9618 · 9.1
Common exam mistakes on 9618 Computational Thinking Skills. Learn what loses marks, then practise the topic with Examiner’s Ink.
In Paper 2, even if you can't figure out the complete solution, you can earn marks by demonstrating your computational thinking skills. Start by decomposing the problem in your comments or planning area. Write pseudocode for the parts you can solve. This shows the examiner your thought process and can earn you partial credit, especially for algorithm design and structure.
No, you don't need to write these words in your final code or pseudocode. However, using them as a mental checklist to structure your thoughts is extremely valuable. For longer, written questions that ask you to describe a solution, explaining your approach using these terms can be a good way to structure your answer and ensure you cover all necessary steps.
No, they are related but distinct. Computational thinking is the process of designing a solution. Programming is the process of implementing that solution in a specific language. You do computational thinking before you start programming. A good plan (from CT) makes programming much easier.
An algorithm is a logical, step-by-step plan to solve a problem, which is independent of any programming language (often written in pseudocode or as a flowchart). A program is the implementation of an algorithm in a specific programming language (like Python, Java, or VB.NET) that a computer can execute.