N5 Computing Science: Standard Algorithms

Which are the standard algorithms you need to know about for N5 Computing Science? Choose all that apply ...

• Input validation

• Traversing 1D array

• Running total in a loop

• Linear search

• Counting occurrences of an item

Answer explanation

These are the only 3 algorithms you will have questions about in the exam.

Choose all the valid methods of input validation ...

• Range check

• Length check

• Presence check

• Type check

• Restricted choice

Answer explanation

Therere various ways of carrying out input validation - but they all try to make sure that the input data makes 'sense'.

Which would be the best choice of loop for an input validation algorithm?

• conditional loop

• fixed loop over a range of integers

• fixed loop over a data structure

Answer explanation

A conditional loop would be the best choice because it is impossible to predict how many attempts the user might take before entering 'sensible' data.

Which would be the best choice of loop for an algorithm to traverse a 1-D array?

• conditional loop

• fixed loop over a range of integers

• fixed loop over a data structure

Answer explanation

Because the loop should process ALL the items in the 1-D array then a loop over each item in the data structures would be the best option.

Which would be the best choice of loop for an algorithm to keep a running total?

• conditional loop

• fixed loop over a range of integers

• fixed loop over a data structure

• could be any of these loops - none is better than thge others

Answer explanation

Keeping a running total could equally be achieved using any type of loop.

Which N5 standard algorithm is this loop from?

• Iterating over a 1-D array

• Keeping a running total

• Input validation

Answer explanation

This loop prints the square of each item in the array.

Which N5 standard algorithm is this loop from?

• Iterating over a 1-D array

• Keeping a running total

• Input validation

Answer explanation

This loop increments a total variable until the input is 0.

Which standard algorithm is this loop from?

• Iterating over a 1-D array

• Keeping a running total

• Input validation

Answer explanation

This conditional loop will keep repeating as long as the input is not in the range 1-10.

Match the code snippets to the correct algorithm ...

• Iterate over 1-D array

• 
• Running total

• 
• Count occurrences

• 
• Input validation

• 

Answer explanation

Count occurrences is NOT one of the N5 standard algorithms, but it is an example of traversing a 1D array.

Which of these code snippets does NOT show an algorithm to count the occurrences of an item in a 1-D array called List?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

The correct answer shows a linear search algorithm, rather than a count occurrences algorithm.