What is meant by a field within a record?

A field is a single item of data about one thing, such as a surname or a date of birth, and it is the smallest named unit of a record.

What makes a good fieldname?

It describes the data it holds, is short enough to read easily, follows one naming convention throughout the design, and contains no spaces or symbols the language forbids.

Why is a telephone number stored as a string rather than as an integer?

A leading zero must be preserved and the number may contain spaces or a plus sign, and no arithmetic is ever performed on it.

Why is a Boolean field preferable to a string holding yes or no?

A Boolean occupies a single value of two possibilities, cannot be entered wrongly as yes, Y or true, and can be tested directly in a condition.

WJEC A-Level Computer Science 601-5345-3

Hardware: Architecture, Memory and Storage

Topic overview Components of a computer system and how they connect Von Neumann architecture and the CPU The fetch-execute cycle Memory and caching Parallel processing Input and output devices and their uses Secondary storage, fragmentation and defragmentation

Networks and Data Transmission

Topic overview Serial and parallel transmission Simplex, half duplex and full duplex Multiplexing and switching Packets and the TCP/IP protocol stack Networks, standards and protocols Collisions and shared media Routing, addressing and the internet

Logic Gates and Boolean Algebra

Topic overview Logic gates and their truth tables Boolean notation and expressions Building and reading truth tables Boolean identities and rules Simplifying Boolean expressions De Morgan's laws Masking and clearing registers

Data Representation and Data Types

Topic overview Bits, bytes and words The binary number system Hexadecimal notation Character sets and storing characters Primitive data types and storage requirements Binary arithmetic and negative numbers Real numbers, truncation and rounding

Data Structures

Topic overview Data structures and data types One-dimensional arrays Two-dimensional arrays Manipulating arrays Records and fields Arrays of records Choosing a data structure

Organisation of Data: Files and Records

Topic overview Files, records and fields Fixed and variable length records Master and transaction files File access and organisation methods Sequential file access and update algorithms File security, backup and archiving Data validation and verification

Database Systems

Topic overview Flat files and the relational model Relational and other contemporary database systems Primary, foreign, composite and candidate keys Indexes and links between tables Entity relationship modelling Normalisation to third normal form The database management system, queries and user views

The Operating System

Topic overview The need for an operating system The kernel and process management Memory protection and the backing store The user interface between user and hardware Directory structures and file attributes Utility software Batch, real time control and transaction processing

Algorithms and Programs

Topic overview Defining and designing algorithms Variables, constants and identifiers Scope, subprograms and parameter passing Sequence, selection and repetition Mathematical and logical operations Standard algorithms: sorting, searching and compression Dry running, trace tables and test data

Principles of Programming

Topic overview Procedural programming Event-driven and visual programming Mark-up languages Object-oriented programming: objects, classes and methods High-level languages Low-level languages Choosing a language for a problem

Systems Analysis

Topic overview The systems life cycle and the feasibility study Methods of investigation Analysis, abstraction and decomposition Design and data flow diagrams Testing and changeover Maintenance Backup, recovery and documentation

Software Engineering and Program Construction

Topic overview Integrated development environments and their purpose Editors, syntax highlighting and code entry tools Debugging tools: breakpoints, stepping and watches Translation, source code and object code Lexical analysis and the symbol table Syntax and semantic analysis Code generation and optimisation

Types of Software System

Topic overview Off-the-shelf, bespoke and custom software Open source and proprietary software Computers in weather forecasting Computer aided design and manufacture Robotics in industry Computer generated graphics and animation Expert systems

Practical Programming

Topic overview Designing data structures: fields, records and data types Key fields and methods of access Validation of input data Designing routines with pseudocode Tracing code and test data Prototyping and evaluating a solution Annotated listings and readable code

Data Security and Integrity

Topic overview Dangers of holding files of personal data Levels of permitted access and access control Passwords and authentication Clerical procedures and write-protection Threats to computer systems Malicious and accidental damage to data Contingency planning and disaster recovery

Computing, Society and the Law

Topic overview Social and economic change from computing Computers and the nature of employment The digital divide and cultural change Environmental cost of computing Data protection and freedom of information law The Computer Misuse Act 1990 and computer crime Copyright, surveillance and professional codes

Advanced Data Structures and Logic

Topic overview Arrays in three dimensions Stacks and queues using pointers and arrays Linked lists using pointers and arrays Binary trees using pointers and arrays Hash tables and collision resolution NAND, NOR and Boolean simplification Masking, clearing registers and encryption

Recursion, Sorting and Searching

Topic overview Recursion Quicksort and merge sort Comparing sorting algorithms Big O notation and algorithm complexity Searching and shortest-path algorithms Traversal of data structures Data compression and its efficiency

Programming Paradigms and Translators

Topic overview Functional, declarative and imperative paradigms Classes, methods and object-oriented design Standardisation of computer languages Ambiguity in natural language and unambiguous notation Backus-Naur form and syntax diagrams Compilers, interpreters and assemblers Translation and execution errors

System Design and Human-Computer Interaction

Topic overview The waterfall approach Agile approaches Documentation and when it is produced Contemporary approaches to communicating with computers Natural language interfaces and spoken ambiguity Design review and validation Evaluating a computer based solution

