Programming

11.1 Programming Basics

Candidates should be able to:

1. Implement and write pseudocode from a given design presented as either a program flowchart or structured English
2. Write pseudocode statements for:
   1. the declaration and initialisation of constants
   2. the declaration of variables
   3. the assignment of values to variables
   4. expressions involving any of the arithmetic or logical operators input from the keyboard and output to the console
3. Use built-in functions and library routines

Notes and guidance

1. Any functions not given in the pseudocode guide will be provided
2. String manipulation functions will always be given

11.2 Constructs

Candidates should be able to:

1. Use pseudocode to write:
   1. an ‘IF’ statement including the ‘ELSE’ clause and nested IF statements
   2. a ‘CASE’ structure
   3. a ‘count-controlled’ loop:
   4. a ‘post-condition’ loop
   5. a ‘pre-condition’ loop
2. Justify why one loop structure may be better suited to solve a problem than the others

11.3 Structured Programming

Candidates should be able to:

1. Define and use a procedure
2. Explain where in the construction of an algorithm it would be appropriate to use a procedure
3. Use parameters

Notes and guidance

1. A procedure may have none, one or more parameters
2. A parameter can be passed by reference or by value

3. Define and use a function
4. Explain where in the construction of an algorithm it is appropriate to use a function

Notes and guidance

A function is used in an expression, e.g. the return value replaces the call

6. Use the terminology associated with procedures and functions

Notes and guidance

including procedure / function header, procedure / function interface, parameter, argument, return value

7. Write efficient pseudocode