AQA A-Level Computer Science AS Paper 1, June 2025: Question 14

✅ Correct Answers (1 mark each, max 2)

• Condition 1: The user presses Enter (without entering any other value first) when prompted for a pirate action.
• Condition 2: The pirate finds the treasure / lands on the treasure chest cell.

💡 Key Knowledge

The main game runs inside a condition-controlled while loop. In the code, the loop terminates if:

• Score < 0 (given in the question stem)
• FoundTreasure == True (objective achieved)
• Action == "" or len(Action) == 0 (user quits by submitting an empty string)

🧠 Exam Technique

Always inspect the main game loop condition in the PlayGame() subroutine. State the termination condition in terms of game behaviour or direct player action. Notice that the prompt asks for "the other two conditions"—ensure you do not repeat the score falling below 0.

❌ Common Errors

• Writing simply "User quits" or "User enters Q" without describing the exact trigger: pressing Enter on an empty line.
• Stating generic game-over rules not present in this specific code (e.g., "Time runs out" or "Pirate falls off the island").

✅ Correct Answers (Any one)

• Finding a coconut.
• Finding the treasure.

💡 Key Knowledge

Score increases occur upon encountering reward items on the grid:

• A coconut adds positive points (energy/bonus) to the player's tally.
• Uncovering the hidden chest provides the primary score reward.

🧠 Exam Technique

Only provide one distinct action. If you provide multiple contradictory answers, examiners apply a list principle and will not award the mark if an incorrect action is included.

❌ Common Errors

• Confusing basic navigation with scoring events (e.g. thinking walking across free sand earns points).
• Vague answers like "moving around" or "playing well".

✅ Correct Answers (Any one)

• Pirate walking (taking a step / movement action).
• Pirate digging (attempting to dig up a site).

💡 Key Knowledge

Actions expend pirate stamina/resources, modelled via score decrements:

• Each move made ( M command) reduces the score.
• Each dig attempted ( D command) incurs a penalty/cost.

🧠 Exam Technique

Look at the subroutine handling pirate turns (e.g., MakeMove() or Dig() ). Look specifically for statements with arithmetic assignments like Score = Score - Cost .

❌ Common Errors

• Specifying consequences instead of actions (e.g., saying "losing energy" instead of the action that caused it: "walking" or "digging").
• Stating actions that trigger an automatic loss rather than a numerical deduction.