Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91373 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to write a complete computer program that solves a real task using proper programming practices. Your program needs to have separate sections (modules) that work together, handle lists or arrays of data, include proper comments explaining what you did, and be tested to make sure it actually works on different types of inputs.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91373?

Accepted Answer

1. Implement a working program plan in a text-based programming language (like Python, Java, or C++) that includes modules with parameters, proper variable scope, and indexed data structures like arrays or lists 2. Write clear code with variable and function names that make sense, plus comments that explain what each part does and why you made certain choices 3. Test your program thoroughly on different types of inputs—normal cases, edge cases (like empty lists or maximum values), and invalid inputs (like wrong data types)—then fix any bugs you find 4. Organise your code into separate modules where each one does a specific job, minimise how much modules depend on each other, and reuse code rather than duplicate it 5. Use constants for values that never change and calculated/derived values (like array length or totals) to make your program flexible and less likely to break

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91373?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You successfully write a working program with modules, arrays, comments, and test it on normal inputs. Merit: You write skilled code with well-thought-out variable scope and module parameters, document accurately what each part does, and test systematically on both normal and boundary cases. Excellence: You write efficient, well-structured code where modules logically break down the task, variables and constants are used smartly to make the program robust, comments justify your decisions, and you test comprehensively and efficiently on expected, boundary, and invalid inputs.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91373?

Accepted Answer

1. Testing only 'happy path' scenarios and not checking what happens at boundaries (empty inputs, very large numbers, zero values) or with invalid data 2. Creating modules that don't have clear individual purposes or that duplicate code instead of reusing it, making the program hard to follow and maintain 3. Poor or missing comments, and using vague variable/function names like 'data' or 'process' instead of descriptive names that explain what the code actually does

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