OCR A Level Computer Your notes

Science
2.4 Types of Programming Language
Contents
Programming Paradigms
Procedural Programming
Assembly Language & Little Man Computer
Modes of Addressing

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 Programming Paradigms
Your notes
Programming Paradigms
Programming paradigms are established conventions and practices that dictate how
computer programs are structured and developed
Programming paradigms offer varied methodologies for software construction
Different paradigms are suited to different tasks, e.g. simple web applications can be
achieved with light-weight procedural languages, complex enterprise-level software
can only be achieved with a complex object-oriented paradigm
New paradigms arise, and existing ones adapt in response to changes in computing and
software challenges

Overview of Programming Paradigms

Paradigm Description Examples of Key Concepts
Languages

Procedural A subtype of imperative, C, Go, Rust Procedures, function

structured around procedure calls, structured
calls. programming

Object- Organises code around Java, C#, Swift Classes, inheritance,

Oriented "objects" (which combine data polymorphism,
and functionality) rather than encapsulation
functions.

Assembly Low-level mnemonic x86-64 Registers,

representation of machine Assembly, mnemonics, memory
code for a specific computer ARMv8 addresses, opcodes
architecture. Assembly

Strengths & Weaknesses of Programming Paradigms

Paradigm Strengths Weaknesses

Procedural Efficient execution of Can become unwieldy for large

straightforward tasks programs
A clear flow of control (top to Lack of modularity can lead to
bottom) code redundancy
Ease of implementation for Not ideal for applications with
algorithms complex states or behaviours

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 Strong emphasis on step-by- Difficulty in managing and
step procedure execution scaling the system as it grows
Your notes
Object- Can lead to unnecessary
Oriented complexity
Enhances modularity with
encapsulation Inefficiency due to overhead
(e.g., memory for objects)
Enables real-world modelling
using objects Not always intuitive for all types
of problems
Code reuse through
inheritance Misuse can lead to overly
complex inheritance
Polymorphism allows flexibility hierarchies
in interface design

Assembly Direct control over hardware Extremely steep learning curve

Optimised performance due Hardware-specific, leading to
to low-level operations a lack of portability
A transparent understanding of Tedious and error-prone due to
how the machine operates manual memory management.
Potential for very efficient Difficult to write, debug, and
code maintain large programs

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 Procedural Programming
Your notes
Procedural Programming
Procedural programming follows a step-by-step approach to breaking down tasks into
routines and subroutines
It emphasises modular design, where code is grouped into functions and procedures
for reuse and clarity
Variables hold state and control structures that determine the flow of execution in the
program

Variables
Storing data values that can change
x = 10
print(x) # Output: 10

Constants
Storing values that remain unchanged
PI = 3.1415
print(PI) # Output: 3.1415

Selection
Decision-making constructs
x=7
if x > 5:
print("Greater") # Output: Greater
else:
print("Smaller")

Iteration
Using loops to repeat actions
for i in range(3):
print(i) # Output: 0, 1, 2

Sequence
Executing statements sequentially
x=5
y = x + 10
print(y) # Output: 15

Subroutines

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 Organising code into reusable parts
def greet(name): Your notes
return "Hello, " + name

greeting = greet("Alice")
print(greeting) # Output: Hello, Alice

String Handling
Operations on character strings
name = "Alice"
upper_name = name.upper()
print(upper_name) # Output: ALICE

File Handling
Reading from and writing to files
with open('file.txt', 'w') as file:
file.write("Hello, World!")

with open('file.txt', 'r') as file:

content = file.read()
print(content) # Output: Hello, World!

Boolean Operators
Logical operations
x=7
y=5
is_valid = x > 5 and y < 10
print(is_valid) # Output: True

Arithmetic Operators
Basic mathematical operations
x=5
y=3
sum_value = x + y
product = x * y
print(sum_value, product) # Output: 8, 15

Full example
This script greets the user, asks for two numbers, and multiplies them if they are both
greater than 10
It gives the user three attempts to provide suitable numbers and asks if they want to
continue after each attempt. Finally, it writes the greeting and the last multiplication
result to a file

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 # Constants
MAX_ATTEMPTS = 3
FILENAME = 'output.txt' Your notes
# Subroutine to greet a user
def greet(name):
return "Hello, " + name

# Subroutine to multiply two numbers

def multiply(x, y):
return x * y

# Main program
def main():
name = input("Please enter your name: ")
print(greet(name))

# Iteration to allow multiple attempts

for attempt in range(MAX_ATTEMPTS):
x = int(input("Enter the first number: "))
y = int(input("Enter the second number: "))

# Selection
if x > 10 and y > 10:
result = multiply(x, y)
print(f"The product of {x} and {y} is {result}")
else:
print("Both numbers should be greater than 10.")