Software Engineering Tools and Professional Practice

Topic overview Software tools for the software engineering process Software packages in systems analysis and specification Software packages in systems design Testing tools and testing strategies Program version management Program libraries and project management tools Codes of conduct and professional behaviour

Advanced Architecture and Assembly Language

Topic overview Components of contemporary architecture Von Neumann and Harvard architectures The fetch-execute cycle in detail Parallel processing and its limits Assembly language and instruction formats Voice input, command and recognition Mobile and wireless networking

Communication Networks and File Organisation

Topic overview Calculating data transfer rates Lowest-cost routing The internet as a global infrastructure Creating, organising and processing files Hashing algorithms Overflow and file reorganisation Choosing an organisation and a route

Number Representation and Floating Point

Topic overview Binary arithmetic Sign and magnitude representation Two's complement Floating point representation Converting between real numbers and floating point Truncation, rounding and accuracy Shifts, overflow and underflow

Databases and Distributed Systems

Topic overview Consistency, redundancy and data independence Relational organisation and normalisation Restructuring data into third normal form Entity relationship modelling Query languages and SQL Validation, verification and the DBMS Big Data, data warehousing and mining Distributed systems and distributed databases

Operating System Management

Topic overview Types of operating system Interrupts and interrupt handling Memory management and partitioning Buffering and data transfer Scheduling and process states Scheduling policies and priorities Evaluating operating system design

Software Systems and Applications

Topic overview The range of software system types Safety related and safety critical systems Computer control and automation The scope of automation in practice Expert systems The internet, intranets and search Selecting and evaluating a software system

Data Security, Cryptography and Attack

Topic overview Integrity problems in online updating The need for cryptography Symmetric and asymmetric techniques Classical ciphers and cryptographic algorithms Comparing cryptographic strength Biometric technologies Malicious software and its vectors Attacks, defence and penetration testing

Practical Programming

7 subtopics
21 things to know
AS Units 1 and 2

What Practical Programming covers

Practical Programming is examined in AS Unit 1 and AS Unit 2, the on-screen practical examination, and again in the A2 programmed solution. It covers designing data structures: fields, records and data types, key fields and methods of access, validation of input data, designing routines with pseudocode, tracing code and test data, prototyping and evaluating a solution and annotated listings and readable code.

Where it is assessed

AS Units 1 and 2

Fundamentals of Computer Science, and the on-screen Practical Programming paper.

Check the WJEC specification ↗

The 7 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Process

How do the two forms of loop differ, why must a running total be initialised, and what separates a procedure from a function?

Key term

How is a key created where no field is unique, why is a surname unsuitable, and what does key order let a search do?

Key term

How is a record made up?

Key term

Distinguish validation from verification.

Key term

A counting loop runs from 0 to 9 inclusive. How many times does its body execute?

Key term

Distinguish a throwaway prototype from an evolutionary one.

Key term

What makes a comment worth writing?

Key term

Name five data types you would choose from when defining a field.

Key term

Why must a primary key never be left empty?

Key term

Explain why validated data can still be wrong.

Key term

Name the three basic constructs from which any routine is built.

Key term

An array has eight elements with indices 0 to 7. What happens if the program reads element 8?

Key term

Give three benefits of building a prototype.

Key term

Why is a comment saying that a counter is increased by one of little value?

Key term

Explain why choosing the smallest adequate data type matters for a large file.

Key term

How does a foreign key link two sets of records?

Process

How does a check digit work?

Key term

Distinguish a pre-conditioned loop from a post-conditioned loop.

Key term

What is an off-by-one error?

Evaluation

Against what should a finished solution be evaluated?

Key term

What should the comment block at the head of a subroutine state?

Take Practical Programming further

The same content, four other ways.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is meant by a field within a record?
Model answer
A field is a single item of data about one thing, such as a surname or a date of birth, and it is the smallest named unit of a record.
2
How is a record made up?
Model answer
A record is a collection of related fields, of possibly different data types, holding all the stored data about one person, item or event.
3
What makes a good fieldname?
Model answer
It describes the data it holds, is short enough to read easily, follows one naming convention throughout the design, and contains no spaces or symbols the language forbids.
4
Name five data types you would choose from when defining a field.
Model answer
Integer, real, Boolean, character or string, and date.
5
Why is a telephone number stored as a string rather than as an integer?
Model answer
A leading zero must be preserved and the number may contain spaces or a plus sign, and no arithmetic is ever performed on it.
6
Why is a Boolean field preferable to a string holding yes or no?
Model answer
A Boolean occupies a single value of two possibilities, cannot be entered wrongly as yes, Y or true, and can be tested directly in a condition.

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Hardware: Architecture, Memory and Storage

Networks and Data Transmission

Logic Gates and Boolean Algebra

Data Representation and Data Types

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Fetch, , execute.

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A bit is a single binary digit.

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Practical Programming revision questions

What does Practical Programming cover in WJEC A-Level Computer Science?: 7 subtopics: designing data structures: fields, records and data types, key fields and methods of access, validation of input data, designing routines with pseudocode, tracing code and test data, prototyping and evaluating a solution and annotated listings and readable code. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
How is Practical Programming organised?: By the WJEC 601-5345-3 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.

Every question in Practical Programming, on a schedule.

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