From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.1 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_05,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 109fba,80ec92800f85d9e7 X-Google-Attributes: gid109fba,public X-Google-Thread: f8499,80ec92800f85d9e7 X-Google-Attributes: gidf8499,public X-Google-Thread: 103376,80ec92800f85d9e7 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: f43e6,80ec92800f85d9e7 X-Google-Attributes: gidf43e6,public From: pattis@cs.cmu.edu (Richard Pattis) Subject: Re: Do college AP tests require C++ knowledge? Date: 1997/12/10 Message-ID: <66mkds$k59$1@goldenapple.srv.cs.cmu.edu>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 296971336 References: <65vqjn$9tk$1@flood.weeg.uiowa.edu> <66cqhg$ama$1@walter.cs.umd.edu> <348DBAFF.52BF@hso.link.com> <66kksc$80r@universe.digex.net> Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.c++,misc.education.science,comp.software-eng Date: 1997-12-10T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: >Of course it's a problem, but that's irrelevant. ETS heard numerous >arguments against using C++ for the AP test, but ignored every one of >'em. If I recall correctly, C++ will be used for the AP tests >starting next year. While ETS set policy in the early 80s (Pascal vs BASIC was the fight), it is following policy in the 90s. They asked a boat-load of schools what language they thought they would be using in CS-1, and C++ came up tops. ETS has no altruistic motives: it sells its exams as a cost effective way for students to get college credit. If most the schools do not accept a course in Pascal (or Ada, or whatever) then students don't take the exam and ETS doesn't make money. >Heck, it would have been far wiser for ETS to stick with their Pascal >version. ost high schools are struggling with getting "newer" >computers, and many are still saddled with "old" Apple IIs (or IBM PCs >with 386SX or 286 CPUs). None of the languages you listed (Ada95, >Eiffel, or Java) are very friendly to the "old" architectures. Then >again, just try to find an ISO-compliant C++ compiler for an Apple II >next year :-) Many instructors like the fact that C++ doesn't run Apple IIs: they can use this fact to argue with administrators to get additional funds to enhance their labs. > >In the end, it will be noted that ETS gave in to enormous "peer >pressure". I have no doubt they'll switch to Java within five years >(so they can switch to more economical web-based testing). Note that all this occured before Java came on the scene. I could argue that no AP exam should be based on technology, and programming languages are technologies -rapidly changing ones at that. If colleges switch to Java in mass, then the ETS will follow. Rich Pattis -When teaching a rapidly changing technology, perspective is much more important than content.