← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Declaring a variable with DECLARE (8.1b)

Names a variable (Count) and gives its data type (INTEGER) before use. Other types: REAL, STRING, BOOLEAN. Identifiers are capitalised with no spaces.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 8.1b Sequence, Selection and Iteration — Module 2

Understanding Declaring a variable with DECLARE (8.1b) in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: REAL is the data type for numbers with decimal places, so Price is declared as REAL. DECLARE Name : TYPE sets up the variable. It names it and says what type of data it can store. Identifiers cannot contain spaces. Capitalised words joined together, such as TotalScore, are the convention. A name is text, so the type is STRING. BOOLEAN only stores TRUE or FALSE. A colon separates the name from the type. The <- arrow is for assigning a value, not for giving a type.

Common mistakes: The colon between the identifier and the data type is missing. It should be DECLARE Price : REAL. Age was declared as INTEGER, so it cannot store text. It should be Age <- 15.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 347–357) and word search (Modules 337–357).

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Learning

Duo

Which line correctly declares a whole-number variable called Count?

DECLARE Count : INTEGERDECLARE Count : STRING

Matches

DECLARE Total Price : REAL

↓

The identifier contains a space. Identifiers must be one word with no spaces, e.g. TotalPrice.

Applying

Meanings

Term

DECLARE Count : INTEGER

Meaning

Names a variable (Count) and gives its data type (INTEGER) before use. Other types: REAL, STRING, BOOLEAN. Identifiers are capitalised with no spaces.

Practice

DECLARE Count : INTEGER

Testing

Gaps

Count : INTEGER

Check Answer

Spots

1DECLARE Total : INTEGER

2DECLARE Price REAL

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Quick Questions

1. Which line correctly declares a whole-number variable called Count?

A. DECLARE Count : STRING

B. DECLARE Count : INTEGER ✓

INTEGER is the data type for whole numbers. DECLARE names the variable and gives its type before it is used.

2. Which line correctly declares a variable to store a price such as 4.50?

A. DECLARE Price : REAL ✓

B. DECLARE Price : INTEGER

Prices can have decimal places, so the type is REAL. INTEGER only holds whole numbers.

3. True or false: DECLARE gives a variable its name and data type before the variable is used.

A. True ✓

B. False

DECLARE Name : TYPE sets up the variable. It names it and says what type of data it can store.

4. Which identifier is written correctly in Cambridge pseudocode?

A. DECLARE Total Score : INTEGER

B. DECLARE TotalScore : INTEGER ✓

Identifiers cannot contain spaces. Capitalised words joined together, such as TotalScore, are the convention.

5. Which declaration is the correct one for a variable that stores a person's name?

A. DECLARE Name : STRING ✓

B. DECLARE Name : BOOLEAN

A name is text, so the type is STRING. BOOLEAN only stores TRUE or FALSE.

Match the Pairs

DECLARE Count : INTEGER → Creates a variable called Count that can only store whole numbers

DECLARE Found : BOOLEAN → Creates a variable called Found that can only store TRUE or FALSE

Declare a variable to store a price with a decimal point, such as 4.99 → DECLARE Price : REAL

Declare a variable to store text such as a person's name → DECLARE Name : STRING

DECLARE Total Price : REAL → The identifier contains a space. Identifiers must be one word with no spaces, e.g. TotalPrice.

DECLARE Count INTEGER → The colon is missing between the identifier and the data type. It should be DECLARE Count : INTEGER.

Key Term

DECLARE Count : INTEGER

Names a variable (Count) and gives its data type (INTEGER) before use. Other types: REAL, STRING, BOOLEAN. Identifiers are capitalised with no spaces.

Fill in the Blanks

1. DECLARE Count : INTEGER

Hint: Type the keyword that starts a variable declaration.

2. DECLARE Price : REAL

Hint: Type the data type used for numbers with decimal places.

3. DECLARE Name : STRING

Hint: Type the data type used for text.

4. DECLARE Found : BOOLEAN

Hint: Type the data type that can only hold TRUE or FALSE.

5. DECLARE Total : INTEGER Total <- 0

Hint: Type the variable name being declared, matching the name used in the assignment on the next line.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A DECLARE Total : INTEGER

B DECLARE Price REAL

C Price <- 4.5

D Total <- 3

E OUTPUT Total * Price

Line B — The colon between the identifier and the data type is missing. It should be DECLARE Price : REAL.

Question 2

A DECLARE Name : STRING

B DECLARE Age : INTEGER

C Name <- "Sam"

D Age <- "fifteen"

Line D — Age was declared as INTEGER, so it cannot store text. It should be Age <- 15.

Question 3

A DECLARE Count : INTEGER

B DECLARE Found : BOOLEAN

C Count <- 0

D Found <- 0

Line D — Found was declared as BOOLEAN, so it can only hold TRUE or FALSE, not a number. It should be Found <- FALSE.

Question 4

A DECLARE Count : INTEGER

B DECLARE Price : REAL

C DECLARE Total Cost : REAL

D TotalCost <- Count * Price

Line C — An identifier cannot contain a space. It should be DECLARE TotalCost : REAL.

Question 5

A DECLARE Total : INTEGER

B DECLARE Count : INTEGER

C DECLARE Average : INTEGER

D Average <- Total / Count

Line C — An average can have decimal places, so Average should be declared as REAL, not INTEGER. It should be DECLARE Average : REAL.

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