O Level Computer Science 2210 · Topic 8

Programming: past paper questions

270 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Write, Identify, Explain, Describe, Complete

Real questions on programming

The newest 20 of 270 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

2210/12 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[2]
Describe what is meant by assembly language.
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2210/12 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[1]
Identify the translator needed for assembly language.
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2210/12 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[1]
A It is close to human language. B It is memory efficient. C It is easy to debug. (c) Tick (✓) one box to show which statement is an advantage of using assembly language.
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2210/13 · October/November 2025 · Q6c[2]
The computer game is programmed using a high-level language. Explain one difference between a high-level language and a low-level language.
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2210/13 · October/November 2025 · Q6d(i)[1]
Translates and executes the source code one line at a time.
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2210/13 · October/November 2025 · Q6d(ii)[1]
Translates the source code and will not execute it if errors are found. It instead produces a full report of the errors in the source code.
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2210/13 · October/November 2025 · Q6d(iii)[1]
Translates the source code and produces an executable file.
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2210/13 · October/November 2025 · Q6d(iv)[1]
Stops execution of the machine code where an error is found and will resume execution of the machine code once the error is fixed.
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2210/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[5]
Identify the line numbers of five errors in the pseudocode and suggest a correction for each error. Error 1 line number Correction Error 2 line number Correction Error 3 line number Correction Error 4 line number Correction Error 5 line number Correction
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2210/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2b(i)[4]
Complete the pseudocode for PROCEDURE NewData PROCEDURE NewData( ) 1 TO FOR Row FOR Column INPUT 1 TO 4
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2210/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2b(ii)[2]
Write the pseudocode to input the number of new contacts and to use procedure NewData. A variable declaration is not required.
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2210/22 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[6]
The first data row of the trace table shows the values currently stored in CodeStore[] Complete the trace table for the algorithm, using the input data: 7686, Face, Speed, 432U, Yp79 CodeStore[] Store Count aBcd 1532 Face 63q8 OUTPUT Code
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2210/22 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[3]
Describe the processes in the algorithm on page 6.
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2210/22 · October/November 2025 · Q5c[4]
The algorithm on page 6 requires the array CodeStore[] to be declared as a one‑dimensional (1D) string array with six elements that are initially set to the null string "". Write the pseudocode required to declare and initialise the array CodeStore[] You do need to declare any variables used.
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2210/22 · October/November 2025 · Q8[15]
A program is required to test the fairness of the random number generator. The one‑dimensional (1D) array RandomNumber[] is used to store 100 000 random integers. The two‑dimensional (2D) array CountedNumber[] is used to store the integers 1 to 10, inclusive, and the frequency of each integer (the number of times each...
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2210/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1[3]
Give three ways of creating a maintainable program.
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2210/23 · October/November 2025 · Q2[4]
Four descriptions of programming techniques and five programming techniques are given. 2 Draw one line from each description to the relevant technique. Not all techniques will be used. Description Programming technique output adding up a set of numbers selection displaying the result of a calculation totalling executin...
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2210/23 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[4]
Tickets for a theme park are booked online. An adult ticket costs $12.99 and a child ticket costs $7.99. A booking fee of $1.99 is added to the total cost of each booking. Write an algorithm in pseudocode to: • • • input the number of adult tickets for a booking input the number of child tickets for a booking calculate...
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2210/23 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[4]
Each booking must have at least one adult ticket. Explain how the algorithm could be changed to repeatedly ask for the number of adult tickets if the number input is less than 1. Any code used must be fully explained.
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2210/23 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[2]
The algorithm does not work correctly. State the reason why the algorithm does not work as expected and explain how the algorithm could be corrected. Any code used must be fully explained. Reason Correction
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What examiners said

Many candidates correctly stated format check, which was the only correct answer for this question. Other incorrect validation checks were seen, including type check and presence check.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2210/22 Q2(a) (Cambridge)

Candidates were required to give an example of normal data and an example of abnormal data that could be used to make sure the check in part (a) is working correctly. In each case, a reason was required. The normal data needed to be any series of digits in the format 99/99/9999 and the abnormal data could be anything that wasn’t a series of digits in the given format, or anything that was an attem...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2210/22 Q2(b) (Cambridge)

Candidates were asked to describe how a length check could be used as a further validation check for a date that had been entered. Many candidates correctly stated that this check would ensure that the date was 10 characters in total (if the slashes are included). Some candidates went on to expand the answer to state that if the answer was not the correct length, it would be rejected, and achieved...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2210/22 Q2(c) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise programming

In the syllabus

8.0 Identify errors in given algorithms and suggest

Write and amend algorithms for given problems • Precision is required when writing algorithms,
e.g. x > y is acceptable but
x is greater than y is not acceptable • See section 4 for flowchart symbols • See section 4 for pseudocode

8.1 Programming concepts

Understand and use arithmetic, relational • Arithmetic, limited to:
– + – – – / – * – ^ (raised to power of) – MOD – DIV • Relational, limited to: – = – < – <= – > – >= – <> (not equal to) • Logical, limited to: – AND – OR – NOT
Understand and use nested statements • Including nested selection and iteration • Candidates will not be required to write more than three levels of nested statements
(a) Understand what is meant by procedures,
Define and use procedures and functions, • Procedures and functions may have up to three
parameters
Understand and use local and global
Understand and use library routines • Including: – MOD – DIV – ROUND – RANDOM
Understand how to create a maintainable • Including appropriate use of:
– meaningful identifiers – the commenting feature provided by the programming language – procedures and functions – relevant and appropriate commenting of syntax • Use meaningful identifiers for: – variables – constants – arrays – procedures and functions

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