Knowledge Check

Knowledge check

The list below outlines the programming knowledge you will need to be able to complete the programming assessment task. Use these examples to check you are confident with each of these. If you're not, go back and relearn the relevant skills.

Here's a printable version if you want

Use logical code sequences for programs and sub-sections

# remember code runs from top to bottom. If it encounters a loop subsection it completes that before moving on

Use code to input and output data

# using input() to take user input

num = input('Enter a number: ')

# using print() to output

print('You Entered:', num)

Use variables to store data of different data types including strings, numbers (integers and floats), and booleans 

# an integer variable

number = 10

# a string variable

name = 'Matua Matt'

# a boolean variable

raining = False

# a constant

SPEED_OF_SOUND = 343 

Use variables to demonstrate how a variable value can change during program execution

name = 'Matt'

age = 52

# assigning a new value to name

name = 'Jake'

# changing a variable using operators

age = age + 1 #or age += 1

Use appropriate variable names

# variables should have sensible names and use lower case, numbers, and underscore only

animal = 'Snake'

animal2 = 'Rat'

zoo_keeper = 'Steve'

Use basic maths operations on variables like add, subtract, multiply, divide and modulus

a = 7

b = 2

# addition

print('Sum: ', a + b) #equals 9

# subtraction

print('Subtraction: ', a - b) #equals 5

# multiplication

print('Multiplication: ', a * b)  # = 14

# division

print('Division: ', a / b) #equals 3.5

# floor division

print('Floor Division: ', a // b) # = 3

# modulo

print('Modulo: ', a % b)  #equals 1

# a to the power b

print('Power: ', a ** b)  #equals 49

Use comparison operations which could include less than, greater than, less than or equal to, greater than or equal to and equal to.

a = 5

b = 2

c = 5

print (a > b)    # returns TRUE

print (a < c)    # returns FALSE

print (a <= c)   # returns TRUE

Use selection statements like ‘if’ and ‘if-else’ that allows code to be optionally executed based on certain conditions

number = 10

# if statement

if number > 0:

# remember the indent

    print('Number is positive') 

print('This statement always executes')

# if...else statement

number = 10

if number > 0:

    print('Positive number')

else:

    print('Negative number')

print('This statement always executes')

Use loops (iterative code) that could include ‘repeat’ loops, ‘while’ loops and ‘for’ loops to repeat blocks of code based on conditions.

# while loop repeats until a condition is met

number = 1

while number <= 5:

    print(number)

  number = number + 1 #or number += 1

print('This prints when the loop ends')

# for loop cycles through a list

languages = ['C++', 'Python', 'Java']

# access elements of the list one by one

for i in languages:

    print(i)

# for can cycle through a range too

number = 8

for i in range(number): 

    print(i)

# for can iterate over each character too

language = ('Python')

for x in language: # x is a temp variable

    print(x)

Use nested code within loops or selections 

# nested code is a loop within a loop 

# outer loop (using a for loop)

for i in range(1, 11):

    # nested loop to iterate from 1 to 10

    for j in range(1, 11):

        # print multiplication

        print(i * j, end=' ')

    print() 

# outer loop (using a nested if-else loop)

num = int(input('Number?'))

if num%2==0:

   if num%3==0:

      print('Divisible by 3 and 2')

   else:

      print('divisible by 2 but not divisible by 3')

else:

   if num%3==0:

      print('divisible by 3 but not divisible by 2')

   else:

      print('not Divisible by 2 and not divisible by 3') 

Use collections such as lists, arrays, and dictionaries to store, access and edit values.

# a list of three elements

languages = ['Python', 'Swift', 'C++']

# access the first and third elements

print(languages[0])   # output Python

print(languages[2])   # output C++

# access information using a dictionary

country_capitals = {"Germany": "Berlin" ,  "Canada": "Ottawa" , "England": "London"}

print(country_capitals["Germany"])    # Output: Berlin

print(country_capitals["England"])    # Output: London

# Python has many useful list methods too. 

# e.g. add(append) items to a list

fruits = ['apple' , 'banana' , 'orange']

fruits.append('cherry')

print('Updated List:' , fruits)

Use comments to explain sections of your code

# you should use a comment before every section of code to explain what it does

Use accurate and consistent syntax and structure in your code

# use 4 spaces per indentation group, use spaces not tab

if num%2 == 0:

   if num%3 == 0:

      print('Divisible by 3 and 2')

# limit lines to a max of 79 characters

# use blank lines sparingly, just to indicate logical sections

# python is case-sensitive. mynumber is different to Mynumber

# use spaces around operands and dividers