Q: What mistakes do candidates make on this AQA GCSE question?

✗ Incorrect range for `random.randrange`, e.g., `(1, 6)` would only generate 1-5.\n✗ Loop condition that doesn't correctly terminate the game (e.g., allowing the player to roll again after busting).\n✗ Messy endgame logic; a clean `if/elif/else` structure is best.\n✗ Not handling the computer's score generation and comparison correctly.

Question 1

Question 16 is about a dice game played against a computer. The aim of the game is to get as close to a score of 21 as you can, without going over 21. If your score goes over 21 then you lose. The player's score starts at 0.

**For each turn:**
- two dice (each numbered from 1 to 6) are rolled
- the total of the two dice rolls is added to the player's score
- the value of each dice and the player's new total is output
- if the current score is less than 21, the player is asked if they would like to roll the dice again: if the player says yes, they get another turn; otherwise, the game ends.

**At the end of the game, the program should work as follows:**
- if the final score is 21, output a message to say the player has won
- if the final score is greater than 21, output a message to say the player has lost
- if the final score is less than 21, the program generates a random number between 15 and 21 inclusive:
  - if this random number is greater than the player's final score, output a message to say the player has lost
  - otherwise, output a message to say the player has won.

The dice rolls are carried out by the program generating random numbers between 1 and 6. You will need to use the Python function `random.randrange(a, b)` which generates a random integer in the range a to b starting at a but finishing one before b.

Write a Python program to simulate this game.

Accepted Answer

1.  **Import:** Start with `import random`.
2.  **Initialise Variables:** Set up `player_score = 0` and a loop control variable like `roll_again = "yes"`.
3.  **Main Game Loop:** Create a `while` loop that continues as long as `roll_again` is "yes".
4.  **Roll Dice:** Inside the loop, generate two random numbers for the dice. `random.randrange(1, 7)` will give numbers from 1 to 6.
5.  **Update and Display Score:** Add the dice rolls to `player_score` and print the individual rolls and the new total.
6.  **Check Game State:**
    *   If `player_score` is 21 or more, the game must end. Set `roll_again = "no"` to stop the loop.
    *   If `player_score` is less than 21, ask the user if they want to roll again and update the `roll_again` variable with their answer.
7.  **Endgame Logic:** After the `while` loop finishes, use a multi-way `if/elif/else` structure to determine the final outcome based on the rules.
    *   `if player_score == 21:` -> Win.
    *   `elif player_score > 21:` -> Lose.
    *   `else:` (meaning score is < 21):
        *   Generate the computer's score. `random.randrange(15, 22)` will give numbers from 15 to 21.
        *   Use a nested `if/else` to compare the player's score to the computer's score and print the final win/loss message.

Question 2

What mistakes do candidates make on this AQA GCSE question?

Accepted Answer

✗ Incorrect range for `random.randrange`, e.g., `(1, 6)` would only generate 1-5.
✗ Loop condition that doesn't correctly terminate the game (e.g., allowing the player to roll again after busting).
✗ Messy endgame logic; a clean `if/elif/else` structure is best.
✗ Not handling the computer's score generation and comparison correctly.

How to approach this question

Full Answer

Common mistakes

Practice the full AQA GCSE Computer Science Paper 1 Python

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