[Andrew Bratton]

24/01/2019 at 10:06 am

Has anyone grabbed a copy of the new edition Higher study guide from BrightRED? I ask because as I was flicking through my copy I noticed the section on pseudocode on page 11 uses the HAGGIS or SQA reference language as an example. Now correct me if I am wrong but at the understanding standards event were we not told that this was not to be used as pseudocode?

[Andrew Bratton]

25/01/2019 at 8:45 am

I posted my question to Greg Reid through his SQA account and he has given me a reply to clear up any doubt folk may still have. Here is his reply:

“Andy, you are correct in your memory of the recent understanding standards event in Glasgow. The position of SQA is that SQA Reference Language is a fully functioning programming language. We will only use it within software design & development exam paper questions where we are asking candidates to read and explain code.

As SQARL is a fully functioning programming language its not appropriate to use it as pseudocode during design.

There will never be a requirement for candidates to write SQARL at any point. However, if candidates answer a code writing exam paper question (which starts “using a programming language of your choice”) using SQARL it will be regarded as code, just like any other language (Python, VB etc)

Finally, should candidates write SQARL in an exam paper, SDD design question, markers will be instructed to be very lenient and not immediately dismiss the answer as code. That would not be in the spirit of exam marking where we aim to credit candidates if they demonstrate an understanding of the problem.

Hope that helps clarify things.
Best wishes
Greg”

[Darren Brown]

25/01/2019 at 11:20 am

There is enough confusion, guess work and tangents in these new courses without more confusion so I hope whatever pupils do marking is very lenient. Pupils should be allowed anything in the exam – code/pseudocode/most of mine do a mix of Python & pseudocode…

These questions “in a programming language” worry me. For instance at Higher to set out a record my Python pupils wouldn’t set out a named tuple then write a line to show setup of a tuple to set types.

I just say write: RECORD give it a name TYPE then list type:field and so on… This is not a programming language but then again there are so many how would a marker know???

N5 SQA events we were told “in a programming language” could write pseudocode but at H this year it was mentioned design was not a programming language. I’m tempted to invent my own programming language called “Mince and Tatties (MinT)”.

[Mr Gibson]

25/01/2019 at 12:29 pm

In that case surely would be better using Non Executable Exemplar Programming System…..(NeePs) in addition to the other systems outlined.

[Darren Brown]

25/01/2019 at 12:44 pm

We’re onto something here, it is Burns Night so maybe all the syntax should be in the Scots Tongue

Wee, sleeket, variable name…

[David Polland]

25/01/2019 at 2:00 pm

To the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ [with tongue firmly in cheek]

But, CFE-sie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o’ EducScot an ‘men
Gang aft agley,
An’lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!

Still thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me
The present only toucheth thee:
But, Och! I backward cast my e’e.
On prospects drear!
An’ forward, tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’ fear!