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2.1

Elements of Computational Thinking

Abstraction, decomposition, and problem-solving strategies

Thinking abstractlyThinking aheadThinking procedurallyThinking logicallyThinking concurrently

Abstraction removes unnecessary detail to focus on essential features

Decomposition breaks complex problems into smaller sub-problems

Pattern recognition identifies similarities between problems

Algorithms are step-by-step solutions to problems

Caching stores results of expensive operations for reuse

Concurrent processing executes multiple tasks simultaneously

Parallel processing uses multiple processors for computation

Pre-conditions state what must be true before code executes

Exam Tips

  • Always define key terms before explaining concepts
  • Use specific examples where possible to demonstrate understanding
  • Check mark allocation - one point per mark is a good guide