Back

Time2Code – update to 02-02 Largest number program

23 October 2025

A lot of students are getting confused about the success criteria of the largest number program in level 2. The subprogram requires a value of 1, 2 or 3 to be returned depending on which of three input parameters is the largest. For example, the numbers 4, 6, 3 should result in 2 being returned because the second number is the largest. That is really confusing because there is no number 2!

To make the success criteria and examples easier to understand, the requirements have been changed so that the subprogram should return “first”, “second” or “third” instead. The output statement is then either:

  • The largest of the three numbers is the first number.
  • The largest of the three numbers is the second number.
  • The largest of the three numbers is the third number.

The boilerplate code has not been changed because this still matches the video. The sample tests, flowcharts, Parson’s problem and model solution for teachers have all been updated.

How to get a new model solution

Related posts

The school initiatives worth keeping and the ones worth leaving behind

Are school policies and classroom initiatives genuinely improving learning, or are they creating unnecessary work for teachers? We explore why purpose, consistency and common sense matter more than simply ticking boxes.

6 November 2026

How do recommendation algorithms decide what you see?

Ever wondered how TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram seem to know exactly what you’ll watch next? Recommendation algorithms use your behaviour – not your opinions – to predict what you’ll engage with in real time.

4 November 2026

Why can’t Python count properly?

Ever typed 0.1 + 0.2 in Python and got 0.30000000000000004 instead of 0.3? It’s not a bug – it’s a fascinating quirk of how computers store numbers in binary.

28 October 2026

Beyond the IDE: programming lessons in the age of AI

One of the most persistent challenges in a programming classroom is knowing what every student is doing at any given […]

23 October 2026

If a NOT gate turns zero into one, where does that one come from?

How does a NOT gate turn a 0 into a 1 without creating something from nothing? Discover how voltage, transistors and digital logic work together to power the technology inside every modern computer.

15 October 2026

Ofsted after the Big Listen: have the rules changed, or just the packaging?

Ofsted has changed its inspection framework, but many school leaders question whether it has changed the culture surrounding inspection. We explore whether report cards can rebuild trust, reduce pressure and create an accountability system that genuinely helps schools improve.

9 October 2026

Should I make my own resources?

Should teachers really be making all their own resources? We explore the balance between creating, buying and adapting resources — and why thoughtful planning matters more than who made them.

5 October 2026

How does age verification technology work?

Can technology really tell how old you are? Explore the computer science behind age verification and the privacy and accuracy questions it raises.

28 September 2026

UTF-8 is witchcraft, right?

Ever wondered how your computer can happily store a simple English letter, an emoji, a pound sign and characters from […]

22 September 2026