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Software Development examination transition

Complete this assessment independently. Read the command word and project details before answering. Objective feedback is delayed where the platform supports it so that later answers remain an honest check of your understanding.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which description is accurate?

ASpiral uses risk analysis to decide work in each repeated cycle
BWaterfall is defined by daily user-reviewed prototypes
CRAD means writing final code without evaluation
DXP is unrelated to agile development

Fill in the blanks4 marks

Waterfall has planned gap 1. Agile delivers small gap 2 and reprioritises from feedback. XP supplies engineering gap 3. RAD refines rapid gap 4 with users.

stages
increments
practices
prototypes
risks

Written answer4 marks

Give two differences between the waterfall lifecycle and the spiral model.

For each difference, compare the same feature on both sides. ‘Linear’ and ‘iterative’ need further explanation.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer5 marks

A university is replacing a payroll system. The rules and acceptance tests are fixed by contract, and full audit documentation is required. Explain one benefit and one drawback of using waterfall.

Use the fixed requirements, contract or audit evidence in both parts of your answer.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer6 marks

A drone-control project uses an unproven sensor. Failure could cause serious harm, and field trials are expensive. Explain why spiral may be suitable and why it could still increase project cost.

Explain the risk-led cycle and apply it to the sensor or field trials.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer7 marks

A community app has changing priorities, a representative available each week and a team working on one shared codebase. Explain how agile development and two XP practices could support the project. State one limitation.

Keep agile iteration and feedback separate from the engineering effect of each XP practice.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer6 marks

A small charity has six weeks to improve the design of an online donation screen. Staff can review prototypes several times each week. Evaluate the use of RAD for this project.

Explain the prototype-and-evaluation cycle, apply benefits and drawbacks, and finish with a judgement.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer12 marks

A travel platform must launch within four months. User priorities are changing, a product representative is available and connection to live rail data creates substantial technical risk. Discuss the relative suitability of waterfall, agile with XP practices, spiral and RAD. Recommend a primary methodology.

Compare the approaches through the changing priorities, deadline, available user feedback, integration risk and code quality. Give a balanced, supported conclusion.

Students type their answer here.

Trace table25 marks

Trace the algorithm for readings [18, 40, 75]. Record each reading, label, count and final output.

Complete the trace without checking intermediate answers. Record changed values and output in order.

Use one row for each statement as it runs. Fill in a box only when that value changes on that row, and leave the rest blank.

ProgramPython

def classify(reading):
if reading < 20:
return "LOW"
if reading <= 70:
return "NORMAL"
return "HIGH"
readings = [18, 40, 75]
count = 0
for reading in readings:
label = classify(reading)
if label != "NORMAL":
count = count + 1
print(count)

Trace table with 10 columns
Row	readings	count	reading	reading (classify)	label	Return value	reading < 20	reading <= 70	label != "NORMAL"	Output
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27

Written answer5 marks

State the label returned for each reading. Explain why the final output is 2 rather than 3.

Separate the three function returns from the condition that controls the count.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer10 marks

The supplied function valid(code) returns a Boolean. Write coherent pseudocode or program code that inputs five codes, calls valid for each one, stores every returned Boolean, counts the valid codes, outputs the count, appends the count to summary.txt and closes the file.

Do not rewrite `valid`. Check each input, call, returned value, count update, output and file action.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer3 marks

A candidate rewrites valid, prints each returned Boolean without storing it, and does not produce the required count or file record. Explain three ways this fails to meet the task, even if the printed Booleans are correct.

Compare the candidate's actions with the supplied interface and every required result.

Students type their answer here.

Fill in the blanks3 marks

A recommendation must explain what the process checkpoint gap 1, apply it to the project and reach a supported judgement. A function's returned value must be checkpoint gap 2 or used. File output is incomplete until the required data is written and the file is checkpoint gap 3.

Final check

For methodology questions, check that every major point uses the project context and explains a result. For algorithm questions, compare the solution with every stated requirement and verify that returned values and file operations have not been omitted.