Chapter 1: GCSE Computer Science Revision: Algorithms, Programming and Exam Technique

GCSE Computer ScienceAQA12 topicsIntermediate

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Releases 1 August 2026

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Algorithms, Programming and Exam Technique: GCSE Long-Answer Questions

Examiner-style long-answer practice with automatic marking, improvement advice and ProofCoach tracking.

4 questions22 marks44 min

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4 marksDescribestandardAQA / Edexcel / OCR

Code stimulus for Algorithms, Programming and Exam Technique

Proof Academy original GCSE Computer Science item, 2026, short code or algorithm extract

a library search program checks whether a book ID appears in a sorted list of 2,048 IDs FOR i = 0 TO LENGTH(ids)-1 IF ids[i] = target THEN found = TRUE ENDIF NEXT i

The stimulus describes this situation: a library search program checks whether a book ID appears in a sorted list of 2,048 IDs. Describe how the algorithm or system works, referring to its inputs, processing and output. (4 marks)

Read the command word before writing.
Use the stimulus or data where provided.
Show a linked chain of reasoning.
Finish with a clear answer to the question.

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4 marksExplainstandardAQA / Edexcel / OCR

Search comparison

algorithm (method)	maximum checks for 2048 IDs (checks)
linear search	2048
binary search	11

Explain why binary search is more efficient than linear search for this sorted library list. (4 marks)

Read the command word before writing.
Use the stimulus or data where provided.
Show a linked chain of reasoning.
Finish with a clear answer to the question.

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6 marksAnalysestandardAQA / Edexcel / OCR

Search comparison

algorithm (method)	maximum checks for 2048 IDs (checks)
linear search	2048
binary search	11

Analyse how the trace table would change when the target ID is found on the third comparison. (6 marks)

Read the command word before writing.
Use the stimulus or data where provided.
Show a linked chain of reasoning.
Finish with a clear answer to the question.

0 characters

Write your answer first, then mark it.

8 marksEvaluatestandardAQA / Edexcel / OCR

Search comparison

algorithm (method)	maximum checks for 2048 IDs (checks)
linear search	2048
binary search	11

Evaluate whether the library should always use binary search for book IDs. Refer to sorted data, maintenance and testing. (8 marks)

Read the command word before writing.
Use the stimulus or data where provided.
Show a linked chain of reasoning.
Finish with a clear answer to the question.

0 characters

Write your answer first, then mark it.

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Start of AQA

2. Programming: Python, Pseudocode, Testing and Robust Programs

Key learning objectives

Understand the key principles behind GCSE Computer Science Revision: Algorithms, Programming and Exam Technique.
Apply these ideas to exam-style questions.
Recall the essential definitions and key terms.