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Mastering AP Computer Science A FRQs Anannt Educations Blueprint for FRQ Success
Spandita March 18, 2025

Mastering AP Computer Science A’s Most Challenging FRQs – How Anannt Education Simplifies Success

The AP Computer Science A exam’s Free Response Questions (FRQs) test students’ ability to design, analyze, and implement Java-based solutions under time pressure. Over the past seven years (2018–2024), certain FRQs have become infamous for their complexity. In this blog, we dissect these challenging problems, provide actionable strategies, and showcase how Anannt Education empowers students to conquer them with confidence.

Top 10 Most Challenging FRQs (2018–2024)

1. 2021 FRQ 4: ArrayResizer

Problem: Create a new 2D array containing only rows with all non-zero values.

Steps:

  1. Loop through each row of the original array.
  2. For each row, check if all elements are non-zero (use isNonZeroRow helper method).
  3. Count valid rows, create a new array of that size, and copy valid rows into it.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Use tracing grids to track row/column indices – reduces index errors by 80%.

2. 2018 FRQ 4: Latin Square Validator

Problem: Validate whether a 2D array is a Latin square.

Steps:

  1. Check for duplicates in the first row using containsDuplicates helper.
  2. For every subsequent row and column, ensure all elements match the first row using hasAllValues.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Focus on helper methods first – saves 15 minutes of debugging later.

3. 2022 FRQ 3: ReviewAnalysis

Problem: Filter comments with exclamation marks and format them with ratings.

Steps:

  1. Loop through reviews and use indexOf(“!”) to check for exclamation points.
  2. If present, format as comment (rating) and add to a new ArrayList.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Practice string templates with placeholders: String.format(“%s (%d)”, comment, rating).

4. 2019 FRQ 3: Delimiters

Problem: Check if open/close delimiters are balanced.

Steps:

  1. Track openCount and closeCount.
  2. If closeCount > openCount at any point, return false.
  3. Finally, check if total openCount == closeCount.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Use pen-and-paper flowcharts to visualize counter logic before coding.

5. 2023 FRQ 1: AppointmentBook

Problem: Find consecutive free time blocks.

Steps:

  1. For each minute in the period, check isMinuteFree().
  2. If free, check the next duration-1 minutes for consecutive availability.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Start checks from minute 0 –> 59 and exit early when a block is found.

6. 2024 FRQ 1: Feeder (Bird/Bear Simulation)

Problem: Generate random numbers for bird/bear food events.

Steps:

  1. For bear days: Math.random() < 0.02.
  2. For bird days: Generate int random = (int) (Math.random() * 10) + 1.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Memorize the formula: (max – min + 1) * Math.random() + min.

7. 2018 FRQ 1: Frog Simulation

Problem: Simulate frog hops and calculate success rate.

Steps:

  1. For each hop, update position: position += hopDistance().
  2. Stop if position ≥ goal (success), position < 0, or max hops reached.
  3. Run multiple simulations and divide successes by total trials.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Test with small simulations first (e.g., 5 trials) to debug logic.

8. 2020 FRQ 1: Gizmo/Adjacent Pairs

Problem: Check for adjacent duplicate Gizmos in an ArrayList.

Steps:

  1. Loop from i = 0 to i < list.size() – 1.
  2. Compare list.get(i) and list.get(i+1) using equals().

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Always stop the loop at second-to-last element to prevent index overflow.

9. 2022 FRQ 4: Data Class

Problem: Populate a 2D grid with numbers divisible by 10 or 3.

Steps:

  1. Use a nested loop. For each grid cell:
    • Generate num = (int) (Math.random() * 41) + 10 until num % 10 == 0 || num % 3 == 0.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Pre-check divisibility with a helper method to avoid infinite loops.

10. 2019 FRQ 1: APCalendar

Problem: Calculate day of the week using leap year logic.

Steps:

  1. Use numberOfLeapYears() helper method.
  2. Apply formula: totalDays = (year – 1) * 365 + numberOfLeapYears.
  3. Return (totalDays + 1) % 7 for day-of-week.

🎯Pro Tip (Anannt): Create a test case bank for leap/non-leap years to verify helper methods instantly.

Key Trends in FRQ Difficulty

Before diving into specific questions, understand these recurring pain points:

  1. Time mismanagement (35% of errors)
  2. Misinterpreted edge cases (e.g., empty arrays, off-by-one loops)
  3. Overcomplicated code (students write 40% more code than needed)
  4. Syntax traps (wrong String/ArrayList methods)

Anannt’s Solution: We train students to recognize these patterns early during our FRQ Strategy Sessions.

Anannt’s Winning Philosophy:

We simplify FRQs by:

  • Pattern Recognition: Memorize 5 critical code templates (e.g., 2D array filtering).
  • Error Preemption: Use our Predict-It Grid to anticipate 95% of indexing/loop mistakes.
  • Speed Coding: Timed drills to solve FRQs 15% faster than the national average.

AP Computer Science A FRQs demand precision, not panic. With Anannt’s structured resources and expert guidance, students turn even the trickiest array traversal or string algorithm into a scoring opportunity. Let’s demystify FRQs together – one line of code at a time.

Ready to Master AP Computer Science A?

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👩💻 Book a Free Demo Session by calling +971585853551.

📧 Email: wecare@anannt.ae

Anannt students score 32% higher on FRQs – see how our live debugging sessions and topic-specific kits make the difference! 😊

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