IGCSE Computer Science (0478) · Paper 2 — Algorithms, Programming & Logic
Programming
Sequence, selection, iteration, procedures/functions and array handling — the highest-value topic on Paper 2, and the one where language-syntax slips (not logic errors) cost the most marks.
8.1 Programming concepts
- Declare and use variables and constants.
- Understand and use basic data types: integer, real, char, string, Boolean.
- Understand and use input and output.
- Understand and use the concept of sequence.
- Understand and use the concept of selection, including IF statements and CASE statements.
- Understand and use the concept of iteration, including count-controlled loops, pre-condition loops and post-condition loops.
- Understand and use the concepts of totalling and counting.
- Understand and use the concept of string handling, including length, substring, upper and lower (the first character can be position zero or one).
- Understand and use arithmetic (+ - / * ^ MOD DIV), relational (= < <= > >= <>) and logical (AND OR NOT) operators.
- Understand and use nested statements, including nested selection and iteration, up to three levels of nesting.
- Understand what is meant by procedures, functions and parameters.
- Define and use procedures and functions, with or without parameters (up to three parameters).
- Understand and use local and global variables.
- Understand and use library routines, including MOD, DIV, ROUND and RANDOM.
- Understand how to create a maintainable program, including appropriate use of meaningful identifiers, commenting, and procedures and functions.
8.2 Arrays
- Declare and use one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) arrays, including the use of variables as indexes (first index can be zero or one).
- Understand the use of arrays.
- Write values into, and read values from, an array using iteration, including nested iteration.
8.3 File handling
- Understand the purpose of storing data in a file to be used by a program.
- Open, close and use a file for reading and writing, including reading/writing single items of data and reading/writing a line of text.
Practice this topic
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