When a variable is passed to a subprogram by value, what happens to the original variable in the calling program if the subprogram changes the parameter?

Q: How do I try a free CIE Computer Science question?

Just tap any of the four options on this page — no signup, no card, nothing to install. You'll see the correct answer and a full mark-scheme-style explanation within a second. Each visit shows a fresh randomly-picked question from the live CIE IGCSE Computer Science bank, so you can keep refreshing to try different ones before deciding whether to create a free account for daily access.

Q: Is Kramizo really free for CIE Computer Science students?

Yes — completely free. Every student gets 45 questions a day on the free plan, across any board and any subject, with no card required and no trial countdown. Kramizo's optional Pro plan removes the daily cap and adds analytics, but the free plan is genuinely free forever. We make money from the small percentage of students who choose to upgrade — not from selling data or ads.

Q: Are the Computer Science questions aligned to the CIE IGCSE syllabus?

Every question is written against the published CIE IGCSE Computer Science syllabus and reviewed for accuracy before being added to the bank. We match the command words (state, describe, explain, evaluate), mark allocations, and difficulty tier you'll see on real CIE past papers. Explanations are written in the style of official examiner mark schemes so students learn exactly what marks are being awarded for.

Question

When a variable is passed to a subprogram by value, what happens to the original variable in the calling program if the subprogram changes the parameter?

Accepted Answer

The original variable remains unchanged — Passing by value means a copy of the variable's data is sent to the subprogram; any changes made inside the subprogram affect only the copy, leaving the original variable unchanged. Option A describes the behaviour of passing by reference. Options B and D do not reflect any standard parameter-passing mechanism.

Answer

The original variable is converted to a global variable

Answer

The original variable is permanently updated with the new value

Answer

The original variable is deleted from memory

Answer

The original variable remains unchanged

One real Computer Science question.No signup. 30 seconds.

One real Computer Science question.
No signup. 30 seconds.