2.07 Use advanced programming techniques to develop a computer program (91896 L2 6cr)


This is a 6 credit internal external

This achievement standard involves using advanced programming techniques to develop a computer program.

The programming language chosen must support the required data types, control structures, advanced programming techniques, and have good commenting facilities

Click here to access the NZQA Digital Technology Achievement Standards page.

Achievement

Use advanced programming techniques to develop a computer program

This involves you:You can show this by:
writing code for a program that performs a specified task
using advanced techniques in a suitable programming language
setting out the program code clearly and documenting the program with comments
testing and debugging the program to ensure that it works on a sample of expected cases

An advanced computer program:

  • uses variables storing at least two types of data (e.g. numeric, text, Boolean)
  • uses sequence, selection and iteration control structures
  • takes input from a user, sensors, or other external source
  • produces output
  • uses two or more advanced programming techniques

Examples of advanced programming techniques include:

Advanced programming techniqueExample / Explanation
modifying data stored in collections (e.g. lists, arrays, dictionaries)
storing multidimensional data in collections
creating methods, functions, or procedures that use parameters and/or return values
responding to events generated by a graphical user interface (GUI)
using non-trivial string manipulationSearching and replacing characters, counting occurrences of characters, modifying contents of strings, using Regex (regular expressions)
using additional non-core librariesdownloaded Python libraries, imported C# libraries, external APIs
can include complex programming techniquesSee the Level 3 Programming standard

Achievement with Merit

Use advanced programming techniques to develop an informed computer program

This involves you:You can show this by:
documenting the program with appropriate names and comments that describe code function and behaviour
following conventions for the chosen programming language
testing and debugging the program effectively to ensure that it works on a sample of both expected cases and relevant boundary cases

Achievement with Excellence

Use advanced programming techniques to develop a refined computer program

This involves you:You can show this by:
ensuring that the program is a well-structured, logical response to the task
making the program flexible and robust
comprehensively testing and debugging the program

Example ways of making a program flexible and robust include (but are not limited to):

Flexible and robust evidenceExample / Explanation
using actions, conditions, control structures and, methods, functions or procedures effectively
checking input data for validity
correctly handling expected, boundary and invalid cases
using constants, variables and derived values in place of literals
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