TOPIC 2 - Programming Knowledge Organiser

Control flow Data types Variables & constants

- Sequence - Integer e.g. 23 - Named storage location reserved in
- Logical Operators - Real (Float) e.g. 23.7 memory.
- Selection - Character e.g. A or 5 - Both declared.
- IF… ELSE… - String e.g. A546TH - Definition of variable.
- Iteration - Boolean e.g. TRUE or FALSE. - Definition of constant.
- For
- While Mathematical Operators Testing
- ADD + - Test data should be chosen to cover
- SUBTRACT –
Interpreting Algorithms valid, invalid, extreme & erroneous
- DIVIDE / situations.
- Dry Runs
- MULTIPLY * - Logic errors
- Trace Tables
- MOD - Definition & examples.
- Identifying Errors
- DIV - Syntax errors
- EXP - Definition & examples.
Searching & Sorting Order of Operations: BIDMAS
Describe how each of the following work
and how to implement them, and
advantages & disadvantages of each.
Data structures
- Arrays;
- Linear Search
- Examples
- Binary Search
- 2D Arrays
- Bubble Sort
- Indexes
- Merge Sort
Use memrise app or website to learn the
Subprograms definitions associated with this topic.
- Advantages
String Manipulation - Types;
- Concatenation - Function
- String Indexes - Procedure
- Escape Sequences - Parameter Passing
FAQ’s
Do I need to write program code in the exam?
Yes, there may be an opportunity to write python code in the exam. So practice this by not using a
computer. Write it out on paper and then test it on the computer.

Misconceptions
The NEA covers a lot of this area of the course, however Paper 2 questions focus on the knowledge behind
this. Can you do it away from the computer. You might be a whizz in Python, but can you explain it,
describe it in an exam?

Edexcel 1-9 Computer Science Specification:

This is what Edexcel say you need to know… Do you?

2.1.1 be able to write programs in a high-level programming language

understand the benefit of producing programs that are easy to read and be
able to use techniques (comments, descriptive names (variables, constants,
2.1.2
subprograms), indentation) to improve readability and to explain how the
code works
be able to differentiate between types of error in programs (logic, syntax,
2.1.3
runtime)
2.1 Develop code be able to design and use test plans and test data (normal, boundary,
2.1.4
erroneous)
be able to interpret error messages and identify, locate and fix errors in a
2.1.5
program
be able to determine what value a variable will hold at a given point in a
2.1.6
program (trace table)
be able to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a program and
2.1.7
suggest improvements
understand the structural components of a program (variable and type
Topic 2: Programming

2.2.1 declarations, command sequences, selection, iteration, data structures,

2.2 Constructs subprograms)
be able to use sequencing, selection and iteration constructs in their
2.2.2
programs
understand the need for, and understand how to use, data types (integer,
2.3.1
real, Boolean, char)
understand the need for, and understand how to use, data structures
2.3.2
Data types and (records, one-dimensional arrays, two-dimensional arrays)
2.3 structures 2.3.3 understand the need for, and how to manipulate, strings
2.3.4 understand the need for, and how to use, variables and constants
understand the need for, and how to use, global and local variables when
2.3.5
implementing subprograms
understand how to write code that accepts and responds appropriately to
2.4.1
user input
2.4 Input/output
2.4.2 understand the need for, and how to implement, validation
2.4.3 be able to write code that reads/writes from/to a text file
2.5 Operators understand the purpose of, and how to use, arithmetic operators (add,
2.5.1
subtract, divide, multiply, modulus, integer division)
understand the purpose of, and how to use, relational operators (equal to,
2.5.2 less than, greater than, not equal to, less than or equal to, greater than or
equal to)
2.5.3 understand the purpose of, and how to use, logic operators (AND, OR, NOT)
 understand the benefits of using subprograms and be able to write code that
2.6.1
uses user-written and pre-existing (builtin, library) subprograms
2.6 Subprograms understand the concept of passing data into and out of subprograms
2.6.2
(procedures, functions)
2.6.3 be able to create subprograms that use parameters