AQA A-Level Computer Science AS Paper 1, June 2025: Question 6

1 mark · Easy difficulty · Short Answer

State the identifier of a variable in the Skeleton Program that is used to hold one of only two possible values.

Practise this question

Question

Question 06 asks: 'State the identifier of a variable in the Skeleton Program that is used to hold one of only two possible values. [1 mark]'
Question text

06 State the identifier of a variable in the Skeleton Program that is used to hold one of

only two possible values.

[1 mark]

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for Question 06 allocates 1 mark for AO2 (analyse). Accepted answers are: Found, ObstacleFound, ValidDirection, ValidDistance, or ObstacleInPath. Also accepts: TreasureFound. Rejects if any additional code or spelt incorrectly. Ignores case and spacing.

Qu Marks

06 Mark is for AO2 (analyse) 1

Found/ObstacleFound/ValidDirection/ValidDistance

/ObstacleInPath;

A. TreasureFound

R. if any additional code

R. if spelt incorrectly

I. case and spacing

How to answer it

Paper 1 • Skeleton Program Analysis

Boolean Identifiers in the Skeleton Program

What this question tests

  • Data Type Recognition: Identifying variables based on functional descriptions (specifically, recognising that "one of only two possible values" describes a Boolean flag).
  • Terminology: Understanding what an identifier is (the name given to a variable, constant, or subroutine).
  • Code Familiarity: Navigating and locating specific variables within the provided AQA Skeleton Program.

Question 06

State the identifier of a variable in the Skeleton Program that is used to hold one of only two possible values. [1 mark]

Assessment Objective: AO2 (Apply knowledge and understanding to analyse code) • Total: 1 Mark

✅ Acceptable Identifiers (Any ONE)

Writing any one of the following variable names earns the mark:

  • Found
  • ObstacleFound
  • ValidDirection
  • ValidDistance
  • ObstacleInPath
  • TreasureFound

Note: The mark scheme explicitly states that letter casing and spaces are ignored (e.g. obstaclefound is credited).

💡 Key Knowledge

  • "One of only two possible values": This is the formal definition of a Boolean variable (which can only evaluate to True or False ).
  • Identifier: The unique name chosen by the programmer to identify an entity in program code. The question does not ask for the data type, but rather the name of the variable itself.
  • These variables act as flags within the game loop to control validation loops or check victory/obstacle collision conditions.

🧠 Exam Technique & Examiner Tips

  • Write only the identifier: Do not add extra syntax. Writing declarations like Dim Found As Boolean or assignments like Found = True will cause the mark to be rejected.
  • Double-check spelling: The mark scheme strictly enforces "R. if spelt incorrectly". A single missing letter or typo costs you the entire mark.
  • Pick the simplest identifier: Choose an unambiguous name such as Found to minimise the chance of transcription errors.

❌ Common Errors that Lost Marks

  • Stating the data type: Writing Boolean or Bool instead of the variable name. (The question asks for the identifier, not the data type).
  • Spelling mistakes: Writing ObsticleFound instead of ObstacleFound .
  • Including parentheses: Writing ValidDistance() , which makes it look like a subroutine or function call rather than a variable identifier.
  • Supplying code statements: Writing Found = False instead of just the variable name.

Topics

4.1 Fundamentals of programming · 4.1.1 Programming

Question and mark scheme from the AQA A-Level Computer Science examination, AS Paper 1, June 2025. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.