Edexcel 1CP2 6.3.2: Variables and constants
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
A variable is a name that holds a value. It is the first idea in this module that is genuinely new, and every later idea is built on it. Take it slowly.
- Giving a value a name
- Using a variable
- Naming
- Variables can hold the robot's answers
- Changing a variable
- Constants: values that should never change
Or do it in the simulator, with tasks that mark themselves
Lessons that teach it
- F1.6 Variables, constants and assignment Programming basics
Storing, changing and naming values, and constants that never change.
Try it on a robot
The task from F1.6 Variables, constants and assignment, 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 2024 Paper 1, Question 1: LEN, POSITION, a data type, assignment, and a two line program 6 marks
- AQA 8525 Sample Paper 1, Question 7: A bubble sort with a swapsMade flag: data type, identifiers, and a trace table 10 marks
- OCR J277 June 2025 Paper 2, Question 6(a): Input two passwords and check that they match 4 marks
- Edexcel 1CP2 June 2024 Paper 2, Question 3: Price a purchase by count or by weight, with constants and validation 10 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 Sample Paper 2, Question 1: Roll a dice: import random, a variable, a constant, randint and a print 7 marks
The specification is Edexcel's own document; this page says which of our lessons teach point 6.3.2 and is not endorsed by the board.