Algorithm design and problem-solving: past paper questions

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Tick (✓) one box to identify the type of validation check to test whether a number entered into a computer system is between two set values.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured3 marks

  Identify three different types of test data that can be used to test a program.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Tick (✓) one box to show which check is used for verification when data is input.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured7 marks

  The first stage of the program development life cycle is analysis. Two of the tasks in analysis are abstraction and decomposition. Describe what is meant by abstraction.

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 21Structured4 marks

  The following pseudocode algorithm uses a bubble sort to sort the array Names[50] Complete the algorithm.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured14 marks

  A restaurant offers a fixed priced menu. A meal for an adult costs $9.99 and a meal for a child costs $6.99. If there are 6 or more people at a table, a 15% discount is applied to the total cost of the order.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured4 marks

  Four operators and three types of operator are shown. Draw one or more lines from each operator to its correct operator type.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  An algorithm has been written in pseudocode.

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 21Structured12 marks

  A computer system automatically creates usernames for new users. A new user enters their first name and their last name.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured4 marksHas a diagram

  A hotel booking system is an example of a computer system that is made up of sub-systems. The booking system: • allows the user to select the room type and the number of nights required • displays the types of rooms available to the user as pictures or as a list.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured3 marks

  Identify three stages of the program development life cycle from the following list of words.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured16 marksHas a diagram

  A programmer is designing an algorithm to calculate the cost of a length of rope.

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• Question 7May/June 2026, paper 21Structured4 marksHas a diagram

  An algorithm has been written in pseudocode for a user to repeatedly input positive whole numbers and store them in an array called Values[] until –1 is input or until the array is full. The algorithm outputs the average of the numbers to 2 decimal places.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured9 marks

  A check digit is one method to validate a 5-digit number. The check digit for a 5-digit number is calculated as follows: • Each digit is multiplied by its position (the first digit on the left is in position 1). • The result of each multiplication is totalled.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured6 marks

  Describe three methods that are used to design and construct a solution to a problem.

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured15 marks

  Drama students put on a performance of a play for one evening. Seats in a small theatre can be booked for this performance. The theatre has 10 rows of 20 seats.

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• Question 10May/June 2026, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Draw a flowchart to input six whole numbers and output the highest.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  The flowchart represents an algorithm. Complete the tables, using the flowchart, for the given data: Input data: 20 Input data: 110

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  An incomplete algorithm has been written in pseudocode to count the number of zeros stored in an array and total the non-zero values.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Tick (✓) one box to complete the sentence.

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• Question 12May/June 2026, paper 21Structured15 marks

  A weather monitoring station records the number of minutes of sunshine for each day of a month. The one-dimensional (1D) array Sunshine[] is used to store the number of minutes of sunshine for each day. The index of the array represents the day.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured15 marks

  This pseudocode algorithm is intended to input a first name from a user and search for it in a two-dimensional (2D) array.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  A programmer is designing a program to check the length of a password and to check if the password input is the same as the stored password.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured7 marks

  A type of validation check is a length check. Another type of validation check is used to make sure that any date entered is in the dd/mm/yyyy style: dd means day, mm means month and yyyy means year. State the type of validation check used.

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Tick (✓) one box to complete the following sentence.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured6 marks

  A program is written that will only accept values between –99.99 and +99.99, inclusive. The program is to be tested. The table, when completed, shows appropriate test data that matches the type of test data and purpose of the test data.

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured8 marks

  An algorithm has been written in pseudocode to check if a temperature is in a given range. The temperature values used in the algorithm are correct.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Four pseudocode statements and five pseudocode uses are shown. Draw one line to link each pseudocode statement to the most appropriate pseudocode use.

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• Question 3May/June 2026, paper 22Structured11 marks

  Identify the type of validation check used in each description.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  A length check is a type of validation check. State the purpose of a length check.

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