Computational Constructs

Description, exemplification and implementation of the following constructs:

• expressions to assign values to variables
• expressions to return values using arithmetic operations (+, -, *, /, ^, mod)
• expressions to concatenate strings and arrays using the and operator
• use of selection constructs including simple and complex conditional statements using logical operators (AND, OR, NOT)
• iteration and repetition using fixed and conditional loops
• pre-defined functions (with parameters) including Random, Integer and Round

Data types and structures

Description, implementation and exemplification of the following data types and structures:

• character
• String
• numeric (integer and real) variables
• Boolean variables
• 1-D arrays

Testing and documenting solutions

Description, identification, exemplification and implementation of normal, extreme and exceptional test data.

Description and identification of syntax, execution and logic errors.

Description, identification and exemplification of the readability of code including:

• internal commentary
• meaningful identifiers
• indentation
• white space

Algorithm specification

Description, exemplification and implementation of standard algorithms, including:

• input validation

Design notations (also applies in information system design and development)

Graphical to illustrate selection and iteration. (A National 4 concept which also applies at National 5)

Description and identification of structure diagrams, flowcharts and pseudocode to solve problems.

• Exemplification of pseudocode to solve problems.

Low-level operations and computer architecture

Use of binary to represent and store: (National 4 content which is expected knowledge at National 5)

• positive integers
• characters
• instructions (machine code)

Units of storage (bit, byte, Kb, Mb, Gb, Tb, Pb) (National 4 content which is expected knowledge at National 5)

Explanation of the need to translate high-level program code to binary (machine code).

Comparison of interpreters and compilers.

Description and exemplification of the use of binary to represent positive integers.

Conversion from Binary to decimal and vice-versa.

Description of floating point representation of real numbers using the terms mantissa and exponent.

Description of ASCII code (7-bit) used to represent characters.

Description of the vector graphics method of graphic representation.

Description of the bit-mapped method of graphics representation.

Describe the purpose of the Basic computer architecture components and how they are linked together including:

• processor (registers, ALU, control unit)
• memory
• buses (data and address)
• interfaces

Contemporary developments

Exemplification of trends in the development of:

• software development languages
• software development environments
• their editing features
• high-level code translation and execution