithm: Each algorithm has its typically have two parts: base cases and recursive cases. Base ●​ Access elements in a two-dimensional array: To access elements
own advantages and disadvantages, and is more suited to cases are the terminating conditions that stop the recursion, in a two-dimensional array, you need to specify the row and column
certain situations. For example, binary search is more while recursive cases are the conditions that call the function index. Make sure you understand how to access elements in a
efficient than linear search for large datasets. Make sure recursively. Make sure you understand how to identify base two-dimensional array using nested loops.
you understand when to use each algorithm. cases and recursive cases in problems. ●​ Manipulate two-dimensional arrays: You can manipulate
●​ Analyze the time and space complexity of algorithms: ●​ Visualize the call stack: When a recursive function is called, two-dimensional arrays by changing the values of individual
The time and space complexity of an algorithm determines each call is added to a call stack. Make sure you understand how elements, swapping rows or columns, and transposing the array.
its efficiency in terms of time and memory usage. Make the call stack works, and how to visualize it to better understand Make sure you understand how to manipulate two-dimensional
sure you understand how to analyze the time and space recursive functions. arrays to solve problems.
complexity of algorithms, and how to compare them. ●​ Understand recursion with arrays and ArrayLists: Recursion ●​ Practice solving problems with two-dimensional arrays: Practice
●​ Practice implementing algorithms: Practice implementing can be used to solve problems with arrays and ArrayLists. Make using two-dimensional arrays to solve problems, such as searching
searching and sorting algorithms in Java, and make sure sure you understand how to use recursion to search and sort and sorting, and matrix operations.
you understand how to write efficient and correct code. arrays and ArrayLists. ●​ Understand the relationship between two-dimensional arrays and
●​ Understand recursion: Some searching and sorting ●​ Practice solving problems with recursion: Practice using nested loops: Two-dimensional arrays are often used in
algorithms use recursion, which is a programming recursion to solve problems, and make sure you understand how conjunction with nested loops. Make sure you understand how to
technique where a function calls itself. Make sure you to write efficient and correct recursive functions. use nested loops to iterate through a two-dimensional array.
understand how recursion works, and how to use it to ●​ Avoid infinite recursion: Infinite recursion occurs when a ●​ Understand irregular two-dimensional arrays: An irregular
implement algorithms such as binary search and merge function calls itself indefinitely. Make sure you understand how two-dimensional array is an array where each row can have a
sort. to avoid infinite recursion, and how to debug recursive functions different number of elements. Make sure you understand how to
●​ Use test cases: Use test cases to test your code and if they do not terminate. declare and manipulate irregular two-dimensional arrays.
ensure that it works correctly. Make sure you understand
how to write test cases that cover all possible scenarios.

💯 FRQ Tips
Read the instructions carefully: Make sure to read the instructions and requirements for each question carefully. Follow the prompts and answer all parts of the
question // Manage your time: You will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete 4 FRQs // Use proper syntax: Make sure to use proper syntax and format your code
correctly. This includes using appropriate naming conventions, indentation, and commenting your code as needed // Show your work: Include comments in your
code to explain why you made certain decisions and how your code works // Use good programming practices: Use good programming practices such as
modularity and abstraction to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts // Understand the scoring rubric: Familiarize yourself with the
scoring rubric for each question. The rubric outlines the specific requirements for each question and the points allocated for each part. Review and revise: Review
your answers and revise them as needed. Check for any errors or mistakes and make sure that your code is well-organized and readable // Don't leave anything
blank: Even if you are unsure of the answer to a question, make an attempt to answer it. Partial credit can be awarded for correct answers or reasonable attempts