• Checklist to Maximize Points ✅
  • Common Mistakes to Avoid ❌
  • Scoring Criteria 📝
  • Array/Arraylist Review

    Array

    • fixed sized
    • single or multidimensional

    image

    How to Create Arrays:

    1. Declare
    int[] arr1;
    int[] arr2;
    
    1. Initialize
    //separating declare and initialize
    arr1 = new int[5];
    arr2 = new int[]{1,2,3};
    
    // declare and initialize at the same time
    int[] arr1 = new int[5];
    int[] arr2 = {1,2,3}; // an array literal
    
    1. Access using []
    arr2[0] // accesses the first element in the array
    

    Arraylist

    • resizable
    • uses methods to access and modify elements
    • typically stores objects

    How to Create Arraylists:

    1. Declare and Initialize
    ArrayList<String> al = new ArrayList<String>();
    
    1. Basic Operations

    Insertion using add()

    al.add("apple");
    al.add("orange");
    al.add("banana");
    

    Access using get()

    al.get(0); 
    

    Deletion using remove()

    al.remove("orange");
    

    Update using set()

    al.set(0, "kiwi");
    

    Warmup

    Write a java program to sort an Arraylist

    ArrayList<Integer> list = new ArrayList<Integer>();
    list.add(4);
    list.add(1);
    list.add(3);
    list.add(2);
    
    Collections.sort(list);
    System.out.println(list);
    
    [1, 2, 3, 4]
    


    Checklist to Maximize Points ✅

    Before Writing Code

    • Understand the method signature (what the methods do, the return types, access modifier)
    • Paying attention to input type (e.g. array vs ArrayList)

    Writing Code

    • Use loops carefully (consider bounds)
    • Check for null/empty cases

    Before Submitting Code

    • Correct return type
    • Check whether syntax is used for array/ArrayList


    Common Mistakes to Avoid ❌

    [] vs get Confusion (penalty)

    []: used to access elements in array

    get: used to access elements in ArrayList

    int[] arr = {1,2,3};
    System.out.println(arr[0]); 
    
    ArrayList<String> al = new ArrayList<String>();
    al.add("sprite");
    System.out.println(al.get(0));
    

    .length vs .size() Confusion (no penalty)

    .length: property for length of a array .size(): method for length of an Arraylist

    String[] colors;
    colors = new String[]{"yellow", "purple", "blue"};
    System.out.println(colors.length);
    
    ArrayList<Integer> nums = new ArrayList<Integer>();
    nums.add(12);
    nums.add(10); 
    System.out.println(nums.size());
    

    Traversing Arrays/ArrayLists

    • Ensure bounds are correct (applying the right comparison/logic)
    • Account for dynamic resizing of ArrayLists for .add() and .remove()
    // starts at the last index (.size() - 1)
    // ends at the first index
    for (int i = temps.size() - 1; temps >= 0; i--) {
        // insert code
    }
    


    Scoring Criteria 📝

    image