OCR Exam Reference Language code tracing

OCR Exam Reference Language is the pseudocode used in the J277 papers, and it is one of the three ways the code builder can show a snippet. Set the board to OCR and every question renders in the reference language, with Python one click away for comparison.

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State the output of this code.

1total = 0
2for i = 1 to 6
3    total = total + i
4next i
5print(total)

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

total = 0
for i = 1 to 6
    total = total - i
next i
print(total)

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

array numbers = [3, 3, 4, 3]
total = 0
for i = 0 to numbers.length - 1
    n = numbers[i]
    total = total + n
next i
print(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.

Part of the Code builder family. See AQA pseudocode trace tables page to explore further.

Why this works in Computer Science

Pupils who have only seen Python read the inclusive loop bound wrong and count one trip too few, and that is exactly the slip a trace table exposes. The details the mark scheme rewards are all here, next i to close a loop, array to declare a list, .length for its size, MOD and DIV as words, and substring taking a start and a count.

Because switching the board changes the notation and nothing else, you can put the reference language and the Python side by side and ask what differs. Download the question for a worksheet or step through it in the presenter.

More Computer Science resources

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OCR Exam Reference Language code tracing

Why this works in Computer Science

More Computer Science resources

Code builder

AQA pseudocode trace tables

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