National 5 Computing Science Specimen Question Paper

Aims of this session To support teachers, lecturers and assessors in their understanding of the requirements of the question paper component, in the revised course assessment for computing science by focussing on the specimen question paper. To provide opportunities for delegates to: ask questions and seek clarification discuss the revised requirements with colleagues

Question paper component 110 marks instead of 90 marks Section 1 – short-answer questions (25 marks) Section 2 – context based questions (85 marks) Mark ranges: 34 – 44 marks for software design and development (SDD) 20 – 35 marks for database design and development (DDD) 20 – 35 marks for web design and development (WDD) 12 – 20 marks for (computer systems)

Question paper component The assignment and question paper are developed together to ensure balance of sampling. 30% of the questions in the question paper are described as ‘A’ discriminator questions. questions 14(c), 17(b), 17(c), 19(e) and 20(b) are examples of these

Implementation - writing code Writing code will be predominantly assessed in the assignment. Where code is asked to be written in the question paper there will be scaffolding. Candidates are being assessed on their understanding of the use of constructs. Candidates have never been, and will not be, penalised for syntax errors.

Question 14(c) Is testing that candidates recognise: when it’s more appropriate to use 1d arrays when it’s more appropriate to use a fixed loop the standard algorithm for a running total within a loop Candidates apply their understanding of efficient use of coding constructs using the given code to direct them.

Possible answer For loop is 1 TO 7 GET day(loop) total = total + day(loop) Average = total / 7 This response is not syntactically correct but gets full marks as it: uses a fixed loop has an input uses a 1d array has a running total within the loop calculates the average correctly

Question 15(b) Is testing that candidates: recognise the format of CSS rules can edit a CSS rule for different circumstances Candidates not writing CSS rule from scratch but editing the CSS rule that has already been given. In this case the syntax has to be correct as it’s given in the question.

Possible answer h1 { font-size: 20px; font-family: “Time New Roman”; text-align: center; } p { font-size: 10px; font-family: “Helvetica”; text-align: left;

Question 18(b) Is testing that candidates recognise: the format of HTML for lists the need for opening and closing tags Candidates not writing HTML from scratch but placing the tags in the right place. In this case the syntax has to be correct as it’s given in the question.

Reading and explaining code Questions may involve reading and explaining code in: software design and development database design and development web design and development Question 4 – read and understanding code (SQA Reference Language) Question 17(b)(c), 20(b) – read and understand SQL Question 18(c)(d) – read and understand HTML and CSS

Software design Design questions may ask candidates to solve a problem using one of the three design techniques: Structure diagram Flowchart Pseudocode For examples of design techniques, see Appendix 1 of the Computing Science Course Support Notes. Please note SQA Reference Language is not a design technique

Example question 16(b) Is testing that candidates can design an efficient solution to a problem. Looking for the main points of a correct design: selection constructs conditions correct tax rate assigned efficient solution

Example question 19(e) Is testing that candidates can design an efficient solution to a standard algorithm. Looking for the main points of a correct design: Input of string Conditional loop Condition length = 3 characters Error message

Software design Design questions may require candidates to read and understand any of the three design techniques. For example: Question 19(a) and 19(b) – pseudocode Question 20 – structure diagram

Database design Design questions may involve completing a: data entity relationship data dictionary query design For examples of database design, see Appendices 5, 6 and 7 of the Course Support Notes.

Database design Question 17(a) – Data entity relationship completing an entity relationship diagram Question 20(a) – Data dictionary understanding of primary and foreign keys Question 20(c) – Design a query Completing the design query

Web design Design questions may involve designing a web page using wire-framing. For examples of web user-interface design, see Appendix 10 of the Course Support Notes.

Question 15(a) Is testing whether candidates can extract information from a given scenario and apply wire-frame design technique with knowledge of file types. Wire-frame location of graphic with file type Wire-frame location of text Wire-frame location of video interview with file type

Past paper questions In your packs we have provided you with a table showing which areas of the course specification match previously issued exam questions. You will note that in the majority of cases the questions are similar to previous National 5 questions.

Any questions ? If you haven’t managed to get an answer to any of your questions today, please write it on a post-it note and stick it on the flipchart, with your name and email address and we’ll get back to you.