Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences Information Technology and Computer Sciences

Sort And Search Techniques In Computer Programming Training

SAQA US 115373 | NQF 5 | Credits 6 | Duration 3 Days
From $967 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the knowledge and skills to implement sorting and searching algorithms in computer programming. Participants will understand the principles behind common techniques and be able to apply them to solve real-world data processing problems efficiently.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply fundamental sorting algorithms such as bubble sort, insertion sort, and quicksort to arrange data in a specified order.
  • Implement searching algorithms including linear search and binary search to locate data within data structures.
  • Analyse the efficiency of different sorting and searching techniques in terms of time and space complexity.
  • Evaluate the suitability of various algorithms for given data sets and constraints.
  • Demonstrate the ability to debug and optimise code that uses sorting and searching algorithms.
  • Design and implement a program that integrates both sorting and searching techniques to solve a given problem.

Target Audience

This course is designed for aspiring and practising programmers, software developers, and IT professionals who need to enhance their ability to organise and retrieve data using efficient algorithms.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. However, basic computer literacy and familiarity with a programming language (e.g., Python, Java, or C++) are recommended.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Sorting and Searching

Objectives:
• Understand the importance of sorting and searching in computer programming
• Compare and contrast linear search and binary search algorithms
• Implement basic sorting algorithms: bubble sort and selection sort
• Analyse time complexity of simple algorithms using Big O notation
• Apply sorting and searching to small datasets in a programming language

Topics:
• Introduction to sorting and searching: real-world applications
• Linear search: algorithm, implementation, and complexity
• Binary search: prerequisites, algorithm, implementation, and complexity
• Bubble sort: step-by-step execution and coding
• Selection sort: algorithm and implementation
• Introduction to Big O notation: O(n), O(n²), O(log n)
• Practical exercise: implement linear search and binary search on an array

Day 2: Advanced Sorting Algorithms and Efficiency

Objectives:
• Implement insertion sort, merge sort, and quicksort
• Compare algorithm efficiency for different data sizes
• Understand recursion in the context of divide-and-conquer algorithms
• Apply stable vs unstable sorting concepts
• Analyse worst-case, best-case, and average-case time complexities

Topics:
• Insertion sort: algorithm, implementation, and use cases
• Merge sort: divide-and-conquer approach, recursion, and implementation
• Quicksort: pivot selection, partitioning, and implementation
• Comparison of sorting algorithms: stability, adaptability, and efficiency
• Recursive vs iterative implementations
• Practical exercise: sort a medium-sized dataset using merge sort and quicksort
• Performance measurement: timing algorithms with different inputs

Day 3: Integration and Practical Application

Objectives:
• Combine sorting and searching to solve complex problems
• Implement searching on sorted data using binary search
• Evaluate algorithm choice based on problem constraints
• Apply algorithms in a mini-project: data analysis or information retrieval
• Debug and optimise sorting and searching code for performance

Topics:
• Searching in sorted arrays: binary search with duplicates and edge cases
• Hashing as a search technique: introduction to hash tables
• Hybrid sorting: combining insertion sort with merge sort (Timsort)
• Practical mini-project: implement a contact list with search and sort features
• Code optimisation: reducing swaps and comparisons
• Testing and debugging strategies for sorting/searching algorithms
• Final assessment: write and explain a program that sorts and searches a dataset

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Wed 09 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Tue 29 Sep 2026 Thu 01 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Mon 19 Oct 2026 Wed 21 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Wed 09 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Tue 12 Jan 2027 Thu 14 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Mon 15 Feb 2027 Wed 17 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Wed 03 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Tue 09 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Wed 17 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Wed 09 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Tue 29 Jun 2027 Thu 01 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Mon 19 Jul 2027 Wed 21 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Wed 08 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Tue 28 Sep 2027 Thu 30 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Mon 18 Oct 2027 Wed 20 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Wed 08 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
Tue 28 Dec 2027 Thu 30 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Wed 19 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 496 sessions across 26 venues
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Tue 04 Aug 2026 Thu 06 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $4,552 Register
Tue 04 Aug 2026 Thu 06 Aug 2026 Johannesburg, South Africa Winter 2026 $1,906 Register
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Wed 05 Aug 2026 Fri 07 Aug 2026 Mauritius Winter 2026 $3,148 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,230 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
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Mon 14 Sep 2026 Wed 16 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Wed 07 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 27 Oct 2026 Thu 29 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Wed 16 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Wed 20 Jan 2027 Fri 22 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 23 Feb 2027 Thu 25 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Wed 10 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 17 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 23 Mar 2027 Thu 25 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Wed 16 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 07 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 27 Jul 2027 Thu 29 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Wed 15 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 06 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 26 Oct 2027 Thu 28 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Wed 15 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 05 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 25 Jan 2028 Thu 27 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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