Paper 2: Algorithms and Programming (H446/02)

This lesson covers everything you need to know about OCR A-Level Computer Science Paper 2 — the structure, question types, pseudocode conventions, trace table technique, common algorithm questions, and how to approach design questions. Paper 2 is heavily practical in focus, and the skills tested here require regular coding practice as well as theoretical understanding.

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Paper 2 Structure and Format

Paper 2 is a written exam lasting 2 hours 30 minutes with a total of 140 marks. It accounts for 40% of your A-Level. The paper tests the following areas of the specification:

Section	Topic Area
2.1	Elements of computational thinking
2.2	Problem solving and programming
2.3	Algorithms

Unlike Paper 1, which is primarily theoretical, Paper 2 is focused on problem solving, algorithms, and programming. You will be asked to read code, trace code, write code, design algorithms, and analyse the efficiency of solutions.