Programming Fundamentals

What Programming Fundamentals covers

Programming Fundamentals is examined in J277/02, Computational thinking, algorithms and programming. It covers variables, constants, operators and assignment, sequence, selection and iteration, data types and casting, string manipulation and file handling, arrays, records and SQL and functions, procedures and random numbers.

The 6 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Variables, constants, operators and assignmentVariables, constants and assignment, = against ==, input, MOD, DIV and exponent operators with worked results, comparison operators and Boolean conditions.Open →
• Sequence, selection and iterationThe three programming constructs, count-controlled and condition-controlled loops, the output of for, while and do … until loops, if … elseif, and switch … case.Open →
• Data types and castingInteger, real, Boolean, character and string, choosing the right type for phone numbers, prices and grades, and casting with worked results.Open →
• String manipulation and file handlingConcatenation, length, substring, left, right, upper, lower, ASC and CHR with worked results, and opening, reading, writing and closing text files.Open →
• Arrays, records and SQLOne- and two-dimensional arrays indexed from zero, records and fields, and SELECT, FROM and WHERE queries on a small table with worked results.Open →
• Functions, procedures and random numbersSub programs, functions and procedures, parameters and return values, local and global variables, worked function results, and random number generation.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Programming Fundamentals further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Variable vs Constant

  Variable: a named memory location whose value can change as the program runs. Constant: a named value that stays fixed for the whole run of a program.

• MOD vs DIV

  MOD: the amount left over after one integer fits into another as many whole times as possible. DIV: the number of whole times one integer fits into another.

• Function vs Procedure

  Function: a sub program that hands a value back to the code that called it. Procedure: a sub program that performs a task without handing any value back.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a variable in a program?

   Model answer

   A variable is a named location in memory that stores a value. The value can change while the program is running.

2. 2

   What is a constant?

   Model answer

   A constant is a named value that stays the same for the whole time a program runs. The program cannot change the value once it is set.

3. 3

   Which keyword declares a constant in OCR Exam Reference Language?

   Model answer

   The keyword const declares a constant. The line const maxPlayers = 4 fixes the player limit at 4.

4. 4

   When should a value be stored as a constant rather than as a variable?

   Model answer

   A constant suits a value that must not change while the program runs, such as the number of days in a week. A variable suits a value that changes, such as a score.

5. 5

   What does assignment mean in programming?

   Model answer

   Assignment stores a value in a variable. The value on the right of the = sign is placed in the variable named on the left.

6. 6

   What is output by x = 4, then x = x + 3, then x = x * 2, then x = x - 5, then print(x)?

   Model answer

   The code outputs 9. The value of x goes from 4 to 7, then to 14, then to 9.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Programming Fundamentals revision questions

What does Programming Fundamentals cover in OCR GCSE Computer Science?

6 subtopics: variables, constants, operators and assignment, sequence, selection and iteration, data types and casting, string manipulation and file handling, arrays, records and sql and functions, procedures and random numbers. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Programming Fundamentals organised?

By the OCR J277 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.