# Asking user if they want to continue

continue_choice = input("Do you want to continue? (y/n): ")
if continue_choice.lower() != 'y':
break

# File Handling
with open(FILENAME, 'w') as file:
file.write(greet(name) + "\n")
file.write(f"Last multiplication result: {result}")

print(f"Results have been saved to {FILENAME}")

# Sequence: Calling the main program

if __name__ == "__main__":
main()

Worked Example
You are working for a library and need to develop a program that calculates the
total late fees for overdue books. Provide pseudocode that includes a function to
calculate the fee for each book.
How to answer this question:
Notice that the same operation needs to take place against multiple items. This
suggests iteration could be used

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 A function is required to calculate the fee for each book. Simple names for
functions make them clear to understand
Think of some data structures to hold the bits of data for this scenario Your notes
Many numbers representing each book's days overdue could be stored in an
array
The total late fee could be stored in a variable
Use indentation to show which code is inside a code block e.g. function, if
statement, for statement
Only include code comments where you think it's necessary to explain
The example below contains comments for your understanding
Answer:
Answer that gets full marks:
const DAILY_CHARGE = 1 // Many functions can use this const if they need it

function calculateFee(days_overdue)
IF days_overdue > 0 THEN
RETURN days_overdue * DAILY_CHARGE // £1 per day
ELSE
RETURN 0
ENDIF
END function

function calculateTotalFee(books)
var total_fee = 0
FOR each days_overdue IN books // days_overdue is an identifier that represents each item in boo
total_fee = total_fee + calculateFee(days_overdue) // adding the result of the function to the total_
ENDFOR
RETURN total_fee // returning the variable back to caller
END function

var books = [7, 3, 0, 10] // Array of numbers representing each book's overdue days
var total_fee = calculateTotalFee(books)

PRINT "Total Late Fee:", total_fee

This solution contains a function that accepts an array of books and a function
that will calculate the fee for a single book
This is well-designed because two smaller functions are better than 1 larger
function

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 Assembly Language & Little Man Computer
Your notes
Assembly Language & Little Man Computer
What is the purpose of assembly language?
In A Level Computer Science, assembly language sits between high-level languages
(like Python, Java) and machine code (binary code executed by the computer hardware)
Allows developers to write more efficient, albeit more complex, code when compared
to high-level languages
Direct access and manipulation of hardware components, e.g., registers, memory
addresses
Each type of computer CPU has its specific assembly language

Levels of Abstraction of Programming Languages

Little Man Computer

The Little Man Computer (LMC) is a hypothetical computer model used for
understanding the fundamental operations and mechanics of a computer
The LMC is a simplified version of a computer
It has key elements like memory, a calculator, an accumulator, and an instruction set

Little Man Computer instruction set

The following mnemonics represent different actions that can take place in an LMC
program

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 Mnemonic Instruction Alternative Mnemonic
Your notes
ADD Add

SUB Subtract

STA Store STO

LDA Load LOAD

BRA Branch always BR

BRZ Branch if zero BZ

BRP Branch if positive OR zero BP

INP Input IN, INPUT

OUT Output

HLT End program COB, END

DAT Data location

Example 1: Add two numbers

INP; // Input the first number
STA 90; // Store the first number in memory location 90
INP; // Input the second number
ADD 90; // Add the number in memory location 90 to the accumulator
OUT; // Output the result
HLT; // End the program
DAT; // Memory location 90 for storing data

Example 2: Find the smallest of three numbers

This program inputs three numbers and determines the smallest of the three, outputting the
result.
INP // Input the first number
STA 91 // Store the first number in memory location 91
INP // Input the second number
STA 92 // Store the second number in memory location 92
INP // Input the third number
STA 93 // Store the third number in memory location 93

LDA 91 // Load the first number

SUB 92 // Subtract the second number

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BRP CHECK_THIRD_FROM_FIRST // If result is positive, then first number > second number

LDA 92 // Load the second number Your notes

SUB 93 // Subtract the third number
BRP OUTPUT_SECOND // If result is positive, then second number > third number
LDA 93
OUT // Output the third number
HLT

CHECK_THIRD_FROM_FIRST:
LDA 91
SUB 93
BRP OUTPUT_FIRST
LDA 93
OUT
HLT

OUTPUT_FIRST:
LDA 91
OUT
HLT

OUTPUT_SECOND:
LDA 92
OUT
HLT

DAT // Memory locations for data storage

DAT
DAT

Worked Example
A digital thermostat has a CPU that uses the Little Man Computer Instruction Set.
The thermostat allows users to set a desired room temperature. The acceptable
range for room temperature settings is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, inclusive.
If the user sets a temperature within the range, the code outputs a 1 indicating a valid
setting. If the temperature setting is outside of the acceptable range, the code
outputs a 0 indicating an invalid setting.
The code is as follows:
INP
STA tempSetting
LDA tempSetting
SUB minTemp
BRP checkMax
LDA invalid
BRA end

checkMax
LDA maxTemp
SUB tempSetting
BRP valid

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 LDA invalid
BRA end
Your notes
valid LDA valid
end OUT
HLT

