GCSE Computing OCR

http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_computing/ocr/GCSE_A451_topics.html
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revision-Computing-Computer-Systems-Programming/dp/1444193848

How is your revision going?

It's going great thank you! How's yours?
I have the book and I have been researching on that website.
Thanks a lot though!

I find the Cambridge computing website quite useful- even though the videos are boring. What I would say is to do all three past papers in our spec. Oh and make sure you know algorithms and binary/hex conversions as I think they Are guaranteed to come up and every time you do a topic learn it how you would for every 6 marker so you are always prepared. Never what they might chuck into that exam.

A2 computing student here. Feel free to ask me any questions if you need help.

Aw, I wish I could do a level computing but no one in my area offers it. How do you approach the algorithm questions..it's not that I don't know what to do. It's the 'what do I do as soon as I see the exam paper' kinda thing. I take ages doing one.. Is there any tactics in doing them in exams

Yes, like these ones
I've done the ones from past papers (there's only a few) at school with my teacher
So now I don't know what to do. I think I need more examples. Hm

Sorry for slow reply. Didn't see you had replied as you hadn't quoted.

I'd think about the variables you need. In this case what does a triangle have... 3 sides. So you'd need a variable for each side. You'd also need a counter for amount of sides which are equal. Take the side inputs at the start

Side1 = Input "Enter side 1"
Side2 = Input "Enter side 2"
Side3 = Input "Enter side 3"

Then look at what the question asks you to do. Find out if the triangle entered is isosceles. This means you need to compare the entered side lengths and see if they are equal. You could either do that by writing out each comparison statement or using clever loops. We'll go with long list of statements as it is actually easier for this.

You'd need to compare the following sides
1-2
1-3
2-3

But it is no good comparing them unless you get an output from the comparison. IE if they are equal you want some sort of counter to increment so that when you're done with comparisons you have a total amount of sides which are equal. At the start of the algorithm set it to 0.

I'd use something like this:

If Side1 = Side2 then
Counter = Counter + 1
End If

If Side1 = Side3 then
Counter = Counter + 1
End If

If Side2 = Side3 then
Counter = Counter + 1
End If

You'd then end up with a number stored in the counter saying how many sides were equal. Check to see what this is and you'll find out if the triangle is isosceles. No sides equal or all sides equal will mean it isn't. 1 pair equal means it is.

If Counter = 1 then
Output "isosceles"
Else
Output "Not isosceles"

That should work. Don't forget start subroutine and end subroutine bits.

Thank you, much appreciated... Better than my teacher explaining it

Yay~ Anything else you'd like explaining?

Are we allowed to bring calculators into this exam?

No problem My revisions going ok.. Just feeling a bit stressed out trying to finish all my coursework and I started revising a bit late

Anyway what other subjects are you doing?

I find the Cambridge computing website quite useful- even though the videos are boring. What I would say is to do all three past papers in our spec. Oh and make sure you know algorithms and binary/hex conversions as I think they Are guaranteed to come up and every time you do a topic learn it how you would for every 6 marker so you are always prepared. Never what they might chuck into that exam.

Uurm the whole syllabus would be nice. Lol.

No I'm fine with everything else. Thanks for the offer though!

When is your exam? Mine's on the 3rd of June