A Level Computer Science Exam Technique paullong.net Training

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AQA Consequences

OCR Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues

Eduqas Economic, moral, legal and cultural issues

OCR P1 Q8 2017 – 9 marks

AQA P2 Q7 2017 – 12 marks

Eduqas AS P2 Q3 – 8 marks

Eduqas AS P1 2016 Q15 – 12 marks

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http://tiny.cc/ThinkingArm - first paralysed man to move his arm by thinking about it (3:04)

AQA P2 q4 - 12 marks

Plan the essay

Well structured essay Structure the essay logically following a plan Cover all areas asked for Use examples Describe how the technology would be used in context eg RFID tags use short-range wireless transmission so the fridge can identify items that are in the fridge by the data stored on each tag Explain advantages, eg: RFID tags do not require a power source The user would not need to be involved (contrast with barcode) Data could include use by date (contrast with barcode) Explain disadvantages, eg: Low cost consumable products don’t usually have RFID tags (contrast with barcode), although this could change in the future Will need an alternative method to deal with untagged products

Answering a hard question Question paper has 120 marks It is a 2 hour exam How many minutes per mark? Question 2b is worth 8 marks You’re struggling to work out the answer Option 1: You decide to miss out the question How many marks will you lose? Option 2: You spend 15 minutes trying to answer the question How many marks will you lose if you answer the question?

Maximise marks, NOT maximum marks Traditionally 80% = A 70% = B 60% = C If you are aiming for a grade A, you could afford to lose 20% of the marks BUT what are the marks really? In 2018, Grade A: AQA 66/100 and 65/100 (66% and 65%) OCR 89/140 and 94/140 (64% and 67%) Eduqas 65/100 and 66/100 (65 and 66%) So if aiming for grade A – 35% of marks not needed You do NOT have to aim for all marks Do NOT be afraid of missing a question out Compare with OCR 2018: Chemistry = 80% and 73% English = 75% English Lit = 88% Maths = 61 – 75% Psychology = 74% and 71% Answer on sheets For question 3, steal each other’s answers after a minute Students to read out answers aloud Discuss if too much or too little information given in each answer

AQA P2 q5.2 - 1 mark W G

AQA P2 q5.2 - 1 mark W G Y B

AQA P2 q5.3 - 2 marks

AQA P2 q10.1 - 2 marks

Documenting errors Keep a record of regular mistakes that you make Learn from your mistakes Be conscious not to repeat them in the real exam Are you reading the question carefully Always go back to the question to check you have answered it fully Mistakes are HUMAN nature

Using a template structure Look at number of marks available Focus on the command/key words to see what you are being asked to do: Describe Reasons Advantages Explain Evaluate Don’t forget EXAMPLES

Eduqas P1 q9b Problem Reason Look at number of marks Could run out of memory (stack space) because there are a high number of recursive calls Difficult to debug if producing incorrect results because it’s difficult to determine which recursive call produced the error 29

Eduqas P1 q5a Explanation / reason Constants Once the value is set, it can be used several times throughout the programme. If a change needs to be made to the value, it only has to be done once. Eg VAT = 20% Meaningful variable names This makes the program more readable because it is clear what the variable is for. Eg Surname[counter] ← USERINPUT is easier to understand than x[i] ← USERINPUT Annotation It helps the programmer understand what the purpose of each part of code was for, and for other programmers to understand it too. Eg Loop to request surnames from user 30

Eduqas P1 q8 Description Example related to STOCK CONTROL Perfective maintenance is used to improve the functionality of a system. For example, adding a facility to automatically re-order products from suppliers. Corrective maintenance is about fixing bugs in a system. For example, some re-order reports may be including stock that has already been re-ordered but not yet been delivered. Adaptive maintenance is about adapting the software due to an external change. For example, the way stock is categorised in the store is changed and the software needs updating to accommodate the new categories. 31

OCR P1 q3c Follow standard rules for standard questions Remember to include DEGREE of relationships

Resolving many to many relationships X ENTITY A Primary Key A Attribute A1 Attribute A2 ENTITY B Primary Key B Attribute B1 Attribute B2 Use the primary keys from the original entities as foreign keys in the link table ENTITY A Primary Key A Attribute A1 Attribute A2 LINK TABLE Primary Key Lk Foreign Key A Foreign Key B ENTITY B Primary Key B Attribute B1 Attribute B2 Remember the many side of the relationship goes with the foreign keys Therefore, the foreign keys always go in the link table

OCR P1 q4d – 3 marks Avoid: it‘s “faster” it‘s “cheaper” what is it faster than? why is it faster? it‘s “cheaper” what is it cheaper than? what makes it cheaper it‘s “more robust” what is it more robust? why is it more robust? it‘s “smaller” what is it smaller than? why is being smaller an advantage?

Exam technique summary Read questions and instructions carefully A highlighter pen can be your best friend Don’t panic Don’t be afraid to miss out a question Look at marks available Avoid ‘easier’, ‘faster’, ‘more efficient’, ‘better’ Give full answers to written questions Include extra information if time Give examples related to the scenario Draw diagrams if appropriate

http://tiny.cc/WasteAfrica - computing waste in Africa (4:09)