Computer Science code builder

The code builder makes GCSE code tracing questions without running any code. Pick a construct and the tool assembles a short snippet with a known result, shown as AQA pseudocode, OCR Exam Reference Language or Python. Ask the class to predict the output, find the planted bug or complete the trace table.

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Code Builder

State the output of this code.

1total ← 0
2FOR i ← 1 TO 6
3    total ← total + i
4ENDFOR
5OUTPUT total

total = 0
for i in range(1, 7):
    total = total + i
print(total)

total ← 0
FOR i ← 1 TO 6
    total ← total - i
ENDFOR
OUTPUT total

total = 0
for i in range(1, 7):
    total = total - i
print(total)

numbers ← [3, 3, 4, 3]
total ← 0
FOR i ← 0 TO LEN(numbers) - 1
    n ← numbers[i]
    total ← total + n
ENDFOR
OUTPUT total

numbers = [3, 3, 4, 3]
total = 0
for n in numbers:
    total = total + n
print(total)

numbers	total	n	Output
[3, 3, 4, 3]	0
	3	3
	6	3
	10	4
	13	3	13

Adds the whole numbers from 1 to 6 and prints the running total.

A hand-built replica of the real builder page, not a screenshot. Every control shown exists in the product.

Also available in this tool, OCR Exam Reference Language and AQA pseudocode trace tables.

Why this works in Computer Science

Writing a snippet on the board means tracing it yourself first, and exam pseudocode is where pupils drop marks because each board writes it differently. Here the code is built by construction, so the answer is right every time, and one click switches the notation so the class reads the form they will meet in the paper.

The same snippet becomes three questions, predict the output, find the bug, or complete the table with the first rows filled in. In the presenter you step through the trace a line at a time, offer a hint, then reveal once the class has committed. Export it for a worksheet or use it in questions within Plenary Studio.

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Computer Science code builder

Why this works in Computer Science

Teach with usand start building.

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and start building.