Year 8 Edexcel Computing Practice Assessment

Q1. Which data type should be used in Python to store a student's age as a whole number? [1 Mark]

A) String (str) B) Integer (int) C) Float D) Boolean

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B) Integer. Integers store whole numbers without decimals (like 13 or 14).

Q2. What does Python's standard input() function always return by default? [1 Mark]

A) A number (integer) B) A true/false value C) Text (a string) D) A list

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is C) Text (a string). Whatever a user types into input() is saved as text unless converted using int().

Q3. What is the correct way to print the phrase Hello Year 8 on screen in Python? [1 Mark]

A) print("Hello Year 8") B) output(Hello Year 8) C) PRINT "Hello Year 8" D) display("Hello Year 8")

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is A. Python uses lowercase print() with speech marks around text strings.

Q4. What is the output of the Python code print(10 + 5 * 2)? [1 Mark]

A) 30 B) 20 C) 25 D) 1052

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B) 20. Python follows operator order (BIDMAS): multiplication happens first (5 * 2 = 10), then addition (10 + 10 = 20).

Q5. Which operator symbol is used in Python to find the remainder of a division (modulo)? [1 Mark]

A) / B) // C) % D) #

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is C) %. The percent sign % gives the remainder (e.g. 7 % 3 gives 1).

Q6. Which operator in Python checks if two values are equal to each other? [1 Mark]

A) = B) == C) equals D) =>

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B) ==. Single = assigns a variable, double == compares two values.

Q7. Which logic operator checks if both conditions are True? [1 Mark]

A) AND B) OR C) NOT D) IF

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is A) AND. Both side A and side B must be True for an AND condition to succeed.

Q8. How many times will the code for i in range(4): print("Goal!") run? [1 Mark]

A) 3 times B) 5 times C) 4 times D) Infinite times

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is C) 4 times. range(4) generates 0, 1, 2, 3 (a total of 4 loops).

Q9. What type of loop keeps running while a condition stays True? [1 Mark]

A) Count-controlled loop (for) B) Condition-controlled loop (while) C) Sequence loop D) Forever loop

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B) while loop. while loops check a condition before each repetition.

Q10. Given the list games = ["Minecraft", "Roblox", "Fortnite"], what is games[0]? [1 Mark]

A) "Minecraft" B) "Roblox" C) "Fortnite" D) 0

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is A) "Minecraft". Python lists start counting indexes at position 0.

Q11. In a flowchart, which shape represents the Start or Stop terminator? [1 Mark]

A) Rectangle B) Parallelogram C) Oval / Rounded rectangle D) Diamond

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is C) Oval. Ovals show the beginning and end of a flowchart.

Q12. What term means carrying out algorithm instructions one after another in order? [1 Mark]

A) Selection B) Sequence C) Iteration D) Function

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B) Sequence. Sequence is step-by-step order. Selection is choosing paths (IF) and iteration is looping.

Q13. Where does a Linear Search start checking for an item in a list? [1 Mark]

A) In the middle of the list B) At the very beginning, checking items one by one C) At the end of the list D) At a random position

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B. A linear search always starts at the first item (index 0) and checks each item in order until it finds a match.

Q14. What does a Bubble Sort compare at each step? [1 Mark]

A) Two items side-by-side (neighbors) B) The first item and the last item C) All items in the list at the same time D) Three items at once

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is A) Two items side-by-side. Bubble sort compares neighboring pairs and swaps them if they are in the wrong order.

Q15. How many bits make up 1 Byte of computer memory? [1 Mark]

A) 2 bits B) 4 bits C) 8 bits D) 10 bits

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is C) 8 bits. 8 bits equal 1 byte (a nibble is 4 bits).

Q16. Which device is considered an Input Device for a computer system? [1 Mark]

A) Monitor screen B) Keyboard C) Speaker D) Printer

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B) Keyboard. Keyboards send data into the computer system (Input).

Q17. What type of error stops code from running because you spelled a keyword wrong or missed a bracket? [1 Mark]

A) Syntax Error B) Logic Error C) Human Error D) Network Error

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is A) Syntax Error. Breaking Python grammar rules causes syntax errors.

Q18. Identify the syntax error in this line: if score > 100 [1 Mark]

A) The word score must be capitalized. B) The > symbol is illegal. C) Missing colon (:) at the end of the line. D) Missing speech marks around 100.

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is C. Every if statement header needs a colon : at the end.

Q19. What will the following code print?
x = 5
x = x + 3
print(x) [1 Mark]

A) 5 B) 8 C) 53 D) x + 3

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B) 8. x starts at 5, then adds 3, giving 8.

Q20. Which symbol is used in Python to write a comment that the computer ignores? [1 Mark]

A) // B) # C)  D) **

Teacher Comment: Correct answer is B) #. In Python, any line starting with `#` is a comment and is ignored when running the code.

Year 8 Edexcel KS3 Computing

Topic Checkpoint: Python Basics, Logic & Algorithms