Algorithm Design and Problem Solving · 4 question types
Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)
This topic accounts for approximately 6% of your exam marks.
Decomposition, abstraction and structure charts appear as design-focused questions.
Every program can be described as a pipeline of inputs, processes and outputs. Identifying these clearly is a key step in the analysis stage of the development life cycle.
| Stage | What it is | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Data that enters the program from outside | Keyboard typing, mouse clicks, sensor readings, file contents, network messages |
| Process | What the program does with the data | Calculate, compare, sort, search, filter, transform |
| Output | Data that leaves the program for the user or the environment | Text on screen, printed page, sound, control signal to an actuator |