← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Declaring CHAR and STRING variables

DECLARE creates a variable and sets its type. Here Initial can hold one CHAR (a single character). Use : STRING instead for text, e.g. DECLARE FirstName : STRING.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 8.1a Data Types and Variables — Module 6

Understanding Declaring CHAR and STRING variables in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: Two variables means two DECLARE lines, and each line gives its variable exactly one type. A town name is made of many characters, so the variable needs the type STRING, not CHAR. A declaration uses a colon between the name and the type. The = sign is not used in DECLARE. The fix is DECLARE Initial : CHAR on one line and DECLARE Surname : STRING on the next.

Common mistakes: A STRING literal is written in double quotes. Single quotes are for a CHAR. It should be FirstName ← "Ava". Grade is a CHAR, so it can hold only one character. 'BC' has two characters. Use a single character such as 'B', or declare Grade as STRING.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 307–316) and word search (Modules 296–316).

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Learning

Duo

Which line declares a variable called Initial that holds a single character?

DECLARE CHAR : InitialDECLARE Initial : CHAR

Matches

DECLARE Initial, Surname : CHAR

↓

Two variables are declared on one line. Each variable needs its own DECLARE line with its own type, and a surname is text, so it should be STRING.

Applying

Meanings

Term

DECLARE Initial : CHAR

Meaning

DECLARE creates a variable and sets its type. Here Initial can hold one CHAR (a single character). Use : STRING instead for text, e.g. DECLARE FirstName : STRING.

Practice

DECLARE Initial : CHAR

Testing

Gaps

Initial : CHAR

Check Answer

Spots

2DECLARE FirstName : STRING

3FirstName ← 'Ava'

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Quick Questions

1. Which line declares a variable called Initial that holds a single character?

A. DECLARE Initial : CHAR ✓

B. DECLARE CHAR : Initial

The pattern is DECLARE, then the variable name, then a colon, then the type. The name comes before the type.

2. Which line declares FirstName so it can hold text such as "Maya"?

A. DECLARE FirstName = STRING

B. DECLARE FirstName : STRING ✓

A declaration uses a colon between the name and the type. The = sign is not used in DECLARE.

3. A variable called Grade will always hold exactly one letter, such as 'B'. Which type fits best?

A. CHAR ✓

B. STRING

CHAR holds a single character. STRING is for text made of any number of characters.

4. A variable called Town will hold names such as "Manchester". Which type should you declare?

A. STRING ✓

B. CHAR

A town name is several characters long, so it needs STRING. CHAR can only hold one character.

5. Which line is a valid declaration?

A. Surname : STRING

B. DECLARE Surname : STRING ✓

The DECLARE keyword must start the line. Without it, the variable is not declared.

Match the Pairs

DECLARE Initial : CHAR → Creates a variable called Initial that can hold a single character, such as 'A'

DECLARE FirstName : STRING → Creates a variable called FirstName that can hold text of any length, such as "Ava"

Each variable needs its own DECLARE line with one type, so declare a CHAR variable and a STRING variable on separate lines → DECLARE Grade : CHAR DECLARE Surname : STRING

Declare a variable to hold a whole word or sentence, such as a town name → DECLARE Town : STRING

DECLARE Initial, Surname : CHAR → Two variables are declared on one line. Each variable needs its own DECLARE line with its own type, and a surname is text, so it should be STRING.

DECLARE FirstName STRING → The colon is missing between the identifier and the data type.

Key Term

DECLARE Initial : CHAR

DECLARE creates a variable and sets its type. Here Initial can hold one CHAR (a single character). Use : STRING instead for text, e.g. DECLARE FirstName : STRING.

Fill in the Blanks

1. DECLARE Initial : CHAR

Hint: Type the keyword that creates a new variable.

2. DECLARE Initial : CHAR

Hint: Type the data type that holds a single character.

3. DECLARE FirstName : STRING

Hint: Type the data type that holds a piece of text.

4. DECLARE Initial : CHAR DECLARE FirstName : STRING

Hint: This second variable holds a whole name. Type its data type.

5. DECLARE Initial : CHAR DECLARE FirstName : STRING

Hint: Type the symbol that separates the variable name from its type.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A DECLARE Initial : CHAR

B DECLARE FirstName : STRING

C FirstName ← 'Ava'

Line C — A STRING literal is written in double quotes. Single quotes are for a CHAR. It should be FirstName ← "Ava".

Question 2

A DECLARE Grade : CHAR

B Grade ← 'BC'

C OUTPUT Grade

Line B — Grade is a CHAR, so it can hold only one character. 'BC' has two characters. Use a single character such as 'B', or declare Grade as STRING.

Question 3

A DECLARE Initial : CHAR

B DECLARE City : STRING

C DECLARE Country STRING

Line C — A DECLARE line needs a colon between the variable name and its type. It should be DECLARE Country : STRING.

Question 4

A DECLARE Letter : CHARACTER

B Letter ← 'Q'

C OUTPUT Letter

Line A — CHARACTER is not a Cambridge data type. The type for a single character is CHAR. It should be DECLARE Letter : CHAR.

Question 5

A DECLARE Initial : CHAR

B DECLARE LastName : STRING

C LastName = "Khan"

Line C — A value is assigned to a variable with the ← operator. The = sign is used for comparison. It should be LastName ← "Khan".

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