← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Component parts of a problem: processes

An action or calculation a solution carries out on its data, such as adding a total, comparing a value with a limit, sorting or searching, or making a decision.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7b Decomposition and Sub-systems — Module 7, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 38

Understanding Component parts of a problem: processes in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: Adding each mark to total is a calculation the solution carries out on its data. The comparison of speed with the limit 60 is the process that decides what happens next. Processes act on data. The data typed in by the user is input, not a process. Sorting is an action carried out on data, so it is a process. Storage is where the data is kept, such as a file. Searching is a process. Displaying the mark is an output. Processes are actions. Look for action words. Nouns like name or price usually show data, which are inputs, outputs or stored items.

Common mistakes: Calculating a total is a process. Each loop must ADD the new mark to the running total (total ← total + mark). Writing total ← mark overwrites the total every time. Comparing a value with a limit is a process. The warning should show when speed is greater than the limit, so the test must be speed > limit, not speed < limit.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 94–106) and word search (Modules 94–118).

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Learning
Duo
Which of these is a PROCESS in a quiz program?
Typing in the student's name on the keyboardAdding up the marks to get a total score
Matches
Processes: name, age, score
↓
These are inputs (data), not processes. A process is an action such as adding, comparing or sorting.
Applying
Meanings
Term
process
Meaning
An action or calculation a solution carries out on its data, such as adding a total, comparing a value with a limit, sorting or searching, or making a decision.
Practice
Total ← 0
Testing
Gaps
Total ← Total Price
Check Answer
Spots
3 INPUT mark
4 total ← mark

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Quick Questions

1. Which of these is a PROCESS in a quiz program?
A. Typing in the student's name on the keyboard
B. Adding up the marks to get a total score ✓
A process is an action or calculation on data, such as adding a total. Typing in a name is an input.
2. A school canteen program checks whether a pupil's balance is below £2. What is this?
A. A process: comparing a value with a limit ✓
B. An output: showing a value on the screen
Comparing a value with a limit (balance < 2) is a calculation or decision carried out on data, so it is a process.
3. Which statement about processes is correct?
A. A process is data the user types into the solution
B. A process works on data the solution already has ✓
Processes act on data. The data typed in by the user is input, not a process.
4. A program puts a list of 30 test scores into order from highest to lowest. What is this?
A. Process: sorting ✓
B. Storage: sorting
Sorting is an action carried out on data, so it is a process. Storage is where the data is kept, such as a file.
5. Which is the better process to list for a program that finds a pupil's mark in a list of results?
A. Searching the list for the pupil's name ✓
B. Displaying the pupil's mark on the screen
Searching is a process. Displaying the mark is an output.

Match the Pairs

total ← price * quantity → A process that calculates a total by multiplying two stored values
IF score >= limit THEN → A process that compares a value with a limit to make a decision
A process that adds up values to calculate a running total → total ← total + mark
A process that checks whether a value is over a limit → IF speed > 60 THEN
Processes: name, age, score → These are inputs (data), not processes. A process is an action such as adding, comparing or sorting.
Process: OUTPUT total → Showing the total on screen is an output, not a process. Calculating the total is the process.

Key Term

process
An action or calculation a solution carries out on its data, such as adding a total, comparing a value with a limit, sorting or searching, or making a decision.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Total ← Total + Price
Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that adds each price to the running total.
2. IF Speed > Limit THEN OUTPUT "Too fast" ENDIF
Hint: Type the comparison operator that checks whether the speed is greater than the limit.
3. FOR Count ← 1 TO 5 Total ← Total + Mark NEXT Count
Hint: Type the keyword that closes the FOR loop so the total is calculated repeatedly.
4. IF Name = Target THEN Found ← TRUE ENDIF
Hint: Type the Boolean value that records the search has found the item.
5. Temp ← A A ← B B ← Temp
Hint: Type the variable that holds the saved value so two items can be swapped when sorting.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A total ← 0
B FOR i ← 1 TO 5
C INPUT mark
D total ← mark
E NEXT i
Line D — Calculating a total is a process. Each loop must ADD the new mark to the running total (total ← total + mark). Writing total ← mark overwrites the total every time.
Question 2
A IF speed < limit THEN
B OUTPUT "Too fast"
C ENDIF
Line A — Comparing a value with a limit is a process. The warning should show when speed is greater than the limit, so the test must be speed > limit, not speed < limit.
Question 3
A count ← 0
B FOR i ← 1 TO 10
C IF score[i] ← 50 THEN
D count ← count + 1
E ENDIF
F NEXT i
Line C — The ← symbol is for assignment, not comparison. The process compares each score with the pass mark, so it needs a comparison operator such as score[i] >= 50.
Question 4
A total ← 1
B FOR i ← 1 TO 4
C total ← total + price[i]
D NEXT i
E OUTPUT total
Line A — The total must start at 0 before the adding process begins. Starting at 1 makes the final total wrong by 1.
Question 5
A found ← FALSE
B FOR i ← 1 UNTIL 10
C IF name[i] = target THEN
D found ← TRUE
E ENDIF
F NEXT i
Line B — A searching process checks each item in a loop. A FOR loop uses the keyword TO, so it should be FOR i ← 1 TO 10.

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