← GCSE Computer Science

P05 3.2.2 Indefinite iteration with condition at start (WHILE) or end (REPEAT…UNTIL, DO…WHILE)

Currently Developing · last touched 2026-10-19

Handwritten loop from a one-line brief with no scaffold still owed (due 29 Oct).

Every change

WhenChangeEvidenceSession
2026-10-20Developing → Developing19 Oct handwritten, built line by line: while x > 0 first, failed on 5,-3,2,0, fixed to != 0; counter and update lines inside, print outside, 4/4 on logic, colon missing on while. Not independent: each line was asked for. Stays developing.session 117
2026-10-15Developing → Developing15 Oct, cold, open, first item: 'it will keep repiting untill there is a break if not it will go on forever' - right on a 2nd day (13, 15 Oct). Paper, no checklist, 'first two lines' asked: counter = 0 and While true in ~5 min, then whole program unasked: break omitted (added after 'which line stops the loop'), if and break at the left margin (fix stated by tutor), quotes round stop missing (3rd time), colons missing on while and if. Stays developing.session 108
2026-10-14Developing → Developingpaper #9 Q15: 0/5, loss=not_attempted — 'skip' typed on the Python-from-pseudo-code loop with 15 min unused, the day after Code Lab Translate the pseudo-code was donesession 106
2026-10-13Developing → DevelopingSession 102, 13 Oct, 4 days on, cold and first: which line can stop the loop, 1 or 3 -> 3; open sentence on while True -> 'it will keep repeting forever', right cold for the first time (wrong 6 and 9 Oct); break -> 'it stops the loop'. 3/3, no frame. Code Lab 'Translate the pseudo-code' on her own: REPEAT...UNTIL as while True / if number == 0: / break, total right on run 1. Proposed secure, not moved: one cold-right day, and the tutor stated the plan line first.standalone
2026-10-09Developing → DevelopingSession 92, 9 Oct, 3 days on, end-check loop re-worked. Cold say-back on while True wrong (a wait until the lines below are false); which line checks -> 3; lines 3-4 deleted -> 1 (forever; right 6 Oct). Open say-back wrong twice more; right in a two-gap frame after a two-fact table. Two missing lines -> if number == 0 / break (colon missing). Handwritten 4-mark loop, no checklist, photo in 3 min: 4/4 on logic. One unaided item, same session as the reteach: status unchanged.standalone
2026-10-06Developing → Developing6 Oct, recap of the end-check loop, 1 day on. Say-back on while True wrong ('if the fact is correct, it should continue with this'); A/B (checks the password / checks nothing) -> A, wrong. Then which line compares -> line 3; lines 3-4 deleted, how many times -> forever; say-back -> 'It means it will loop forever'. 3/3 after narrowing. Unaided step (Code Lab 'Translate the pseudo-code', handwritten loop) not run for a second session. Status unchanged.session 79
2026-10-05Developing → Developing5 Oct, condition-at-end form: opened - taught, confirmed; apply not run (block ended). Teach: passes for cat, open in REPEAT...UNTIL -> 3 (it is 2); then check after second input -> True; go round or stop -> prints Welcome; line 2 -> password = input() first time; cat case -> line 2 runs again; say-back on break gave the outcome only. Confirm 2/2: count loop given hi, stop -> 2; two missing lines -> if guess == 7 / break (colon missing, logic right). No unaided item yet: status unchanged.session 73
2026-10-01Developing → Developing1 Oct starter, no notes: 'keep going until the total is over 100' → while total < 101: — boundary right and the colon present (missing 25 and 29 Sep). 1/1 unaided, typed. Condition-at-end form still untaught: the block went to finishing hex.session 61
2026-09-29Developing → Developing29 Sep starter, no notes: 'until 20 or more' → while guess < 20 (boundary right in production, colon missing); spot-the-error found missing colon and capital Print, 2/2 unaided. Condition-at-end form still untaught.session 58
2026-09-28Developing → DevelopingPlacement Q10: password = input() / while password != open / print / password = input() / print("Welcome") — 3/3 on logic; quotes around open and the colon missing, 27 Sep.session 52
2026-09-25Gap → Developing25 Sep: starter 2/2 unaided (update line + infinite loop named unprompted; 'until bigger than 50' → while number < 51:). Two handwritten while loops 4/4 on logic, update line inside and print after unprompted both times; boundary <= 100 correct without help. Reconfirms session 45 in a later session: gap → developing, single level. Secure needs an unseen-context independent task in a later session and the condition-at-end form taught.session 48
2026-09-24Developing → Gapaudit: session 45 moved P05 notstarted → developing, a two-level rise in one session the promotion rule does not permit; reverted to gap. Session 45 evidence (predictions 2/2, Code Lab p05-stop solved in 2 runs, handwritten exit 3/4) can support developing again once reconfirmed independently.standalone
2026-09-24Not started → Developing24 Sep: taught from zero (worked example line by line with say-backs), predictions 2/2, production check 1/1 (password != "banana"), Code Lab 'Until you say stop' solved in 2 runs, handwritten exit ticket 3/4 (structure correct; boundary < 100 for 'bigger than 100', no int()). notstarted → developing, single level.session 45

In papers

AttemptPaperQMarksNote
Exam practice — week 42 · maths, lit, cs — GCSE Computer Science sectionexam-skills #9150/5Typed 'skip', 0 min, with 15 min unused. 5 marks not attempted. She completed Code Lab 'Translate the pseudo-code' on 13 Oct, so Marks A, C and D at least were within reach. loss=not_attempted (avoidance, A5).
Placement — Computer Science paper 1 (Python) — GCSE Computer Science sectionexam-skills #1103/3while password != open (quotes missing, colon missing), input before and inside the loop, Welcome after. All three scheme marks on logic; missing colon and quotes treated as compile tolerance. Quotes flagged: `open` without quotes is a different thing in Python. 3/3.

