Pseudocode as a design method

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which statement about pseudocode is correct?

A It follows set rules but does not need to run on a computer

B It must be compiled before a computer can run it

2. What does pseudocode mainly show?

A The logic of the design

B The exact syntax of one programming language

3. Which is a difference between pseudocode and a programming language?

A Pseudocode must follow exact syntax so a computer can run it

B A programming language must follow exact syntax so a computer can run it

4. A student writes pseudocode that has the right logic but a small spelling slip in a keyword. Which matters more?

A The exact spelling of every keyword

B The logic of the algorithm

5. In a Cambridge 0478 exam, which line is written in the expected pseudocode style?

A OUTPUT "Hello"

B print("Hello")

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1pseudocode		APseudocode does not need to run on a computer. It is for planning the logic of an algorithm, so small syntax slips matter less than clear logic.
2OUTPUT "Hello"		BTotal ← Price * Quantity
3Pseudocode shows the logic of a design, so the same idea can later be written in any programming language		CIF Score >= 50 THEN OUTPUT "Pass" ENDIF
4Pseudocode follows Cambridge 0478 style rules, such as capital-letter keywords and the arrow for assignment		Dprint() is Python syntax, so it is a programming language, not Cambridge pseudocode. Pseudocode should use OUTPUT "Hello" instead.
5print("Hello") // thinking this is pseudocode		EA Cambridge-style pseudocode line that shows a message to the user, written with a capital-letter keyword
6Pseudocode must be typed into a compiler and run without errors		FA structured, code-like way of writing an algorithm that follows set rules but does not need to run on a computer

Definitions

pseudocode

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

OUTPUT "Enter a number" _____ Num OUTPUT Num * 2

IF Score >= 50 ____ OUTPUT "Pass" ENDIF

INPUT Price Total _ Price * 3 OUTPUT Total

FOR Count ← 1 __ 5 OUTPUT Count NEXT Count

__ Calculate the area of a rectangle Area ← Length * Width OUTPUT Area

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A DECLARE Total : INTEGER

B Total ← 0

C INPUT Mark

D Total = Total + Mark

E OUTPUT Total

Question 2

A INPUT Age

B IF Age >= 16 THEN

C OUTPUT Allowed

D ENDIF

Question 3

A DECLARE Score : NUMBER

B INPUT Score

C OUTPUT Score * 2

Question 4

A INPUT Count

B Total ← 0

C FOR i ← 1 UNTIL Count

D INPUT Num

E Total ← Total + Num

F NEXT i

Question 5

A WHILE Password <> "abc"

B INPUT Password

C ENDWHILE

Answer Key

Pseudocode as a design method

Section A: Quick Questions

A — It follows set rules but does not need to run on a computer

A — The logic of the design

B — A programming language must follow exact syntax so a computer can run it

B — The logic of the algorithm

A — OUTPUT "Hello"

Section B: Match the Pairs

pseudocode → A structured, code-like way of writing an algorithm that follows set rules but does not need to run on a computer

OUTPUT "Hello" → A Cambridge-style pseudocode line that shows a message to the user, written with a capital-letter keyword

Pseudocode shows the logic of a design, so the same idea can later be written in any programming language → IF Score >= 50 THEN OUTPUT "Pass" ENDIF

Pseudocode follows Cambridge 0478 style rules, such as capital-letter keywords and the arrow for assignment → Total ← Price * Quantity

print("Hello") // thinking this is pseudocode → print() is Python syntax, so it is a programming language, not Cambridge pseudocode. Pseudocode should use OUTPUT "Hello" instead.

Pseudocode must be typed into a compiler and run without errors → Pseudocode does not need to run on a computer. It is for planning the logic of an algorithm, so small syntax slips matter less than clear logic.

Section C: Definitions

pseudocode — A structured, code-like way of writing an algorithm that follows set rules but does not need to run on a computer. It shows the logic of a design, not exact programming syntax.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

OUTPUT "Enter a number"
INPUT Num
OUTPUT Num * 2

IF Score >= 50 THEN
   OUTPUT "Pass"
ENDIF

INPUT Price
Total ← Price * 3
OUTPUT Total

FOR Count ← 1 TO 5
   OUTPUT Count
NEXT Count

// Calculate the area of a rectangle
Area ← Length * Width
OUTPUT Area

Section E: Spot the Error

D — Cambridge pseudocode uses the assignment arrow ← to store a value in a variable. The = sign is used for comparisons. It should be Total ← Total + Mark.

C — Text to be displayed must be written as a string in double quotes. Without quotes, Allowed looks like a variable. It should be OUTPUT "Allowed".

A — Cambridge pseudocode only uses the data types INTEGER, REAL, CHAR, STRING and BOOLEAN. NUMBER is not one of them. It should be DECLARE Score : INTEGER.

C — A count-controlled loop in pseudocode uses the keyword TO between the start and end values. UNTIL belongs to REPEAT loops. It should be FOR i ← 1 TO Count.

A — A WHILE loop header must end with the keyword DO so the structure is complete. It should be WHILE Password <> "abc" DO.