Programming Fundamentals (variables, data types, selection, iteration, sequence)

    AQA
    GCSE

    Programming fundamentals constitute the structural bedrock of software development, necessitating a precise understanding of sequence, selection, and iteration to control execution flow. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in declaring, assigning, and manipulating variables across distinct data types (integer, real, Boolean, character, string), ensuring appropriate memory allocation and data integrity. Assessment rigorously tests the application of these constructs in both pseudocode and specific high-level languages, requiring the ability to trace logic, predict outputs, and construct robust algorithms that solve defined computational problems.

    0
    Objectives
    3
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    4
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award 1 mark for correct variable declaration and assignment, ensuring meaningful identifier names are used
    • Award 1 mark for the correct use of indentation to define the scope of selection (IF/ELSE) and iteration (FOR/WHILE) blocks
    • Credit responses that correctly distinguish between definite iteration (FOR) and indefinite iteration (WHILE) based on the problem context
    • Award 1 mark for correct syntax in condition testing, specifically using '==' for comparison and not '='

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award 1 mark for correct variable declaration and assignment, ensuring meaningful identifier names are used
    • Award 1 mark for the correct use of indentation to define the scope of selection (IF/ELSE) and iteration (FOR/WHILE) blocks
    • Credit responses that correctly distinguish between definite iteration (FOR) and indefinite iteration (WHILE) based on the problem context
    • Award 1 mark for correct syntax in condition testing, specifically using '==' for comparison and not '='

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When writing code, stick to one language (Python, C#, VB.NET) or consistent pseudocode; do not mix syntax styles
    • 💡In trace tables, record every change to a variable on a new row; marks are often awarded for the intermediate values, not just the final output
    • 💡Pay close attention to boundary values in selection statements (e.g., < 10 vs <= 10); this is a frequent source of lost marks in algorithm design

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing the assignment operator (=) with the equality comparison operator (==) inside IF statements
    • Failing to cast input data types, resulting in string concatenation instead of arithmetic addition (e.g., '5' + '5' = '55')
    • Logic errors in WHILE loops where the terminating condition is never met, resulting in an infinite loop

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Develop
    Trace
    Complete
    Explain
    State
    Compare

    Practical Links

    Related required practicals

    • •{"code":"Practical Programming","title":"20 Hours of Practical Programming","relevance":"Mandatory practical experience where fundamentals are applied to solve specific problems"}

    Ready to test yourself?

    Practice questions tailored to this topic