2004 AP CSA FRQ 3: Fish
Topic: Marine Biology Case Study (Legacy)
Skills Tested: 2D arrays, random placement, Environment class usage
Curriculum Alignment: Unit 4 (Data Collections) (2025-2026 AP CSA)
Points: 9 | Time Estimate: ~22 minutes
Part (a)
Note: This FRQ was part of the Marine Biology Case Study which is no longer part of the AP CSA curriculum. The concepts tested (working with 2D structures and random placement) are still relevant.
Solution
// This FRQ required knowledge of the Marine Biology Case Study
// which has been removed from the AP CSA curriculum.
// Modern equivalent concepts include:
// - Working with 2D arrays
// - Random element placement
// - Checking for empty positionsPart (b)
The Marine Biology Case Study is no longer tested on the AP exam.
Solution
// The key skills from this FRQ are now tested through
// standard 2D array problems without the case study context.Key Concepts
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Scoring Guidelines
Total Points: 9
Points are awarded for:
- Correct loop structure and bounds
- Proper method calls and return statements
- Correct conditional logic
- Handling edge cases appropriately
Partial credit is available for demonstrating understanding even with minor syntax errors.
Official College Board Resources
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About the Author: Tanner Crow is a certified AP Computer Science teacher with 11+ years of experience helping students succeed on the AP CSA exam.
Last updated: January 2026