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<p>It shouldn't be as algorithms are supposed to reach a solution and be creative... However, Question 8 (multiple choice) in the 2013 VCAA exam asks which code is more efficient?</p>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au <sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au> on behalf of Paragreen, Chris J <paragreen.chris.j@edumail.vic.gov.au><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, 4 August 2016 3:44 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Exam pseudocode marking - effectiveness or efficiency?</font>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:#1F497D">Hi all,</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:#1F497D">In an exam situation, I think correctness is more important than efficiency. Provided the student is following the rules of pseudocode (begin/end use of indentation etc.) and the
logic is correct, they should be fine.<a name="_MailEndCompose"></a></span></p>
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<span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:#1F497D"> </span></span></p>
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<span style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; color:#1F497D">Chris</span></span></p>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, 4 August 2016 1:26 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List <sofdev@edulists.com.au><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Year 12 SofDev] Exam pseudocode marking - effectiveness or efficiency?</span></p>
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Hi all</p>
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In the SD sample exam, B2, students are asked to write pseudocode. </p>
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I expect the marker would want to see an answer like this:</p>
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Begin</p>
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If Student in Student Details File Then</p>
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If Competition_Score >= 50 Then</p>
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<b> If Competition_Score >= 95 then</b></p>
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<b> Award <img width="15" height="13" id="_x0000_i1025" style="width: 0.1562in; height: 0.1354in; -webkit-user-select: none;" tabindex="0" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D1EE56.548B52B0"> "High Distinction"</b></p>
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<b> Else</b></p>
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<b> Award <img width="15" height="13" id="_x0000_i1026" style="width: 0.1562in; height: 0.1354in; -webkit-user-select: none;" tabindex="0" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D1EE56.548B52B0"> "Pass"</b></p>
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EndIf</p>
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Print “Certificate” Award</p>
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EndIf</p>
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End</p>
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It got me to wondering. If - instead of the 'else' a student wrote something like </p>
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<b>Elseif Competition_Score >=50 </b><br clear="all">
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which also would work (but would be redundant since the second IF construct already tested for this) would the student be penalised?</p>
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It's good to see SD exams recently recognising and testing students' ability to optimise code, but is optimisation and efficiency a criterion in assessing students' pseudocode?</p>
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Regards,</p>
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Mark</p>
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<span style="font-size:9.5pt">Mark Kelly</span></p>
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<a href="mailto:mark@vceit.com" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">mark@vceit.com</span></a></p>
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<a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://vceit.com</a></p>
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