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Monday 18 May 2026 - Afternoon

GCSE (9-1) Computer Science

Unofficial Practice Paper: J277/02 Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming [Version E]

Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes

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INSTRUCTIONS

This is an unofficial practice resource created exclusively for gcsecomputerscience.co.uk. It is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or approved by Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR).
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2
Section A
1

(a) Define Abstraction and provide an example related to a map app.

[3]

(b) Explain one benefit of using Decomposition in a large project.

[3]

(c) Compare High-Level and Low-Level languages.

[4]
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3
2

(a) Complete the trace table for the nested loop algorithm.

Iterationxy
 
 
 
[4]

(b) Draw a logic circuit and truth table for: P = (NOT A) AND (B OR C).

[6]
3

(a) Explain the difference between DIV and MOD using 17 and 5.

[2]

(b) Define Casting and provide a pseudocode example.

[2]

(c) Explain the difference between Global and Local variables.

[3]

(d) Identify two characteristics of an IDE that aid debugging.

[3]
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4
4

(a) Describe the steps of a Binary Search and its pre-condition.

[4]

(b) Show the first pass of a Bubble Sort for [8, 3, 5, 2].

[3]

(c) Compare a Syntax Error and a Logic Error.

[3]
Section B
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5
HomeSafe Smart Home System.
5

(a) Write an SQL query to find 'Tripped' alarms in 'Logs'.

[4]

(b) Write an algorithm to find the highest temp in a 1D array.

[6]
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6
6

(a) Write an algorithm using a DO UNTIL loop to validate a 4-digit PIN.

[8]

(b) Explain why DO UNTIL is suitable for user login.

[2]
7

(a) Write an algorithm to check a 2D array sensorGrid for values > 40.

[8]

(b) Purpose of Boolean in this grid check.

[2]
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7
8

(a) Write a Function that uses newFile() to create status.txt.

[8]

(b) Difference between a Parameter and an Argument.

[2]
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