Introduction

For both the year 12 and 13 assessments you will need the following to have a basic passing grade:
1.) Use Variables with at least two different types of data (numeric, text, Boolean, object)
2.) Use Selection control structures (if statements/while loop conditions)
3.) Use iteration control structures (self made loops, not gaming loops)
4.) Take input from the user, sensors or any other external source
5.) Produce output

You will also need:
Code commenting
​Testing

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Variables

In programming we use things called "variables" to store data that we want to use. Variables are essentially containers that store different pieces of data:

Three types of data that we commonly use in programming are:

Boolean values:   True/False
Number values:  242321, 34.7, 0.82
Text values: "Hi how are you?"
Note: text values are also known as `strings`

This assessment requires that you at least use 2 different types of variables

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Selection Control Structure

A selection control structure is when  a program will run differently under certain conditions.

Commonly we would call this an if statement.

if (condition) {
    code to run
}

However technically it could apply to a conditional loop:

while(condition) {
    Repeat this code
}

You need at least 2 of these to pass this assessment.

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Iteration control structure

Iteration control structures are used to repeat programming commands.

Commonly they are known as loops.

In JavaScript this would alert 1-5:
for (let i = 1; i < 5; i++) {
        alert(i)
    }

You will need two of such loops in your game program. Your default Game timer loop will not count.

A good idea of where to use loops is in the generation of lists (high scores) or placement of collectables (coins) etc.

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Input from a user, external source, sensor

If you are making a video game or electronics project you will most likely do this by default.

But you will at least need to take in input once from a user, or external document or a sensor(for electronics).

Pressing the up arrow to jump would be good enough to meet this criteria.

​

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Output

It would be impossible for a video game you create to not produce output.

This is the same for an electronics project.

As long as something appears to change after you insert input then this will count.

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Additional Programming Requirements

In order to pass Year 12 you also have to meet these advanced requirements.

In order to pass Year 13 you need to pass these complex requirements.

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Code Commenting

Why is it important?

Unsurprisingly, in the corporate world you are normally not programming by yourself.

A game like Helldivers 2 has 100s or even 1000s of people working on it, a large portion of this group is made up of programmers who have to read over each others code. With this number of people, code has to be well written with appropriate documentation (like comments).

Code comments help other people to understand what the code is doing, especially in cases where it might not be obvious or unusual.

Code Comment Grading:
Achieved - setting out the program code clearly and documenting the program with comments 
Merit - documenting the program with appropriate names and comments that describe code function and behaviour 

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Testing

To get any grade you must show evidence of testing and debugging. The best way to do this is to test as you go (keep in mind you only need a sample).
Debugging simply means that you find something that doesn't work and you talk about what you need to do to fix it. Please refer to the examples below:

Merit

EXCELLENCE