SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT 500

richfield.ac.za

Name and Surname:

Student ITS No:

Qualification: Year of Study: Semester:

Assignment due date: Date submitted:

QUESTION EXAMINER MARKS MODERATOR MARKS REMARKS

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

Please tick each box to confirm completion.

For essay-style assignments, please include the following sections:

Submit the assignment in PDF format on Moodle.

DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY:
I hereby declare that this assignment is my own work and has not been copied from any other source except where due
acknowledgment is made. I affirm that all sources used have been properly cited and that this submission complies with
the institution’s policies on academic integrity and plagiarism.

Student Signature: Date:

Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology (Pty) Ltd is registered with the Department of Higher Education & Training as a Private Higher Education Institution under the Higher
Education Act, 1997, Registration Certificate No. 2000/HE07/008.
Question 1 (25 marks)

1.1. What is the purpose of testing a program, and when is it performed? (4 marks)
1.2. Identify and explain five common errors in programming. For each error:
• Define it (syntax error, logical error)
• Provide an example
• Suggest how it can be prevented (15 marks)
1.3. Provide three control structures in programming and give a brief explanation. (6 marks)

Question 2 (30 marks)

You are tasked with designing a program for a Grade Analysis Tool that calculates and displays key
performance metrics for a class of students using loops.

Requirements:

1. Welcome Message:
- Display a message introducing the Grade Analysis Tool and explaining its purpose.
2. Input Student Grades:
- Use a loop to input the grades for a class of students. The program should:
• Ask the user how many students are in the class.
• Collect grades for each student (out of 100).
• Validate that the grade entered is between 0 and 100. If invalid, prompt the user to
re-enter the grade.
3. Analyse Grades:
- Use loops to calculate the following:
• Total and average grade for the class.
• Number of students who passed (grade ≥ 50).
• Number of students who failed (grade < 50).
• The highest grade in the class.
• Ensure efficient use of loop structures.
4. Display Results:
- Display the following in a well-organized format:
• Total and average grade.
• Number of students who passed and failed.
• The highest grade in the class.
• A motivational message for the class (e.g., "Great performance! Keep it up!" or "Focus
on improving next time.")
5. File Handling Extension:
- Save the grades entered by the user into a file named gradesAnalysis.txt.
- At the end of the program, read the file and display the grades for verification.

Question 3 (35 marks)

Using the scenario below, create a pseudocode and a flowchart to represent the system
described. Ensure that your solution includes appropriate error handling for all inputs.

Case Study: Richfield College Financial Aid Eligibility Checker

Background: Richfield College offers various financial aid packages to support students in need.
To streamline the financial aid application process, the college is developing a system that helps
prospective students determine their eligibility for specific aid programs based on their academic
performance, family income, and extracurricular involvement.

Objective: The primary goal is to provide a user-friendly program that determines a student's
eligibility for financial aid and guides them through their options.

Scenario: Imagine a student, Lunga, who is applying for financial aid at Richfield College. He has
completed the online application and needs to input his details into the system.

Use Case:

1. Welcome Message:
- The program displays a welcoming message to Lunga, introducing the Richfield College
Financial Aid Eligibility Checker.
2. Input Personal Information:
- Lunga is prompted to enter his details: full name, student ID, and grade level.
3. Enter Academic and Financial Information:
- The program asks Lunga to input his latest GPA and annual family income.
- He is then asked about his involvement in extracurricular activities (e.g., "yes" or "no").
4. Eligibility Criteria:
- If Lunga’s GPA is 3.5 or higher, and his family income is below a certain threshold, a flag is
set for eligibility for the "Academic Excellence Scholarship."
- If Lunga’s GPA is between 3.0 and 3.49, and his family income is below the threshold, a
flag is set for eligibility for a "General Needs Scholarship."
- If Lunga participates in extracurricular activities and has a GPA above 2.5, he qualifies for
"Leadership and Community Engagement Scholarship."
5. Outcome Display:
- The program recommends the most suitable financial aid package(s) for Lunga. If no
eligibility is found, an appropriate message is displayed.
6. Farewell Message:
- A goodbye message that thanks Lunga for using the Richfield College Financial Aid
Eligibility Checker.