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Select, connect and repair computational thinking

Complete the sections in order, beginning with retrieval or model selection and then applying the ideas in integrated contexts. No new required knowledge is introduced.

Complete the method-selection and repair work, then use the midpoint. The second episode applies the five modes together in a new scenario, followed by closed-book retrieval.

Computational-thinking questions often contain several familiar nouns: data, procedures, conditions and tasks. However, the named mode depends on the decision being made. Select the central mode from the work required, then connect supporting modes without merging their meanings.

Select by the central decision

Central decision	Primary mode	A supporting connection
Which real details should a model retain for its purpose?	thinking abstractly	thinking ahead identifies needed data
What data, preconditions, cached result or reusable component is needed?	thinking ahead	thinking procedurally supplies interfaces
How should a problem be decomposed and its sub-procedures ordered?	thinking procedurally	thinking logically controls routes
Which Boolean condition selects or repeats a route?	thinking logically	thinking ahead supplies the condition data
Which tasks may make overlapping progress, and what must synchronise?	thinking concurrently	thinking procedurally exposes dependencies

Worked selection

A venue app must decide whether to retain every decorative feature in a route model. The central decision is about relevant detail for a purpose, so thinking abstractly is primary. The app also needs current closure data, so thinking ahead supports the solution. Calling the whole task 'thinking ahead' because it uses data would miss the actual decision.

Multiple choice1 mark

A library team splits a reservation system into catalogue search, member checks and loan recording, then defines the data passed between them. Which mode is central?

AThinking abstractly, because some details are omitted
BThinking ahead, because the system uses data
CThinking concurrently, because the components are separate
DThinking procedurally, because responsibilities and interfaces are being decomposed

Fill in the blanks4 marks

A route model uses gap 1 thinking to retain only decision-relevant detail. Its required input data and preconditions use thinking gap 2. Its ordered components use thinking gap 3, while a Boolean access route uses thinking gap 4.

abstractly
ahead
procedurally
logically
concurrently

Written answer4 marks

Repair both statements: (1) 'Visualisation and abstraction mean drawing a simpler picture.' (2) 'Concurrent tasks must execute at exactly the same instant.'

For each, replace the false claim with the precise OCR distinction and give one brief example or consequence.

Students type their answer here.

Apply the ideas together

The next section combines the models in a changed context. Complete it independently, returning to a worked example only after identifying the exact reasoning step that needs repair.

Transfer scenario: community refill stations

A council app helps residents find working water-refill stations. It stores location, opening times, accessibility and fault reports. It recommends a station, caches summaries, separates data checking from route building, and processes map tiles and accessibility descriptions before publishing an update.

Written answer8 marks

Build a five-mode method map for the refill-station app. For each mode, state one decision or action that genuinely uses it; then explain one connection between two modes.

Use all five named modes once. Make each action specific enough that another developer could act on it.

Students type their answer here.

Trace table1 mark

Trace the station recommendation and final value.

Enter a value only when it changes. Follow the listing in order.

Use one row for each pass through the loop. Fill in a box only when that value changes on that row, and leave the rest blank.

AlgorithmExam reference language

stationOpen = True
accessible = False
needsAccess = True
working = True
recommend = False
if stationOpen == True AND working == True then
if needsAccess == False OR accessible == True then
recommend = True
endif
endif
print(recommend)

Trace table with 8 columns
Row	stationOpen	accessible	needsAccess	working	recommend	stationOpen == True AND working == True	needsAccess == False OR accessible == True	Output
1
2
3

Written answer6 marks

Explain why recommend remains False. Then decide whether map-tile processing and accessibility-description checking may overlap, and state one condition required before the update is published.

Connect the logical route to the supplied data, then connect concurrency to dependencies rather than assuming everything can overlap.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer8 marks

A school wants a system that recommends quiet study spaces and publishes live occupancy information. Select the two most important computational-thinking modes for the first design meeting, justify their order, and explain how a third mode will later constrain the solution.

There is no single required pair. Base the order on the design decisions that must be made, and preserve the exact meaning of each mode.

Students type their answer here.

Closed-book connection checkpoint

Complete the distinctions from memory. There is no answer bank, and correctness is withheld until teacher review.

Fill in the blanks5 marks

Thinking checkpoint gap 1 selects detail for a purpose. Thinking checkpoint gap 2 identifies data, preconditions and reusable work. Thinking checkpoint gap 3 decomposes and orders solution components. Thinking checkpoint gap 4 controls Boolean routes. Thinking checkpoint gap 5 identifies safe overlapping progress.

Review your understanding

Before submitting, check that you can explain the main distinction in your own words, apply it in an unfamiliar context and justify the resulting behaviour or consequence.