valid DAT 1
invalid DAT 0
minTemp DAT 15
maxTemp DAT 25
tempSetting DAT

a) What is the purpose of the label checkMax in the code? Describe its role in
determining the validity of the temperature setting.
[2]
b) If a user inputs a temperature setting of 14, what will be the output? Justify your
answer.
[2]
c) If the acceptable range of temperature settings was expanded to include
temperatures up to 30 degrees Celsius, what modification would be needed in the
code?
[2]
Answer:
Example answer that gets full marks:
a) The label checkMax marks the section of code that checks whether the temperature
setting is less than or equal to the maximum allowed value (25).
It is used to continue validation only after confirming that the input is greater than or
equal to the minimum temperature (15).
If the temperature is within range, the program continues from checkMax to determine
if it is also below the maximum; otherwise, it skips this section.
b) The output will be 0.
This is because 14 is less than the minimum allowed value of 15.
The program compares the input to the minimum temperature first, and since 14 is
below 15, it does not continue to checkMax and instead loads and outputs the invalid
value (0).
c) The value stored at the maxTemp label should be changed from 25 to 30.
This allows the program to correctly validate temperatures up to and including 30
degrees when comparing the input against the maximum allowed temperature.

Acceptable answers you could have given instead:

a) Any response mentioning that checkMax it is for checking if the user's input is below
or equal to the maximum allowable temperature should be awarded marks.

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b) Any answer stating that the output will be 0 because 14 is less than 15, or similar
logic, should be awarded marks.
Your notes
c) Any answer suggesting a change to the maxTemp DAT value to 30 should be
awarded marks.

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 Modes of Addressing
Your notes
Modes of Addressing
What is an addressing mode?
In A Level Computer Science, addressing modes are ways in which an instruction in
assembly language or machine code can access data stored in memory.
There are four main types of addressing modes:
Immediate
Direct
Indirect
Indexed

Immediate addressing
Operand is part of the instruction itself
MOV AX, 1234h // Moves the immediate hex value 1234h to the AX register

Direct addressing
The memory address of the operand is directly specified
MOV AX, [1234h] // Take the value stored in memory location 1234h and move to the AX register

Indirect addressing
A register contains the memory address of the operand
If BX contains the value 2000h:
MOV AX, [BX] // Moves the value from memory location 2000h to the AX register

This does not mean "Move the value 2000h into AX"
Instead, it means, "Look in the memory address 2000h (the value currently stored in the
BX register) and move whatever value you find into the AX register."
When brackets [ ] are around a register in assembly language (like [BX]), it's an instruction
to treat the value inside that register as a memory address and to use the data at that
memory address for the operation

Indexed addressing
Combines a base address with an index to compute the effective address
If BX contains 0050h and SI has a base address 1000h:
MOV AX, [BX + SI] // Move the value at memory location 1050h to AX

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Fetches data from the effective address (because 1000h + 0050h is 1050h) and moves it
into the AX register
Your notes

Worked Example
Consider a basic computer system with the following assembly language
instructions and a memory layout starting at address 1000.
1000: MOV AX, 8
1002: ADD AX, [BX]
1004: MOV [0008], AX
1006: MOV CX, [BX+DI]
1008: HLT

Assume the registers have the following values before execution:

AX = 0000
BX = 0003
DI = 0002
CX = 0010

Memory contains:
0000: 0
0001: 0
0002: 0
0003: 5
0004: 0
0005: 7
0006: 7
0007: 9
0008: 0

a) For the instruction at 1002, identify the addressing mode used and explain what it
does in the context of this instruction.
[2]
b) After the instruction at 1004 has executed, what will the value at memory address
0008 be? Justify your answer.

[2]
c) What value will be moved into the CX register after the instruction at 1006
executes? Explain the addressing mode used.
[2]
Answer:
Answer that gets full marks:
a) The instruction at 1002 uses Indirect Addressing. The instruction ADD AX, [BX] adds
the value at the memory address contained in the BX register to the AX register. In this

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case, since BX is 3, it will add the value at memory address 3 to AX.
b) The value at memory address 0008 will be 13. Before the instruction, AX contains the Your notes
value 8. After adding 5 (from memory address 3 due to the instruction at 1002), AX will
have the value 13. The instruction at 1004 then moves this value to memory address
0008.

c) The value moved into the CX register will be 7. The instruction at 1006 uses Indexed
Addressing. It accesses memory by combining the address in BX with the offset in DI.
Given BX is 3 and DI is 2, the effective address is 3 + 2 = 5, so it fetches the value 7 from
address 0005 into CX.
Acceptable responses:
a) Any answer identifying Indirect Addressing and explaining its use in the context of
fetching a value from memory for the instruction should be awarded marks.
b) Any answer stating that the value at address 0008 will be 13 due to adding 8 and 5
should be awarded marks.
c) Any response indicating the use of Indexed Addressing and explaining the value
fetch from address 5 should be awarded marks.

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