THE CURIOSITY CORNER · Free practice from Einsteins Square
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CODING · BEGINNER · 15 QUESTIONS · AT YOUR OWN PACE

Think like a coder

You do not need a computer program to practise thinking like a coder. Explore sequences, repeated instructions and debugging with a collection of small challenges.

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1. A robot must put on socks and then shoes. Which sequence works?
2. Repeat “clap twice” three times. How many claps is that?
3. Your program draws a triangle, but you wanted a square. What is a useful next step?
4. What is a variable useful for?
5. A score starts at 4. The program adds 3, then adds 2. What is the new score?
6. What does a condition help a program do?
7. If score is 8, is the condition “score > 5” true?
8. Which is an example of input?
9. Which is an example of output?
10. A loop moves a sprite 5 steps each time and repeats 4 times. How many steps in total?
11. Why split a large project into smaller tasks?
12. What is an algorithm?
13. Which action is most useful after changing a program?
14. What is a function commonly used for?
15. A program runs “if raining, take an umbrella”. It is not raining. Does this rule tell you to take an umbrella?

TAKE IT OFF THE SCREEN

One more little adventure

Write four instructions for someone to draw a simple house. Let them follow only your instructions. What would you change to make the instructions clearer?

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Answer key: Think like a coder

1. Put on socks, then shoes
A sequence is an ordered set of steps. Here the socks need to go on before the shoes.

2. 6 claps
Each repeat adds two claps: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6. A loop repeats instructions.

3. Check the instructions and change what is wrong
Debugging means finding and fixing problems. Look at the instructions for the number of sides and turns.

4. Storing a value that a program can use
A variable gives a name to a value, such as score = 10.

5. 9
Follow the sequence: 4 + 3 = 7, then 7 + 2 = 9.

6. Choose what to do depending on whether something is true
An if condition lets a program choose an action, such as showing a message if a score is high enough.

7. Yes
8 is greater than 5, so the condition is true.

8. A key pressed by the user
Input is information entering a program. A key press, mouse click or typed answer can be input.

9. A program displays “Well done!”
Output is information a program produces, such as a displayed message.

10. 20
Four repeats of 5 steps make 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 steps.

11. It makes each part easier to understand and test
Breaking a problem into smaller parts is called decomposition. Each part can be developed and checked.

12. A step-by-step method for solving a problem
An algorithm is an ordered method. A recipe is an everyday example.

13. Test that the change works as intended
Testing checks whether the program behaves as expected, including cases that might expose mistakes.

14. Grouping reusable instructions under a name
A function groups instructions so you can call them when needed instead of repeatedly rewriting them.

15. No
The action runs only when the condition is true. Here the condition is false.

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