Skip to content
Try on iPad

Computational methods: OCR A‑Level Computer Science questions

Every OCR A-Level Computer Science exam question on 2.2.2 Computational methods, 2021–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Find questions593
Calculations

593 questions

  1. Q1(c)(v)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    2 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 1(c)(v): The quick sort is an example of a divide-and-conquer algorithm. Describe what divide-and-conquer means. [2]

  2. Q2(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    3 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 2(b)(i): Describe what data mining means. [3]

  3. Q2(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    2 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 2(b)(ii): Explain how the company can make use of data mining to improve their website and customer experience. [2]

  4. Q4

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    9 marks2.2.2 Computational methods1.1.1 Structure and function of the processor
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 4: 4* A processor is being designed to use pipelining and will need to be able to process millions of instructions. For each instruction the following stages will

  5. Q5(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    2 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 5(a): Explain why this graph is a visualisation of the problem. [2]

  6. Q8(f)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    3 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 8(f): The program developer made use of computational methods when designing the object-oriented programming solution. One computational method is divide-and-conquer.

  7. Q2

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    12 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 2: 2* A company runs a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Schools can register students to use the VLE. The students get their own account and the school can view

  8. Q3(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    9 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 3(c): A computer game has a building containing 7 rooms. There are secret passages between each room. Fig. 3 shows the rooms and the passages between the rooms repres

  9. Q8(c)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    1 mark2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 8(c)(i): The group of students also use decomposition. State what is meant by decomposition. [1]

  10. Q8(c)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    2 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 8(c)(ii): Describe one benefit of using decomposition when designing a computer program such as a game. [2]

  11. Q1(a)(vi)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks2.3.1 Algorithms2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 1(a)(vi): Explain how backtracking is used in depth-first (post-order) traversals. [2]

  12. Q2

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    9 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 2: 2* A company needs a new computer program that will create schedules for delivery drivers. It will need to identify a possible order that the drivers can delive

  13. Q4(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    2 marks2.1.1 Thinking abstractly2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 4(a)(i): Complete the table by writing a definition for each computational method. Computational Method Definition Abstraction Decomposition [2]

  14. Q5(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 5(b): Give one reason why the graph is a visualisation of the problem. [1]

  15. Q5(d)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 5(d)(i): State why performance modelling is used to test a system. [1]

  16. Q5(d)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    2 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 5(d)(ii): Describe how performance modelling can be used in the delivery system. [2]

  17. Q1(e)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    9 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 1(e): Taylor is creating an online multiplayer game where users can create accounts and build their own circus. Each circus will contain characters such as clowns, an

  18. Q3(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    2 marks2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 3(b): Explain why a quicksort is known as a divide and conquer algorithm. [2]

  19. Q6(a)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    4 marks1.1.1 Structure and function of the processor2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 6(a): The processor’s pipeline consists of the following stages: • Fetching the instruction from memory • Decoding the instruction • Executing the instruction. Instru

  20. Q6(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    2 marks1.1.1 Structure and function of the processor2.2.2 Computational methods
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 6(b): Explain why pipelining can improve the performance of the processor. [2]
All 21 questions on Computational methods, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q1(c)(v) (2 marks): The quick sort is an example of a divide-and-conquer algorithm. Describe what divide-and-conquer means. [2]
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): Describe what data mining means. [3]
  3. June 2025, Paper 2, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the company can make use of data mining to improve their website and customer experience. [2]
  4. June 2025, Paper 2, Q4 (9 marks): 4* A processor is being designed to use pipelining and will need to be able to process millions of instructions. For each instruction the following stages will
  5. June 2025, Paper 2, Q5(a) (2 marks): Explain why this graph is a visualisation of the problem. [2]
  6. June 2025, Paper 2, Q8(f) (3 marks): The program developer made use of computational methods when designing the object-oriented programming solution. One computational method is divide-and-conquer.
  7. June 2024, Paper 2, Q2 (12 marks): 2* A company runs a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Schools can register students to use the VLE. The students get their own account and the school can view
  8. June 2024, Paper 2, Q3(c) (9 marks): A computer game has a building containing 7 rooms. There are secret passages between each room. Fig. 3 shows the rooms and the passages between the rooms repres
  9. June 2024, Paper 2, Q8(c)(i) (1 mark): The group of students also use decomposition. State what is meant by decomposition. [1]
  10. June 2024, Paper 2, Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe one benefit of using decomposition when designing a computer program such as a game. [2]
  11. June 2023, Paper 2, Q1(a)(vi) (2 marks): Explain how backtracking is used in depth-first (post-order) traversals. [2]
  12. June 2023, Paper 2, Q2 (9 marks): 2* A company needs a new computer program that will create schedules for delivery drivers. It will need to identify a possible order that the drivers can delive
  13. June 2022, Paper 2, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Complete the table by writing a definition for each computational method. Computational Method Definition Abstraction Decomposition [2]
  14. June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(b) (1 mark): Give one reason why the graph is a visualisation of the problem. [1]
  15. June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(d)(i) (1 mark): State why performance modelling is used to test a system. [1]
  16. June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(d)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how performance modelling can be used in the delivery system. [2]
  17. November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(e) (9 marks): Taylor is creating an online multiplayer game where users can create accounts and build their own circus. Each circus will contain characters such as clowns, an
  18. November 2021, Paper 2, Q3(b) (2 marks): Explain why a quicksort is known as a divide and conquer algorithm. [2]
  19. November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a) (4 marks): The processor’s pipeline consists of the following stages: • Fetching the instruction from memory • Decoding the instruction • Executing the instruction. Instru
  20. November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(b) (2 marks): Explain why pipelining can improve the performance of the processor. [2]
  21. November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): A structure diagram is one method of showing the decomposition of a problem. Explain why decomposing a problem can help a developer design a solution. [2]

Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © OCR, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Full past papers.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.