GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE (9–1): PAST
PAPER 2: APPLICATION OF
COMPUTATIONAL THINKING. ALL
ASSESSMENT & MARK SCHEME
PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Lossless Compression.
Answer: No data is lost, but rather rearranged to ensure a perfect version of
the data can be returned. Used where exact reproduction is vital. Eg text
documents
◍ Casting is used to change the data type.
Answer: Casting is functions that let you manually convert between data
types Can be done using the int(), float(), bool(), strl() commands
◍ Combining Boolean operators.
Answer: Use brackets in long Boolean expressions to let the computer know
which part to do first Brackets, NOT, AND, then OR
◍ UNICODE.
Answer: A characters set which uses 16 bits to store 65,535 characters (216)
◍ Linear search.
Answer: Can be used on items in an unordered list Goes along list and
checks each number of its correct Less efficient than binary with longer list
◍ The basic arithmetic operators are straightforward.
Answer: Arithmetic orders take 2 values and perform a maths function on
, them Addition: +Subtraction: -Multiplication *Division: /Exponentiation: ^
or **Quotient: DIV (20 DIV 3 = 6)Remainder: MOD or %
◍ Boolean operators.
Answer: AND true: 4<6 false: 10>20OR true: 1<8 OR 2==2 false: 1==8 OR
2<2NOT true: NOT(5>8) false: NOT(10>6)
◍ DIV.
Answer: Integer Division. To divide a number by another, but only return
the number of full sets. [ 10 DIV 3 = 3 ]
◍ JPEG / JPG.
Answer: Joint Photographic Experts Group Compression for images - lossy
◍ Exponent.
Answer: Mathematical term which tells you how many time to multiply a
BASE by itself.
◍ Insertion Sort.
Answer: Checks through the data until finding the first incorrectly places
item. The algorithm then checks all the previous places to see where the data
fits, before inserting it into this slot.
◍ Valid Extreme.
Answer: Unusual data - the highest and lowest data - on the very edge of
what should pass
◍ Flow diagrams use different shapes for different commands.
Answer: Circle - beginning/ending Parallelogram - input/outputRectangle -
process Diamond - decision Arrow - direction to follow
◍ Program Control.
Answer: Using Boolean logic to guide the computer through a program
based on decisions
◍ Check Digits.
Answer: Bits used to ensure that the value sent digitally is not corrupted on
transfer
, ◍ DO UNTIL Loop.
Answer: Controlled by a condition at the end of the loopKeep going until the
condition is true Always runs the code inside them at least onceIf the code is
never true - infinite loop
◍ Beta Testing.
Answer: Making a small release of the software to a group of tech-literate
enthusiasts to broaden the usage-testing and get lots of feedback prior to full
release.
◍ Pseudo Code.
Answer: A structured way of planning code, which is 'computational' in
style (uses Boolean logic, variables, comparisons and arithmetic for
example) but is not tied to a strict high-level language's syntax
◍ High Level Language.
Answer: An abstracted programming language which is closer to English
than binary
◍ Sequence.
Answer: A series of coded instructions for a computer to follow, step by step
◍ Make sure pseudocode isn't too vague.
Answer: Make sure it's readable and easy to interpret
◍ Maintainability.
Answer: Building software which is modular to enable sections to be
updated and replaced without having to write the whole program again from
scratch
◍ Syntax Error.
Answer: An error in the code - incorrectly typed, missing punctuation etc
◍ Defensive design.
Answer: Planning a program from the very beginning to prevent accidental
or purposeful misuse
◍ Metadata.
PAPER 2: APPLICATION OF
COMPUTATIONAL THINKING. ALL
ASSESSMENT & MARK SCHEME
PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Lossless Compression.
Answer: No data is lost, but rather rearranged to ensure a perfect version of
the data can be returned. Used where exact reproduction is vital. Eg text
documents
◍ Casting is used to change the data type.
Answer: Casting is functions that let you manually convert between data
types Can be done using the int(), float(), bool(), strl() commands
◍ Combining Boolean operators.
Answer: Use brackets in long Boolean expressions to let the computer know
which part to do first Brackets, NOT, AND, then OR
◍ UNICODE.
Answer: A characters set which uses 16 bits to store 65,535 characters (216)
◍ Linear search.
Answer: Can be used on items in an unordered list Goes along list and
checks each number of its correct Less efficient than binary with longer list
◍ The basic arithmetic operators are straightforward.
Answer: Arithmetic orders take 2 values and perform a maths function on
, them Addition: +Subtraction: -Multiplication *Division: /Exponentiation: ^
or **Quotient: DIV (20 DIV 3 = 6)Remainder: MOD or %
◍ Boolean operators.
Answer: AND true: 4<6 false: 10>20OR true: 1<8 OR 2==2 false: 1==8 OR
2<2NOT true: NOT(5>8) false: NOT(10>6)
◍ DIV.
Answer: Integer Division. To divide a number by another, but only return
the number of full sets. [ 10 DIV 3 = 3 ]
◍ JPEG / JPG.
Answer: Joint Photographic Experts Group Compression for images - lossy
◍ Exponent.
Answer: Mathematical term which tells you how many time to multiply a
BASE by itself.
◍ Insertion Sort.
Answer: Checks through the data until finding the first incorrectly places
item. The algorithm then checks all the previous places to see where the data
fits, before inserting it into this slot.
◍ Valid Extreme.
Answer: Unusual data - the highest and lowest data - on the very edge of
what should pass
◍ Flow diagrams use different shapes for different commands.
Answer: Circle - beginning/ending Parallelogram - input/outputRectangle -
process Diamond - decision Arrow - direction to follow
◍ Program Control.
Answer: Using Boolean logic to guide the computer through a program
based on decisions
◍ Check Digits.
Answer: Bits used to ensure that the value sent digitally is not corrupted on
transfer
, ◍ DO UNTIL Loop.
Answer: Controlled by a condition at the end of the loopKeep going until the
condition is true Always runs the code inside them at least onceIf the code is
never true - infinite loop
◍ Beta Testing.
Answer: Making a small release of the software to a group of tech-literate
enthusiasts to broaden the usage-testing and get lots of feedback prior to full
release.
◍ Pseudo Code.
Answer: A structured way of planning code, which is 'computational' in
style (uses Boolean logic, variables, comparisons and arithmetic for
example) but is not tied to a strict high-level language's syntax
◍ High Level Language.
Answer: An abstracted programming language which is closer to English
than binary
◍ Sequence.
Answer: A series of coded instructions for a computer to follow, step by step
◍ Make sure pseudocode isn't too vague.
Answer: Make sure it's readable and easy to interpret
◍ Maintainability.
Answer: Building software which is modular to enable sections to be
updated and replaced without having to write the whole program again from
scratch
◍ Syntax Error.
Answer: An error in the code - incorrectly typed, missing punctuation etc
◍ Defensive design.
Answer: Planning a program from the very beginning to prevent accidental
or purposeful misuse
◍ Metadata.
