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A-level Computing/AQA/Problem Solving, Programming, Data Representation and Practical Exercise/Fundamentals of Programming
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Fundamentals of programming
Features of Imperative High Level Languages
Illustrate these features for a particular imperative, third-generation language such as Pascal.
/A program/
/Variables/
/Comments/
/Input and output/
Data Types
Use the following appropriately.
Built-in
Integer, byte, real, boolean, character, string, date/time.
User-defined
Enumerated, subrange, sets, records, arrays
/Data types/
/Built-in data types/
/Constant Definitions/
/Built-in functions/
/User-defined data types/
Programming statements
Type Definitions
Variable Declarations
Constant Definitions
Explain the advantages of named variables and constants.
Assignment
Iteration
Selection
Procedure/Function Declarations
Procedure and Function calling - Explain the advantages of procedure/functions.
Procedure and Function Parameters
Describe the use of parameters to pass data within programs.
Understand the different mechanisms for parameter passing: by value and by reference
Arithmetic operators including modulo arithmetic +, –, /, x, DIV, MOD
Relational operators =, <, >, <>, <=, >=
Boolean operators NOT, AND, OR
Logical bitwise operators NOT, AND, OR, XOR
Set operators Union, difference, intersection, membership
Built-in functions
Arithmetic functions: round, truncation.
String handling functions: length, position, substring, concatenation.
String conversion functions to/from integer, real, date/time.
/Selection/
/Iteration/
/Functions and Procedures/
/Operators/
/Arithmetic operators/
/Modulo arithmetic/
/Relational operators/
/Boolean operators/
/Logical bitwise operators/
/Set operators/
The Role of Variables
Recognise the different roles a variable can take:
fixed value, stepper, most recent holder, most wanted holder, gatherer, transformation, follower, temporary.
/Global and Local Variables/
/The Role of Variables/
Fundamentals of Structured Programming
Understand the structured approach to program design and construction.
Construct and use structure tables, structure charts and hierarchy charts when designing programs.
Use meaningful identifier names.
Use procedures/functions with interfaces.
Use procedures that execute a single task.
Explain the advantages of the structured approach.
/Fundamentals of Structured Programming/
Data Structures
Arrays
One- and Two-Dimensional Arrays - Use arrays in the design of solutions to simple problems.
Fields, Records and Files
Read/write from/to a text file (including csv file)
Read/write records from/to a file of records
/Data Structures/
/One-Dimensional Arrays/
/Two-Dimensional Arrays/
/Fields, Records and Files/
Validation
Understand the importance of validation of input data.
Program simple validation
/Validation/
/Debugging/
Variables
/questions/