AQA GCSE Computer Science guide FAQ (8525)
Guide overview All 8 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
AQA GCSE Computer Science: questions and answers
Specification 8525. Two sets, because students and parents ask different things.
For students
Which topics are on which paper?
Paper 1 is Algorithms and Programming. Paper 2 is Data Representation, Computer Systems, Computer Networks, Cyber Security, Relational Databases and SQL, and the Ethical, Legal and Environmental Impacts of Digital Technology. The breakdown is here.
Which programming language do I need?
Paper 1 uses pseudocode, and AQA publishes its own version of it. You can usually answer in a high level language too, but the questions and the mark schemes are written in pseudocode, and that is what the guide asks for.
Is there a coding exam at a computer?
No. Both papers are written. Your school will run practical programming as classwork, and it develops the skill Paper 1 tests, but the assessment itself is on paper.
Is SQL really examined?
Yes, as its own topic. SELECT, FROM, WHERE, ORDER BY, INSERT and the structure of a relational database with primary and foreign keys. It is 48 questions in the guide.
How long does one session take?
About twenty minutes for one subtopic, all three steps. Topics here run from 48 to 143 questions.
Can I do it in my head instead of writing?
Write. Trace tables and binary conversions have to be worked on paper anyway, and Computer Science mark schemes want specific terms. The method page sets out the evidence.
Do I still need past papers?
Yes. This guide handles recall. Past papers train writing an algorithm to a problem under time. AQA publishes them free.
For parents
What is this, in plain terms?
A PDF of 664 exam-style questions covering the whole of AQA GCSE Computer Science, with the answers printed after each topic. It is not a coding course.
How do I check it is the right course?
The specification code is on the exam timetable. AQA GCSE Computer Science is 8525.
Does my child need to be good at a particular language?
Not for the exams. Both papers are written and AQA uses its own pseudocode. A specific language matters for classwork.
How do I know if it is being used properly?
There should be handwritten answers on paper and three passes over the same questions, and two scores per session to compare.
How much is it compared with a textbook?
£7.00 for the whole specification. A GCSE Computer Science revision guide is usually £6 to £10.
How much time does it take?
43 subtopics at roughly twenty minutes each is about 14 hours for a full first pass of the course.
What else does my child need?
Past papers, free from AQA, and their own notes for anything not yet taught.
AQA GCSE Computer Science Active Recall Guide
664 questions with their answers, 43 subtopics, one file.