It’s time for another…

1. It’s time for another… A Mr. Skullhead inspired guide to preparing for the AP Computer Science A Exam

2. Writing bad jokes for your lecture on preparing for the AP Exam • Giving a lecture on preparing for the AP Exam

3. Taking the AP Calculus Exam on May 7th • Taking the AP Computer Science A Exam on May 7th

4. Getting a good night’s sleep during the exam • Getting a good night’s sleep before the exam

5. Getting to school at 11:30AM to take the AP Exam • Getting to school at 7:30AM to take the AP Exam

6. Bringing a fake ID to the exam (or anywhere actually) • Bringing your school photo ID on exam day

7. Bringing a watch that beeps or has an alarm that goes off during the exam • Bringing a watch to keep track of time

8. Bringing several sharpened kitchen knives to the exam • Bringing several sharpened No. 2 pencils to the exam

9. Bringing pens for bubbling on your answer sheet • Bringing pens for writing on the exam booklet covers

10. Knowing Lowell’s six-digit school code • Knowing Galileo’s six-digit school code

11. Putting your SSN publicly on the internet • Putting your SSN on your answer sheet

12. Labeling your exam materials in an inconspicuous location • Labeling your exam materials with your bar code where indicated

13. Signing a blank check • Signing your answer sheet

14. Programming on a computer or device during the AP Exam • Programming on a computer or device

15. Talking about how awesome Mr. Tan is during the AP Exam • Talking about how awesome Mr. Tan is

16. Randomly attempting every question on the multiple choice section • Attempting every question on the multiple choice section (even when running out of time)

17. Marking all the answers before choosing the best answer • Reading all the answers before choosing the best answer

18. Eliminating right answers • Eliminating wrong answers

19. Marking your answers only on the test booklet • Marking your answers on the answer sheet

20. Working out problems on your answer sheet • Working out problems in the blank areas of your test booklet

21. Eating a box of Lucky Charms cereal during the exam for good luck • Bringing a lucky charm to the exam for good luck

22. Inhaling a clear odor-less, taste-less bottle of carbon monoxide • Bringing a clear label-less bottle of water to the exam

23. Wearing clothing that has anything related to computer science on it • Wearing comfortable clothing

24. Using your own “Quick Reference” throughout the AP Exam • Using the Quick Reference provided throughout the AP Exam

25. Putting the shrink-wrap over your head • Removing the shrink-wrap when told to do so

26. Attempting all the free-response questions in your free-response test booklet • Attempting all the free-response questions in your free-response answer booklet

27. Erasing an answer you would have gotten partial credit on • Getting partial credit on the free-response

28. Losing credit for doing things the exam specifically tells you not to do • Getting credit for doing the right thing and doing the thing right on the free-response

29. Writing an essay when asked to justify your answer on the free-response • Writing a sentence when asked to justify your answer on the free-response

30. Ignoring the class/method headers entirely on your free-response answer • Not needing to copy the class/method headers onto your free-response answer

31. Writing comments of what you would do if you had time or knew how to do it • Writing code, even for part of the problem

32. Writing in size 4 font or writing everything in one line (humans are grading your exam) • Writing code neatly and legibly (indentation helps)

33. Rewriting code you wrote in a previous part • Using code you wrote in a previous part (if the question has multiple parts)

34. Getting a 5 out of 80 on the AP Exam • Getting a 5 on the AP Exam

35. Sending your scores to the colleges you were rejected from • Sending your scores to your college

36. GOOD LUCK!!!