OCR A-level Computer Science Paper 2 (H446/02) - 19th June 2023 [Exam Chat]

Hey, do we need to know how to write code for circular queues or priority queues?

Hey, do we need to know how to write code for circular queues or priority queues?

Priority queus aren't on the spec, linear queues are. Not sure if circular queues are on the spec - can't find them on the content clarification (edit: I think they are on spec):
https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/383613-subject-content-clarification-guide.pdf

It says on page 22 that "Candidates need to be able to read, trace and write code to implement a queue structure (including adding and removing items)."
(same applies to stacks btw)

Do you recon we will have to write a merge sort?

Do you recon we will have to write a merge sort?

The clarification document says that "Candidates need to be able to read, trace and write code to perform a merge sort", so yeah

For OOP, as long as you know the basics, you should be able to get at least something. I've been struggling on it for a while, but I have got so far...

Definitions:
- Class: a template to create an object, outlining the states and behaviours.
- Object: an instance of a class, with assigned states and behaviours.
- Attribute: the states of an object.
- Methods: the behaviours of an object.
- Instantiation: creating an object from a class.
- Encapsulation: making attributes private, so they cannot be directly accessed or modified without a given public method.
- Inheritance: creating a class template from another class, of which includes the same methods and attributes, but may have additional of its own (the subclass takes priority and overwrites the superclass).
- Polymorphism: methods that produce different outcomes, depending on the class it is used on, or how it is used.

Basic Code:
class className
private attribute1
private attribute2

public procedure new(givenAttribute1,givenAttribute2)
attribute1 = givenAttribute1
attribute2 = givenAttribute2
endprocedure

public function set_attribute()
attribute1 = newValue
endfunction
endclass

Create an object code:
newObject = new className ("attribute1 value", "attribute 2 value")

Is this not paper 1 stuff??

But chances are they can't get us to program the whole thing for a question as it would be worth too many marks in the paper. It would be worth like 15 marks for one question. Don't quote me on this, but I think the likely hood is less than > 0.01%. I think the closest thing would be filling in the blanks.

Any 9-12 marker predictions guys?

Yh there was a question on Circular queues in 2020, a 4 marker and a 6 marker.

it says in the question "this queue is not circular" so it is referring to a normal queue with pointers

Do you guys think there will be high grade boundaries for Paper 1? Seems a lot of people found it good.

hopefully not, but then again paper 1 wasn’t that bad which means that paper 2 will be the worst one out of the two papers

Yea that's what I am scared of! Like if its OOP, a little bit of programming and some stuff about IDE's and big O etc, I'm fine. But if we have to fully program a quicksort or merge sort I'm screwed. Like I do feel like this paper is going to be really difficult.