AQA A-Level Computer Science AS Paper 1, June 2025: Question 7

1 mark · Easy difficulty · Short Answer

State the identifier of a subroutine in the Skeleton Program that uses nested indefinite iteration.

Practise this question

Question

Question 07 asks: 'State the identifier of a subroutine in the Skeleton Program that uses nested indefinite iteration.' Worth 1 mark.
Question text

07 State the identifier of a subroutine in the Skeleton Program that uses nested

indefinite iteration.

[1 mark]

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for Question 07: Mark is for AO2 (analyse). Correct answer is 'FindLandingPlace;'. Guidance states: Reject if any additional code, reject if spelt incorrectly, ignore case and spacing.

07 Mark is for AO2 (analyse) 1

FindLandingPlace;

R. if any additional code

R. if spelt incorrectly

I. case and spacing

How to answer it

Skeleton Program Analysis: Control Structures

📋 What this question tests

This question assesses AO2 (Apply knowledge and understanding). Specifically, your ability to navigate and analyse the pre-release Skeleton Program by correctly identifying code constructs: distinguishing between definite vs. indefinite iteration, spotting nested structures, and extracting subroutine identifiers without extraneous syntax.

Question 07 • 1 Mark

Identifying Nested Indefinite Iteration

Analyse the pre-release code to identify the specified subroutine name

✅ Correct Answer

FindLandingPlace

Mark breakdown [1 mark max]:
• 1 mark: Stating exactly the identifier FindLandingPlace .
• Notes: Case and spacing are ignored (I.).

💡 Key Knowledge

  • Identifier: The unique symbolic name given to a program element (variable, subroutine, class). It is strictly the name itself, not parameters or brackets.
  • Indefinite Iteration: A condition-controlled loop where the number of executions is unknown beforehand (e.g., while ... do or repeat ... until ).
  • Definite Iteration: A count-controlled loop running a predetermined number of times (e.g., for loop).
  • Nested: One loop construct situated entirely inside another loop construct.

🧠 Exam Technique & Code Navigation

  • Use your editor’s search tool: Search for loop keywords ( while , until ) rather than scrolling randomly through hundreds of lines of code.
  • Verify nesting: Check that one while loop is contained within another while loop within the body of the same subroutine.
  • Trace back to the header: Once you locate the nested loops, scroll up to the subroutine header ( def , Sub , or function ) to copy the exact subroutine name.

❌ Common Errors & Mark Scheme Traps

  • Reject (R.) if any additional code: Adding parentheses FindLandingPlace() , calling arguments, or keywords like def FindLandingPlace scores 0 marks. State only the identifier.
  • Reject (R.) if spelt incorrectly: Typos in the subroutine name lose the mark completely.
  • Confusing loop types: Locating nested for loops instead of nested while loops. Remember: for = definite; while = indefinite.

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.