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Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam

Oliver Kullmann Computer Science Department Swansea University Robert Recorde Room Swansea, December 12, 2010

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

How to use the revision lecture

The purpose of this lecture (and the slides) is to emphasise the main topics of this course, and to help you structuring your revision of the module over the Christmas break. Hopefully, when revising the lectures, the courseworks and the lab exercises, you will have many “aha!”-experiences, where things become clear. Sure, exam marks exist, but please don’t forget that the main purpose of studying is to learn.

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Lectures and the book

Simply go through all lectures, and through the first 3 chapters of the book. It would be great if you could consider all the things in the book we didn’t cover. Obviously, the additional examples won’t show up in the exam, but they will help you. Perhaps for the three case studies (at the ends of the first three chapters) there is not enough time now — perhaps over the summer you consider one of them, to refresh programming, and learn something about the three themes considered.

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

The lab sessions

Programming is, especially in the beginning, mainly doing. So going through all lab exercises (in the support and in the exercise lab classes) is a good exercise. Likely you didn’t do all of them. If you actually did, now reworking them with your enhanced understanding will further deepen your understanding. Finally, the book and the book’s webpage contain a wealth of additional exercises. At the end of next week, answers will be provided for all lab exercises.

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

On the exam in general

Three question, where you choose and answer two

• f them.

Spend one hour for each of them — don’t overrun! Give yourself enough space. Don’t get stuck.

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Typical parts of possible exam questions I

Specific programming questions:

1

Write a function which takes two integer parameters and returns their minimum.

2

Compute the sum of N numbers.

3

Writing either isolated functions, or complete programs.

4

Using arrays and strings.

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Typical parts of possible exam questions II

General programming questions:

1

Explain how to define a function in general.

2

Explain what is a “Java program”.

3

Equality issues.

4

Differentiate between static and non-static functions.

5

Understanding variables in their various guises (function parameters, local variables, static variables, instance variables).

6

Technical effects of private-declarations.

7

Explain constructors.

8

Explain new.

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Typical parts of possible exam questions III

General questions on how to do (good) programming:

1

Discuss which members of a class should be private and which public. Give some examples.

2

Explain the notion of a “data type”, and give some examples.

3

Reflect on “pointers” in Java.

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Basic topics

variables build-in data types expressions conditionals loops arrays programs and the main-function local variables command-line arguments standard input and output

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Intermediate topics

static functions function parameters

• verloading

modules data types

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Higher topics

classes static variables instance variables non-static functions (methods) constructors creating objects equality private and public members of a class data types

Revising CS-M41 How to prepare for the exam Oliver Kullmann Generalities The exam Topics

Final remarks on the exam

Be as elaborate as possible (give me a chance to give you some marks(!)) Study the courseworks (and the solutions) well. Good luck! (Even better, if you don’t need it.)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The End.