OCR GCSE Computer Science Paper 2 Practice 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

In programming, making selections refers to the process of executing different blocks of code based on certain conditions. An IF statement is specifically designed for this purpose. It evaluates a boolean expression, and if that expression is true, the code within the IF block will be executed; if it is false, any associated ELSE block (if present) can be executed instead. This type of conditional branching is essential for handling scenarios where different outputs or actions are required based on user input or other variable data.

While condition statements generally refer to structures that make decisions based on conditions, the IF statement is a concrete implementation of a conditional structure specifically designed for making selections based on true/false conditions. This sets it apart from alternative structures or loops which serve different purposes, such as repeating actions or iterating through data (as seen in loop statements).

Switch statements, on the other hand, offer a different approach, allowing for selection among various possible values but typically in a context where multiple discrete cases are handled based on a single variable. In summary, the IF statement is the most straightforward and widely used type of statement directly related to making selections in programming.