amazon.co.ukProgramming Fundamentals
A-Level Computer Science revision: Programming Fundamentals. Learning objectives, key points, worked examples and practice questions across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA.
📌 Key Points
Key Fact: Data types: int, float, bool, char, string; type casting; constants vs variables
Key Fact: Selection: if/elif/else, switch/case (match in Python 3.10+); nested conditions
Key Fact: Iteration: for (definite), while (indefinite), do-while (at least once); break/continue
Key Fact: Functions: definition, call, parameters (positional, keyword, default), return, recursion
Key Fact: Scope: local, global, nonlocal; shadowing; modules and imports
Key Fact: String: len, index, slice, split, join, replace, format, f-strings, regex basics
Key Fact: File: open/close, read/write modes, with statement, try/except/else/finally
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Use variables, constants, and data types (integer, real, boolean, character, string)
- Implement control structures: sequence, selection (if/else, switch), iteration (for, while, do-while)
- Design and use functions/procedures: parameters (value/reference), return values, scope
- Handle input/output: file I/O, exceptions, validation
- Apply string manipulation: concatenation, slicing, searching, formatting
- Use random number generation and libraries
💡 Worked Example
Exam-Style Question
Question: Write a function that reads a file of integers and returns the median
Model Answer:
def median_from_file(filename): with open(filename) as f: nums = sorted(int(line.strip()) for line in f if line.strip()) n = len(nums) if n == 0: return None mid = n // 2 return nums[mid] if n % 2 else (nums[mid-1] + nums[mid]) / 2
❓ Practice Questions
Questions:
- Write a program that validates email format using regex
- Implement a recursive factorial function
- Create a menu-driven calculator with functions
- Write a function to count word frequencies in a text file
- Handle division by zero with try/except
🎬 Video Resources
- Programming Fundamentals - Overview -- YouTube Search
- Programming Fundamentals - Exam Questions -- YouTube Search
📄 Past Papers & Exam Resources
🔗 Further Reading & Resources
- Physics & Maths Tutor - Programming Fundamentals -- Free notes, worksheets, and past paper questions by topic
- Dr Frost Maths - Programming Fundamentals -- Free resources, slides, and interactive questions
- BBC Bitesize - Programming Fundamentals -- BBC Bitesize revision resources