AQA 8525 3.2.4: Relational operations in a programming language
The free BugBot lesson that teach this point, a robot to try it on, and the past-paper questions that test it.
What it covers
Every program so far did the same thing every time. A robot that only does that is a toy. From this lesson on, your programs look at the world and choose. Choosing which lines run is called selection.
- Questions with a yes-or-no answer
- if: run a block only when the answer is True
- Predict, then run
- Comparing text
- The answer can come from a variable
Or do it in the simulator, with tasks that mark themselves
Lessons that teach it
- F2.2 Selection: if Decisions and loops
Relational operators, and a block that runs only when a condition is true.
Try it on a robot
The task from F2.2 Selection: if, running here. Change the program and press Run.
Past paper questions on this
Real exam questions that test this, each worked through with a program you can run.
- AQA 8525 June 2023 Paper 1, Question 7: A ticket price with a group discount 6 marks
- AQA 8525 June 2022 Paper 1, Question 1: MOD, selection, assignment, relational operators and a definite loop 6 marks
- AQA 8525 June 2022 Paper 1, Question 7: Ask for an email address twice and check that they match 5 marks
- AQA 8525 Sample Paper 1, Question 8: Output LOWER or NOT LOWER for a character 7 marks
- OCR J277 June 2025 Paper 2, Question 6(a): Input two passwords and check that they match 4 marks
- OCR J277 June 2024 Paper 2, Question 2: Complete a flowchart that decides odd or even with MOD 4 marks
- OCR J277 June 2022 Paper 2, Question 5(e): Car park charges, repeated until 0 hours is entered 6 marks
- OCR J277 Sample Paper 2, Question 2: Complete a comparison of two numbers, then write a loop that doubles inputs 10 marks
- OCR J277 Sample Paper 2, Question 4: Usernames from a flowchart, then an algorithm for teachers and students 8 marks
The specification is AQA's own document; this page says which of our lessons teach point 3.2.4 and is not endorsed by the board.