2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
1(a) One mark for each correct line. 4
Pseudocode description Pseudocode statement
FOR…TO…NEXT
a loop that will always iterate at
least once
IF…THEN…ELSE…ENDIF
a conditional statement to deal
with many possible outcomes
WHILE…DO…ENDWHILE
a loop that will always iterate a set
number of times
CASE…OF…OTHERWISE…ENDCASE
a conditional statement with
different outcomes for true and false
REPEAT…UNTIL
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
1(b) • appropriate loop controls 3
• read from array
• output from array (the last two points can be in one statement, see example)
Note: reading and the output MUST be within the same loop.
For example:
Count ← 0
WHILE Count < 50 DO
OUTPUT Name[Count]
Count ← Count + 1
ENDWHILE
Question Answer Marks
2 Validation check 4
One mark for description:
• To test if the data entered is possible / reasonable / sensible.
• A range check tests that data entered fits within specified values.
One mark for example:
• Allow any correct validation check as an example (range, length, type, presence, format, etc.).
Verification check
One mark for description:
• To test if the data input is the same as the data that was intended to be input.
• A double entry check expects each item of data to be entered twice and compares both entries to check they are the
same.
One mark for example:
Allow any correct verification check as an example (visual, double entry, etc.).
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
3 B 1
Question Answer Marks
4 One mark for a hierarchical structure. 4
One mark for suitable names for the sub-systems.
One mark for identifiable inputs.
One mark for identifiable outputs.
For example:
Satellite navigation system
Input destination Output directions
New destination Saved destination Map List
Question Answer Marks
5(a) One mark for each error identified and correction: 4
• Numbers should be Number
• IF Number > 100 should be IF Number >= 100
• INPUT Number is missing from inside the loop, insert INPUT Number after the ENDIF statement.
• The final OUTPUT Number is not needed, remove it.
5(b) One mark for both ends of the range and correct inequality symbols. 2
One mark for the AND // nested IFs.
The test should be IF Number >= 100 AND Number <= 200
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
6(a) One mark for each correct gate, with the correct input(s) as shown. 4
B X
6(b) 4
A B C X
0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 1 0 1
0 1 1 0
1 0 0 0
1 0 1 0
1 1 0 1
1 1 1 1
Four marks for eight correct outputs.
Three marks for six or seven correct outputs.
Two marks for four or five correct outputs.
One mark for two or three correct outputs.
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
7(a) Flag Count Name[1] Name[2] Name[3] Name[4] Temp 5
Jamal Amir Eve Tara
0 1 Amir Jamal Eve Tara Jamal
1 2 Amir Eve Jamal Tara Jamal
1 3 Amir Eve Jamal Tara Jamal
1 4 Amir Eve Jamal Tara Jamal
0 1 Amir Eve Jamal Tara Jamal
0 2 Amir Eve Jamal Tara Jamal
0 3 Amir Eve Jamal Tara Jamal
0 4 Amir Eve Jamal Tara Jamal
One mark for Flag column.
One mark for Count column.
One mark for Temp column.
Two marks for all correct Name columns or one mark for two or three correct Name columns.
Note: Repeated values do not need to be written unless a value is rewritten.
7(b) • bubble sort / sorting the names 2
• ascending order / A to Z / lowest to highest / alphabetical order
Question Answer Marks
8 One mark for each. 3
10.00 boundary / abnormal data // the price should be rejected // value is out of range
9.99 boundary / extreme / normal data // the price should be accepted // value is within normal range
ten abnormal data // input should be rejected // value is wrong type
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
9 Any three from: 3
• data is not lost when the computer is switched off // data is stored permanently
• data can be used by more than one program or reused when a program is run again
• data can be backed up or archived
• data can be transported from one place / system to another.
Question Answer Marks
10 C 1
Question Answer Marks
11(a) 20 1
11(b)(i) CatNo 1
11(b)(ii) it is a unique identifier 1
11(c) Two marks for four correct answers. 2
One mark for two or three correct answers.
Field Data type
CatNo Text
Title Text
Genre1 Text
Streaming Boolean / Text
11(d) FROM 2
"Comedy"
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
12(a) One mark for each correct line. 3
DECLARE X : STRING
DECLARE Y : INTEGER
DECLARE Z : INTEGER
12(b) One mark for storing string in X. 6
One mark for calling the function length.
One mark for using the correct parameter X.
One mark for using the substring function.
One mark for correct parameters.
One mark for outputting length and substring return values.
For example:
X ← "Programming is fun"
OUTPUT LENGTH(X)
Y ← 16
Z ← 3
OUTPUT SUBSTRING(X,Y,Z)
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
13 Read the whole answer, award a mark from both of the following tables and add up the total. 15
Marks are available for:
• AO2 (maximum 9 marks)
• AO3 (maximum 6 marks).
The techniques and the data structures required are listed below. The requirements may be met using a suitable built-in
function from the programming language used (Python, VB.NET or Java).
Techniques required:
R1 Calculate total mark for each student (iteration and totalling).
R2 Calculate average mark for each student rounded to the nearest whole number.
R3 Selection of grade for each student (selection).
