Edexcel 1CP2 1.2.1: Following and writing algorithms
The free BugBot lessons that teach this point, a robot to try it on, and the past-paper questions that test it.
Lessons that teach it
- F5.1 What an algorithm is Algorithms
Inputs, processes and outputs; what makes an algorithm precise; programs implement algorithms. - F5.2 Flowcharts Algorithms
The standard symbols, and turning a flowchart into code.
Try it on a robot
The task from F5.1 What an algorithm is, 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 2025 Paper 1, Question 4: Validate a name by length until it is accepted, test data, and a username flowchart 13 marks
- AQA 8525 June 2023 Paper 1, Question 5: Trace a flowchart with a loop 3 marks
- AQA 8525 June 2022 Paper 1, Question 4: Which of two programs is more efficient, and why 3 marks
- AQA 8525 Sample Paper 1, Question 13: Move blocks between columns with MOVE and HEIGHT, keeping their order 10 marks
- OCR J277 June 2025 Paper 2, Question 2(a), (b): Count the passes of a flowchart loop, and describe the kinds of iteration 8 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 2(b): Design a flowchart that decides who gets a half-price meal 5 marks
- OCR J277 Sample Paper 2, Question 4: Usernames from a flowchart, then an algorithm for teachers and students 8 marks
- OCR J277 Sample Paper 2, Question 8(e), (g): A while loop trace table, a function that returns minutes, and a flowchart as code 14 marks
- Edexcel 1CP2 June 2024 Paper 2, Question 4: Turn a flowchart for a cafe order into Python, rounding up with math.ceil 15 marks
- Edexcel 1CP2 June 2023 Paper 1, Question 4: Computational thinking: trace tables and records, an odd or even flowchart, linear search, S AND M 20 marks
- Edexcel 1CP2 June 2022 Paper 1, Question 5: Computational thinking: a search that stops early, the strawberry trace table, a flowchart 18 marks
The specification is Edexcel's own document; this page says which of our lessons teach point 1.2.1 and is not endorsed by the board.