Advanced Higher Computing Science 2015/16 - Discussion and Help Thread

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http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/ComputingScienceEQPAH.pdf in question 1 e) it asks you to write in a programming language you are familiar with but in the marking scheme its done in pseudo code. I'm just wondering if its done like that on purpose cause it would be unreasonable for them to try and cover the solution in multiple programming languages or if it means you can write the answer like that.

Reply 41

TuckFrump

The question asks you to write in the programming language you are familiar with but the answer is in pseudo code. I can see why that may be as it would be impossible to cover every answer done in various programming languages but I'm just wondering if thats not the case and you can use pseudo in your answer

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Reply 42

ROC10

Original post by TuckFrump

We went through this question in class and my teacher said she actually contacted the person at SQA in charge of writing papers. Teachers had been advised that we could always use pseudocode for these questions and so when this appeared in the Exemplar/Specimen Paper, my teacher was understandably confused.

Anyway, after a few phone calls, they apparently admitted that they were in the wrong and that we would always be able to answer in pseudocode. Be wary though - it is the SQA after all...

Hope this helps! :smile:

Alright, Thanks!

I need 4/60 for a C. And to be perfectly honest.... I highly doubt I'm capable of much more lol

This subject has been the definition of my worse nightmare.

Reply 45

TheBlackBruceLee

Original post by Higherdude

I need 4/60 for a C. And to be perfectly honest.... I highly doubt I'm capable of much more lol

This subject has been the definition of my worse nightmare.

Same haha. I just feel like I'm trying to remember the answers from the marking scheme know rather than actually knowing the course content. Probably a bad thing considering I'm going to uni to do computing science.

Reply 46

Higherdude

Original post by TheBlackBruceLee

I am doing Maths and Physics, so I won't have to do this subject again. Look at the question paper brief....
I don't need to tell you which one I'm going to learn about...

Reply 47

TheBlackBruceLee

"Computational constructs: databases, SQL - 13-17 marks"
Never knew the sql part covered that much. Probably good for me considering I did a database driven website for my project.

Reply 48

ROC10

So how's everyone feeling for Friday? :smile:

What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?

Reply 49

TheBlackBruceLee

Original post by ROC10

So how's everyone feeling for Friday? :smile:

What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?

Strengths I'd say are the more web based questions

Weaknesses are probably the pseudocode and code explanation questions

what about you

Reply 50

ROC10

Original post by TheBlackBruceLee

Strengths I'd say are the more web based questions

Weaknesses are probably the pseudocode and code explanation questions

what about you

Pretty similar.

Strengths:
- Computational Constructs
- Data Types & Structures

Weaknesses:
- Standard Algorithms
- Programming Paradigms

Then there's the more theory-based stuff like Implications and Project Planning & Management which should hopefully be okay.

Reply 51

TheBlackBruceLee

We are allowed to use pseudocode in this question right? I know this may have already been answered but I just want to make sure.

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Reply 52

ROC10

Original post by TheBlackBruceLee

We are allowed to use pseudocode in this question right? I know this may have already been answered but I just want to make sure.

I believe so.

This particular question asks for a programming language but, as far as I'm aware, they can't ask us that in the exam.

Reply 53

TheBlackBruceLee

Thanks. Just another quick question. In the answer, why is it bsNumber-1?

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Reply 54

ROC10

Original post by TheBlackBruceLee

Thanks. Just another quick question. In the answer, why is it bsNumber-1?

I'm not really sure to be perfectly honest. My guess would be because arrays begin at 0 so the first bus stop in the file is actually 0, second is actually 1 and so on.

Might be completely wrong though...

Reply 55

TheBlackBruceLee

Yeah you're right. Thanks!

Reply 56

Higherdude

Original post by ROC10

So how's everyone feeling for Friday? :smile:

What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?

What isn't my weakness? Lol

Reply 57

TheBlackBruceLee

Soo........ how did everybody find that?

Reply 58

fl0ppyd1sk

If you asked me to envision the worst paper ever, that would be it. Like literally, we spent time on theory and 90% of that paper was programming knowledge. There goes my A.
Hope everyone else struggled...

Reply 59

ROC10

Original post by fl0ppyd1sk

Why were you expecting more theory than programming? :s-smilie:

I thought it wasn't too bad. There were a couple of hard questions (binary search). I also couldn't do the one after the binary search as my teacher admits we weren't taught it. Also my teacher thinks there was a mistake in the paper with one of the questions (I think it was the "myTeam.introduceTeam" one); however, she did say that we couldn't have asked for a better paper so I think I'm okay.

And it was my last exam so I'm pretty happy. :biggrin: