← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Identifying the problem

A clear one or two sentence description of what needs to be solved and what the program must achieve, written so the user and the goal are obvious.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7a Program Development Life Cycle — Module 3, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Understanding Digital Problems — Module 2

Understanding Identifying the problem in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: The words 'for teachers' identify the user, which makes the problem statement clear. The real problem is working out each member's fee. The 40 members and the blue logo are extra details that do not define the problem. Identifying the problem states what needs solving in one or two sentences. Code comes later, in the coding stage. 'A cool app' does not say what must be solved or achieved. The second one states the goal clearly. The colour of the shop is a detail that is not part of the problem. The program needs to deal with stock. Knowing the user helps you decide the inputs, outputs and how simple the program should be. It never lets you skip the design stage.

Common mistakes: Line 1 is a vague idea, not a clear problem. It should state exactly what needs solving, such as 'PROBLEM: Calculate cafe bill'. The goal must say what the program has to achieve. 'Make it look nice' is vague. It should be something like 'GOAL: List overdue books'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 1–16) and word search (Modules 1–26).

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Learning
Duo
Which is a clear problem statement?
A program that lets teachers enter test marks and shows each student's average.Make something to do with school marks.
Matches
"Create a fun app that is really good."
↓
It is too vague. It does not say who will use the app or what it must do. It should state the user and the goal.
Applying
Meanings
Term
problem statement
Meaning
A clear one or two sentence description of what needs to be solved and what the program must achieve, written so the user and the goal are obvious.
Practice
// Problem: Students forget when homework is due.
Testing
Gaps
// : a shop needs a till program
Check Answer
Spots
1PROBLEM: Make a cafe thing
2USER: Cafe cashier

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Quick Questions

1. Which is a clear problem statement?
A. A program that lets teachers enter test marks and shows each student's average. ✓
B. Make something to do with school marks.
A clear problem statement says what must be solved and what the program must achieve. The vague idea does neither.
2. A problem statement should be:
A. One or two clear sentences ✓
B. A full page of pseudocode
Identifying the problem states what needs solving in one or two sentences. Code comes later, in the coding stage.
3. Which statement names the user of the program?
A. A program is needed to work out the total cost of tickets.
B. A cinema cashier needs a program to work out the total cost of tickets. ✓
Saying who will use the program (the cashier) makes the problem clearer and helps decide what the program needs to do.
4. Which is a vague idea rather than a clear problem?
A. A club needs a program that records each member's name and the date they paid.
B. I want a cool app for my club. ✓
'A cool app' does not say what must be solved or achieved. The second one states the goal clearly.
5. A scenario says: 'A school shop sells snacks. The shop is painted green. The manager wants a program to stop selling items that are out of stock.' What is the real problem?
A. Stopping the sale of out-of-stock items ✓
B. Painting the shop a different colour
The colour of the shop is a detail that is not part of the problem. The program needs to deal with stock.

Match the Pairs

"Make something for the school shop." → A vague idea: it does not say who uses it or what the program must achieve
"A program that lets shop staff record each sale and show the day's total takings." → A clear problem statement: it says who uses it and what the program must achieve
A problem statement should make clear who will use the program → "A program for teachers to record student attendance."
When reading a scenario, pick out the real problem to solve and ignore extra details → "The club has 40 members and a blue logo. It needs a program to work out each member's fee."
"Create a fun app that is really good." → It is too vague. It does not say who will use the app or what it must do. It should state the user and the goal.
"The bus is red and the driver is called Sam. The school needs a program to log late arrivals." Problem: the bus is red → It picks a detail that is not part of the problem. The real problem is logging late arrivals.

Key Term

problem statement
A clear one or two sentence description of what needs to be solved and what the program must achieve, written so the user and the goal are obvious.

Fill in the Blanks

1. // Problem: a shop needs a till program
Hint: Type the label for the one or two sentence statement of what must be solved.
2. // Problem: find a class's average mark // User: a teacher
Hint: Type the label for the person who will use the program.
3. // Vague: make a game // Clear : a quiz that scores a pupil out of 10
Hint: Type the label for the precise version of the problem statement, as opposed to the vague one.
4. // Problem: store each pupil's test score // Not needed: the colour of the school bus
Hint: Type the label for a detail in the scenario that is not part of the problem.
5. // Scenario: Lunch queues are very long. // Problem: shorten the time spent in queue
Hint: Type the label for the description of the situation that you read to find the real problem.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A PROBLEM: Make a cafe thing
B USER: Cafe cashier
C GOAL: Show the total to pay
Line A — Line 1 is a vague idea, not a clear problem. It should state exactly what needs solving, such as 'PROBLEM: Calculate cafe bill'.
Question 2
A PROBLEM: Track library books
B USER: School librarian
C GOAL: Make it look nice
Line C — The goal must say what the program has to achieve. 'Make it look nice' is vague. It should be something like 'GOAL: List overdue books'.
Question 3
A SCENARIO: Club has 40 members
B They lose track of who paid
C PROBLEM: Design a club logo
Line C — The scenario says the real problem is losing track of who has paid. A logo is not mentioned. The problem should be 'Record who has paid'.
Question 4
A PROBLEM: Convert temperatures
B USER: Science students
C GOAL: Show degrees Fahrenheit
D IGNORE: Celsius input values
Line D — Only details that are not part of the problem should be ignored. The Celsius values are needed. The lab colour is the irrelevant detail.
Question 5
A PROBLEM: Book school trips
B USER: Nobody in particular
C GOAL: Record places booked
Line B — A clear problem statement says who will use the program. 'Nobody in particular' does not. It should name the users, e.g. 'School office staff'.

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