Materials

Craig'n'Dave: The three basic programming constructs
WHILE and REPEAT-UNTIL. Note Python has no REPEAT-UNTIL — see the AQA Python notes for the accepted translation. Pair with Code Lab p05-stop.
video
Teach-ICT: Sequence, selection and iteration
Condition-controlled iteration at start and at end.
notes
PMT: Programming (notes, flashcards, questions)
Free, no login. Retrieval layer after teaching.
practice
AQA 8525 specification v1.3 (first teaching Sept 2025, exams June 2027 onwards)
THE document to teach to. Sections 3.1–3.8 are the syllabus; the right-hand 'additional information' column gives the depth limits. Verified 5 Sep 2026.
notes
AQA Summary of changes (8525), June 2025 — what was removed for 2027
Removed: Von Neumann as a named model, optical storage, LAN topologies, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, UDP, FTP, alternative link-layer names. Void these questions on any 2022–2026 paper.
notes
AQA 8525 overview page (specs, teaching guides, sample papers)
Stable entry point if any file link below dies. Lists both spec versions and the 2027 sample materials.
other
AQA subject-specific vocabulary (first exam 2027)
The terminology examiners expect. Use for retrieval starters and to check definitions in written answers.
notes
AQA Notes and guidance: Pseudo-code (8525/1)
Every algorithm in a question paper uses this pseudo-code. She must READ it fluently; she need not write in it.
notes
AQA Notes and guidance: Python (8525/1)
The exact Python style AQA uses in question papers and mark schemes. Use if Python 3 is the chosen language.
notes
AQA Notes and guidance: C# (8525/1)
The exact C# style AQA uses in question papers and mark schemes. Use if C# is the chosen language.
notes
AQA Notes and guidance: VB.NET (8525/1)
The exact VB.NET style AQA uses in question papers and mark schemes. Use if VB.NET is the chosen language.
notes
AQA Notes and guidance: 8525/1 Marking guidance (coded solutions)
FOR THE MARKER. AQA's examiner rulebook: logic over syntax, indentation rules per language, design marks, meaningful variable names, typing rules, records. Read before marking any code question. Verified 5 Sep 2026.
notes
Specimen Paper 1 (Python) 8525B/1 — sample assessment materials
Official specimen, 90 marks, 2h. Paper 1 content unchanged for 2027, so fully usable. Handwrite the code answers.
paper
Specimen Paper 1 (VB.NET) 8525C/1 — sample assessment materials
VB.NET variant of the same specimen. The C# variant (8525A/1) is on the AQA assessment-resources page.
paper
Specimen Paper 1 mark scheme (all three languages) 8525/1
Mark against the section for her language only. Shows the 'Mark A/B/C' feature-marking and 'max N if any errors' caps.
paper
Sample Paper 2 question paper — Sample set 1 (first exam 2027) 8525/2
The ONLY official Paper 2 on the 2027 content. Use as the first full Paper 2 mock. 90 marks, 1h45.
paper
Sample Paper 2 mark scheme — Sample set 1 (first exam 2027) 8525/2
Contains the level-of-response band descriptors and flags the Von Neumann question as no longer asked from 2027.
paper
June 2023 Paper 2 question paper 8525/2 (legacy spec)
LEGACY: void any question on Von Neumann, optical storage, topologies, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, UDP, FTP and reduce the maximum before marking.
paper
June 2023 Paper 1 (VB.NET) question paper 8525/1C (legacy spec)
Paper 1 is unaffected by the 2027 changes. The 1A (C#) and 1B (Python) variants of the same paper are on the AQA past-paper finder.
paper
June 2023 Paper 1 mark scheme 8525/1 (all languages)
Covers 1A, 1B and 1C. Note the examiner 'I.' (ignore) lists — the compile tolerance in practice.
paper
June 2023 Paper 1 examiner report 8525/1
What real candidates got wrong. Key lines: design marks exist even for wrong code; attempt every coding question; the indentation grids are misused.
notes
June 2022 Paper 1 mark scheme 8525/1 (all languages)
Legacy but Paper 1 content is unchanged. Question paper via the past-paper finder.
paper
AQA past-paper finder (2022–2024 papers, mark schemes, examiner reports, modified papers)
Search 8525. The most recent series (2025, 2026) are login-gated for about a year — ask the exam centre. 2027 is the first series on the new content.
other
AQA 8525 assessment resources page
The file list renders in-browser only. Filter by 'Sample papers' for the C# specimen (8525A/1).
other
AQA GCSE grade boundaries — June 2024 (contains 8525A/B/C rows, out of 180)
Legacy proxy only. The tracker holds the 8525C row. Look up 8525A or 8525B here once the language is chosen. No 2027 boundaries exist until August 2027.
other
AQA GCSE subject grade boundaries — June 2025
Most recent legacy series. Directional only.
other
AQA GCSE exam timetable May/June 2027 (version 1.0)
8525/1A/1B/1C Monday 10 May 2027 am; 8525/2 Wednesday 19 May 2027. Confirm with the centre.
other
AQA private candidates page
PARENT: the centre must sign the Practical Programming Statement (spec 5.1) and declare the Paper 1 language at entry. Confirm both in writing early.
other