R4 Output for each student name, total mark, average mark, grade awarded (output with appropriate messages).
R5 Calculate, store and output the number of distinctions, merits, passes and fails for the whole class (iteration,
counting and output with appropriate messages).
Data structures required:
The names underlined must be used as provided in the scenario.
Arrays or lists StudentName, StudentMark,
(TotalMark and AverageMark may be seen but no requirement to store)
Variables ClassSize, SubjectNo, SubjectCounter, StudentCounter
DistinctionNo, MeritNo, PassNo, FailNo could be an array or list
Constants Distinction, Merit, Pass could be variables
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
13 Example 15 mark answer in pseudocode.
// meaningful identifier names and appropriate data structures (variables, constants and the
// given arrays) to store all the data required
DECLARE TotalMark : ARRAY[1:50] OF INTEGER
DECLARE AverageMark : ARRAY[1:50] OF INTEGER
DECLARE SubjectCounter : INTEGER
DECLARE StudentCounter : INTEGER
DECLARE DistinctionNo : INTEGER
DECLARE MeritNo : INTEGER
DECLARE PassNo : INTEGER
DECLARE FailNo : INTEGER
CONSTANT Distinction = 70
CONSTANT Merit = 55
CONSTANT Pass = 40
// initialisation processes for this scenario, initialising the running totals used for
// grades and combined totals
DistinctionNo ← 0
MeritNo ← 0
PassNo ← 0
FailNo ← 0
FOR StudentCounter ← 1 to ClassSize
TotalMark[StudentCounter] ← 0
NEXT StudentCounter
// programming techniques of iteration, selection, totalling, counting and output are used
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
Question Answer Marks
13 FOR StudentCounter ← 1 to ClassSize
FOR SubjectCounter ← 1 to SubjectNo
TotalMark[StudentCounter] ← TotalMark[StudentCounter] + StudentMark[StudentCounter,
SubjectCounter]
NEXT SubjectCounter
AverageMark[StudentCounter] ← INT((TotalMark[StudentCounter] / SubjectNo) + 0.5)
OUTPUT "Name ", StudentName[StudentCounter]
OUTPUT "Combined total mark ", TotalMark[StudentCounter]
OUTPUT "Average mark ", AverageMark[StudentCounter]
IF AverageMark[StudentCounter] >= Distinction
THEN
DistinctionNo ← DistinctionNo + 1
OUTPUT "Grade Distinction"
ELSE
IF AverageMark[StudentCounter] >= Merit
THEN
MeritNo ← MeritNo + 1
OUTPUT "Grade Merit"
ELSE
IF AverageMark[StudentCounter] >= Pass
THEN
PassNo ← PassNo + 1
OUTPUT "Grade Pass"
ELSE
FailNo ← FailNo + 1
OUTPUT "Grade Fail"
ENDIF
ENDIF
ENDIF
NEXT StudentCounter
OUTPUT "Number of Distinctions ", DistinctionNo
OUTPUT "Number of Merits ", MeritNo
OUTPUT "Number of Passes ", PassNo
OUTPUT "Number of Fails ", FailNo
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
AO2: A
pply knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of computer science to a given context, including the analysis
and design of computational or programming problems
0 1–3 4–6 7–9
At least one programming technique Some programming techniques used The range of programming techniques
has been used. are appropriate to the problem. used is appropriate to the problem.
Any use of selection, iteration, More than one technique seen applied All criteria stated for the scenario
counting, totalling, input and output. to the scenario, refer to the list of have been covered by the use of
techniques needed. appropriate programming techniques,
refer to the list of techniques needed.
No creditable response
Some data has been stored but not Some of the data structures chosen The data structures chosen are
appropriately. are appropriate and store some of the appropriate and store all the data
data required. required.
Any use of variables or arrays or other
language-dependent data structures, More than one data structure used The data structures used store all the
e.g. Python lists. to store data that is required by the data that is required by the scenario.
scenario.
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2210/02 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023
AO3: Provide solutions to problems by:
• evaluating computer systems
• making reasoned judgements
• presenting conclusions
0 1–2 3–4 5–6
Program seen without relevant Program seen with some relevant The program has been fully
comments. comment(s). commented.
Some identifier names used are The majority of identifiers used are Suitable identifiers with names
appropriate. appropriately named. meaningful to their purpose have been
used throughout.
Some of the data structures used have Most of the data structures used have
meaningful names. meaningful names. All the data structures used have
meaningful names.
The solution is illogical. The solution contains parts that may The program is in a logical order.
be illogical.
The solution is inaccurate in many The solution contains parts that are The solution is accurate.
No creditable response
places. inaccurate.
Solution logically performs all the tasks
Solution contains few lines of code, Solution contains lines of code, with given in the scenario. Ignore minor
with errors, that attempt to perform a some errors, that logically perform syntax errors.
task given in the scenario. tasks given in the scenario. Ignore
minor syntax errors.
The solution attempts at least one of The solution meets most of the The solution meets all the
the requirements. requirements. requirements given in the question.
Solution contains lines of code that Solution contains lines of code that Solution performs all the tasks given in
attempt at least one task given in the perform most tasks given in the the scenario.
scenario. scenario.
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