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 technique | Example / 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 manipulation | Searching and replacing characters, counting occurrences of characters, modifying contents of strings, using Regex (regular expressions) |
| using additional non-core libraries | downloaded Python libraries, imported C# libraries, external APIs |
| can include complex programming techniques | See 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 evidence | Example / 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 |