Programming Language Proficiency Exam
A satisfactory score on this exam will satisfy the programming language requirement for the MS programs in Computer Science and Information Systems and Technology. The exam is open to applicants to the MS program in Computer Science and the MS program in Information Systems and Technology. It is intended for students who have learned a programming language by experience or on-the-job training rather than in a class through a regionally accredited institution. The exam may be written in Java or C++. The language must be designated when the exam is scheduled.
You are allowed to take this exam once. Failing this exam means that you will have to take 605.201 at JHU/WSE/EPP or the equivalent course at a regionally accredited school.
You are allowed one textbook for reference during the exam. Since not every programming language course covers every topic, the scoring is set up to allow the exam to be passed even though a student may not know one area of the material. The exam will not be returned to you. You will be notified only if you have passed or failed.
Sample exams are not available.
You may expect a mixture of question types on the exam, including Multiple Choice, True/False, Fill-in-the-Blank, discussion, and manipulation. You can also expect questions in which you will need to write code fragments and functions in Java, C or C++. You may also need to assess and describe the functionality or output of a piece of code.
Exam Topics
- Basic Syntax and Punctuation
- Reserved Words, Legal Variable Names
- Variable Types: Built In and User Defined, Mixed Types
- Looping Constructs: while, for, repeat
- Branching Control Statements
- Data Declarations: Arrays and Structs and Classes
- Scope and Duration of Variables
- OOP Principles
- Simple I/O including formatting output
- Reading and Writing to a Named File
- Simple Recursion
- Dynamic Allocation
References
The following texts are good references if needed:
- JAVA: How to Program, Deitel & Deitel, Prentice Hall
- C++: How to Program, Deitel & Deitel, Prentice Hall
- Problem Solving and Structured Programming in C++, E. B. Koffman, Addison-Wesley