How unit 1 is examined
This unit is a practical lab: Python exercises such as sorting and searching, and Pygame simulations. No question from the supplied papers was tagged to it.
Python Programming Exercises and Pygame Simulations
<span style="display:inline-block;padding:.16em .6em;border:1.5px solid currentColor;border-radius:999px;font-size:.68em;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;opacity:.75">Not asked since 2022</span>
Definition. <mark>The lab unit applies core Python (variables, loops, functions, lists) to exercises such as sorting and searching, and uses the Pygame library to draw and animate simulations.</mark>
Key points.
- Exercises use basic Python constructs: input and output, conditions, loops, functions and lists.
- Sorting and searching are typical exercises; bubble sort repeatedly swaps adjacent out-of-order items, and binary search halves a sorted list each step.
- Pygame simulations run a loop that handles events, updates object positions and redraws the screen every frame.
a = [5, 2, 9, 1]
for i in range(len(a)):
for j in range(len(a) - 1 - i):
if a[j] > a[j + 1]:
a[j], a[j + 1] = a[j + 1], a[j]
print(a) # [1, 2, 5, 9]
Last-minute revision
- The unit is a lab: Python exercises plus Pygame simulations.
- Bubble sort swaps adjacent out-of-order items; sorted output of [5, 2, 9, 1] is [1, 2, 5, 9].
- Binary search needs a sorted list and halves the range each step; 9 is at index 3.
- A Pygame program loops: handle events, update state, redraw.
- Python lists are mutable; swap with
a[j], a[j+1] = a[j+1], a[j]. - No past questions were tagged to this unit.
- Sorting and searching are the likeliest exercises to appear.
- Binary search takes about log2(n) comparisons; bubble sort takes about n squared.
Memory hooks
- Bubble sort: big values bubble up to the end.
- Binary search: split the sorted list in half, like opening a dictionary in the middle.
- Pygame loop: Events, Update, Draw.
Coverage checklist
- Python Programming Exercises and Pygame Simulations: no past questions in the supplied papers; definition and key points covered.