← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Disadvantage of robots: high cost

Robots are expensive to buy, install, program and maintain, so they can be too costly for small businesses.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 6.2 Robotics — Module 26

Understanding Disadvantage of robots: high cost in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: Purchase and installation costs are paid at the start, and together they make a large upfront bill. Programming, staff training and repairs and maintenance all add running costs on top of the purchase price. Robots are expensive to buy and install. They do not get tired, so tiredness is not a cost. Robots need programs written and updated by skilled people. Robots are not paid wages. Staff must be trained to use and supervise robots, which adds to the cost. Small businesses with limited money often cannot afford robots. Large companies usually can. The disadvantage is the high cost of buying, installing, programming and maintaining robots.

Common mistakes: The total cost of a robot is found by adding purchase, installation and training costs together. Subtracting the training cost hides part of the expense. It should be total ← buy + fit + train. A small business is priced out when the robot cost is MORE than its budget. The test should be IF cost > budget THEN, not less than.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Disadvantage of robots: high cost to a class →

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 642–651) and word search (Modules 632–651).

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
Which cost is part of the high cost of using robots?
The robot getting tired and needing breaksBuying and installing the robot
Matches
Robots are cheap to buy, so every small shop can afford one.
↓
This is wrong because robots are expensive to buy, install, program and maintain, so many small shops cannot afford them.
Applying
Meanings
Term
high cost
Meaning
Robots are expensive to buy, install, program and maintain, so they can be too costly for small businesses.
Practice
purchase ← 50000
Testing
Gaps
cost ← buy + install + + repairs
Check Answer
Spots
3train ← 5000
4total ← buy + fit - train

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

The 'Arctic Fox' badge — Tundra Tracker, one of Cloodit's 106 collectible badges
Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy
Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games
Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print
Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Add to class →

Quick Questions

1. Which cost is part of the high cost of using robots?
A. The robot getting tired and needing breaks
B. Buying and installing the robot ✓
Robots are expensive to buy and install. They do not get tired, so tiredness is not a cost.
2. A small bakery cannot afford a robot arm. Which statement explains why?
A. Robots only work in large buildings
B. The high cost is too much for a small business ✓
The disadvantage is cost. Small businesses often cannot afford to buy, install and run robots.
3. Which of these is a cost of programming robots?
A. Paying skilled staff to write and update the robot's program ✓
B. Paying the robot a monthly wage
Robots need programs written and updated by skilled people. Robots are not paid wages.
4. Which is a staff training cost linked to robots?
A. Teaching workers how to operate and supervise the robots ✓
B. Teaching the robot how to feel tired
Staff must be trained to use and supervise robots, which adds to the cost.
5. A robot in a factory breaks down. Which cost does this add?
A. Repair and maintenance costs ✓
B. A lower purchase price
Robots need regular maintenance and repairs, which keep adding to the cost.

Match the Pairs

high cost → A disadvantage of robots: they are expensive to buy, install, program and maintain.
small business priced out → A small firm cannot afford robots, so it cannot use them like larger companies can.
Buying and installing a robot costs a lot of money before it does any work. → purchase_cost + installation_cost = large upfront bill
Robots keep costing money after they are installed because they need programming, training and repairs. → ongoing_cost = programming + staff_training + repairs
Robots are cheap to buy, so every small shop can afford one. → This is wrong because robots are expensive to buy, install, program and maintain, so many small shops cannot afford them.
Once a robot is bought, it costs nothing more to run. → This is wrong because a robot still needs programming, staff training, repairs and maintenance, which all cost money.

Key Term

high cost
Robots are expensive to buy, install, program and maintain, so they can be too costly for small businesses.

Fill in the Blanks

1. cost ← buy + install + training + repairs
Hint: Type the variable for the cost of teaching staff to use the robot.
2. IF robotCost > budget THEN OUTPUT "Too costly" ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that starts the block of code to run when the condition is true.
3. yearlyTotal ← total + repairs
Hint: Type the variable that holds the yearly cost of fixing and maintaining the robot.
4. affordable ← robotCost <= budget
Hint: Type the operator that tests whether the robot cost is less than or equal to the budget.
5. OUTPUT "Too expensive for us"
Hint: Type the keyword that displays a message to the user.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A buy ← 50000
B fit ← 10000
C train ← 5000
D total ← buy + fit - train
E OUTPUT total
Line D — The total cost of a robot is found by adding purchase, installation and training costs together. Subtracting the training cost hides part of the expense. It should be total ← buy + fit + train.
Question 2
A INPUT cost, budget
B IF cost < budget THEN
C OUTPUT "Too costly"
D ENDIF
Line B — A small business is priced out when the robot cost is MORE than its budget. The test should be IF cost > budget THEN, not less than.
Question 3
A repairs ← 0
B FOR year ← 1 TO 5
C repairs ← repairs + 2000
D ENDFOR year
E OUTPUT repairs
Line D — This pseudocode FOR loop is closed with NEXT, not ENDFOR. The line should be NEXT year so the yearly repair costs add up.
Question 4
A robots ← 3
B cost ← robots + 40000
C OUTPUT cost
Line B — Each robot costs 40000, so the total for several robots is found by multiplying. It should be cost ← robots * 40000, not adding.
Question 5
A IF cost > budget
B OUTPUT "Cannot afford"
C ELSE
D OUTPUT "Can buy robot"
E ENDIF
Line A — An IF statement must end its condition with THEN. The line should be IF cost > budget THEN.

Student with a class code? Join your class →