← VCE Software Development U4O1

Writing evaluation criteria for efficiency and effectiveness

A measurable target for efficiency or effectiveness, such as 'search returns in under 2 seconds', that can be checked after development to judge whether the solution succeeded.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U4O1 - development and evaluation — Module 176, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Programmed Solutions — Module 113, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 93

Understanding Writing evaluation criteria for efficiency and effectiveness in VCE Software Development U4O1

What it does: The limit of 100 MB is a measurable target. After development, memory use can be measured and compared with it. It is checked by comparing outputs with known correct results, which tests accuracy and completeness. This is the focus of effectiveness. Efficiency is about how well resources such as time, memory and processing are used. A memory limit is an efficiency measure. Criteria are written in advance but used after development to judge whether the solution succeeded against the targets. Option A gives a measurable target (2 seconds) that can be tested. 'Reasonable speed' is vague, so B cannot be reliably judged.

Common mistakes: An efficiency criterion with a time limit is met when the actual time is at or under the limit. The comparison should be <=, not >=, otherwise slower programs would pass. A criterion needs a measurable target. 'fast' is vague and cannot be compared with a time. It should be a number such as max_secs = 3.

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Learning
Duo
Which is a well-written evaluation criterion for efficiency?
The report page loads in under 3 seconds with 1000 recordsThe report page should load quickly
Matches
The program should be fast and run well.
↓
Not measurable: 'fast' and 'well' have no number or limit, so it cannot be checked after development.
Applying
Meanings
Term
evaluation criterion
Meaning
A measurable target for efficiency or effectiveness, such as 'search returns in under 2 seconds', that can be checked after development to judge whether the solution succeeded.
Practice
Efficiency criterion: The order search returns results in under 2 seconds.
Testing
Gaps
efficient = elapsed maxSeconds
Check Answer
Spots
2actual_time = 1.4
3if actual_time >= max_time:

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Quick Questions

1. Which is a well-written evaluation criterion for efficiency?
A. The report page loads in under 3 seconds with 1000 records ✓
B. The report page should load quickly
A good criterion has a measurable target (3 seconds, 1000 records) that can be checked after development. 'Quickly' cannot be measured.
2. Which is a well-written evaluation criterion for effectiveness?
A. The program should be good at calculating GST
B. The program calculates GST correctly for all 20 test cases ✓
Effectiveness is about whether the solution produces correct, complete and usable results. A measurable target (20 of 20 test cases) lets you judge it.
3. A criterion says 'The app uses less than 50 MB of memory'. What type of criterion is this?
A. Efficiency criterion ✓
B. Effectiveness criterion
Efficiency is about how well resources such as time, memory and processing are used. A memory limit is an efficiency measure.
4. A criterion says 'The login form rejects 100% of empty usernames'. What type of criterion is this?
A. Effectiveness criterion ✓
B. Efficiency criterion
This checks whether the solution does its job correctly (validates input), which is effectiveness. It is not about speed or resource use.
5. What makes a statement a measurable target?
A. It uses a descriptive word, such as 'fast' or 'smooth'
B. It includes a number or clear pass/fail check, such as 'under 2 seconds' ✓
A measurable target gives a value or yes/no test so you can check it after development. Words like 'fast' are opinions.

Match the Pairs

The search results load in under 2 seconds on a standard school laptop. → An efficiency criterion: it sets a measurable target for speed that can be timed after development.
At least 90% of testers can book a ticket without help. → An effectiveness criterion: it sets a measurable target for whether the solution does its job correctly and completely.
A measurable target gives a number or limit so the result can be checked after development. → Memory use stays below 100 MB when 1000 records are loaded.
An effectiveness criterion checks that the output is accurate and complete. → The report totals match the manual totals for all 50 test records.
The program should be fast and run well. → Not measurable: 'fast' and 'well' have no number or limit, so it cannot be checked after development.
The app should be effective: it uses little memory. → Wrong type: memory use is an efficiency measure, not effectiveness, and 'little' is not measurable.

Key Term

evaluation criterion
A measurable target for efficiency or effectiveness, such as 'search returns in under 2 seconds', that can be checked after development to judge whether the solution succeeded.

Fill in the Blanks

1. maxSeconds = 2 efficient = elapsed <= maxSeconds
Hint: Type the comparison operator that means 'at most' for this efficiency target.
2. correct = 48 total = 50 effective = correct / total >= 0.95
Hint: Type the operator that checks the accuracy is 'at least' the target.
3. errors = 0 if errors == 0: print("Criterion met")
Hint: Type the keyword that starts a conditional check of the effectiveness target.
4. # Criterion: uses at most 100 MB memoryMb = 48 meets = memoryMb <= 100
Hint: Type the measurable limit stated in the criterion comment.
5. start = time.time() elapsed = time.time() - start print(elapsed < 2)
Hint: Type the variable that stores when the timing began.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A max_time = 2.0
B actual_time = 1.4
C if actual_time >= max_time:
D print('Efficiency: PASS')
E else:
F print('Efficiency: FAIL')
Line C — An efficiency criterion with a time limit is met when the actual time is at or under the limit. The comparison should be <=, not >=, otherwise slower programs would pass.
Question 2
A max_secs = 'fast'
B load_secs = 2.5
C met = load_secs <= max_secs
D print('Efficiency met:', met)
Line A — A criterion needs a measurable target. 'fast' is vague and cannot be compared with a time. It should be a number such as max_secs = 3.
Question 3
A required = 95
B correct = 188
C total = 200
D accuracy = correct/total
E print(accuracy >= required)
Line D — The effectiveness criterion is a percentage target (95). Without *100 the accuracy is 0.94, so it cannot be compared fairly with the target. It should be correct/total*100.
Question 4
A criteria = {
B 'accuracy_pct': 150,
C 'max_search_secs': 2
D }
Line B — A measurable target must be achievable. An accuracy percentage cannot be over 100, so no solution could ever meet 150. It should be a realistic value such as 95.
Question 5
A times = [1.2, 1.8, 2.4]
B limit = 2
C met = min(times) <= limit
D print('All met:', met)
Line C — The criterion must hold for every test, so check the slowest time with max(). Using min() only checks the fastest time and could hide failures.

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