Programming
8.1 Programming concepts
Candidates should be able to:
1. Declare and use variables and constants
2. Understand and use the basic data types
Including:
integer
real
char
string
Boolean
3. Understand and use input and output
4. Understand and use the concept of sequence
Understand and use the concept of selection
Understand and use the concept of iteration
Understand and use the concepts of totalling and counting
Understand and use the concept of string handling
Understand and use arithmetic, logical and Boolean operators
Including:
IF statements
CASE statements
Including:
count-controlled loops
pre-condition loops
post-condition loops
Including:
length
substring
upper
lower
The first character of the string can be position zero or one
+
–
/
*
^ (raised to power of)
MOD
DIV
Arithmetic, limited to:
Logical, limited to:
=
<
<=
>
>=
<> (not equal to)
Boolean, limited to:
AND
OR
NOT
5. Understand and use nested statements
Including nested selection and iteration
Candidates will not be required to write more than three levels of nested statements
6. Understand what is meant by procedures, functions and parameters
Define and use procedures and functions, with or without parameters
Understand and use local and global variables
Procedures and functions may have up to two parameters
7. Understand and use library routines
Including:
MOD
DIV
ROUND
RANDOM
8. Understand how to create a maintainable program
Including appropriate use of:
meaningful identifiers
the commenting feature provided by the programming language
procedures and functions
relevant and appropriate commenting of syntax
Use meaningful identifiers for:
variables
constants
arrays
procedures and functions
8.2 Arrays
Candidates should be able to:
1. Declare and use one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) arrays
2. Understand the use of arrays
Including the use of variables as indexes in arrays
The first index can be zero or one
3. Write values into and read values from an array using iteration
Including nested iteration
8.3 File handling
Candidates should be able to:
1. Understand the purpose of storing data in a file to be used by a program
2. Open, close and use a file for reading and writing
Including:
read and write single items of data
read and write a line of text