AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525): papers, topics and grade boundaries

AQA GCSE Computer Science papers at a glance

The specification is AQA GCSE Computer Science 8525. Paper 1 is a mix of multiple choice, short answer and longer answer questions, and AQA publishes the paper in a choice of three programming languages: C#, Python and VB.NET. Paper 2 is a mix of multiple choice, short answer, longer answer and extended response questions. The qualification is linear, so you sit both papers at the end of the course, and there is no non-exam assessment.

What each AQA GCSE Computer Science paper covers

Paper 1: algorithms and programming

• Fundamentals of algorithms: decomposition and abstraction, flowcharts and pseudocode, tracing algorithms, searching and sorting algorithms.
• Programming: data types, variables, operators, selection, iteration, arrays, subroutines, string handling, file handling and random numbers, written in your chosen language.

Paper 2: computing concepts

• Data representation: binary, hexadecimal, character sets, images, sound and compression.
• Computer systems: hardware and software, Boolean logic, the CPU and memory, and operating systems.
• Networks and cyber security: network types, protocols, layers, threats and how to defend against them.
• Databases and SQL: tables, keys and structured query language.
• Impacts: ethical, legal and environmental effects of digital technology, including privacy.

Worked examples in AQA style

Data representation: binary to denary and hex

Convert 10110101 to denary and to hexadecimal. Write the place values above the bits, from 128 on the left down to 1 on the right:

Split into nibbles to get hex: 1011 is B and 0101 is 5, so the hexadecimal is B5. Check: 11 × 16 + 5 = 181. Try it in the Number Base Converter.

Algorithms: binary search

The sorted list is 2, 5, 9, 14, 20, 31, 40, and the item to find is 31. The middle item is 14. 31 is bigger, so discard the left half. The remaining items are 20, 31, 40, and the middle is 31, found on the second comparison. A linear search would need six comparisons.

Programming: tracing a loop

Trace this pseudocode and say what it outputs:

total ← 0
FOR i ← 1 TO 4
  total ← total + i * 2
ENDFOR
OUTPUT total

The loop adds 2, 4, 6 and 8, so total goes 2, 6, 12, 20 and the output is 20. Write a trace table with one row per pass, because it catches slips. Practise conversions in our Number Systems course, then press Mark to check your answer in the course:

AQA GCSE Computer Science grade boundaries

These are AQA's raw boundaries for the whole qualification, out of 180 (two papers of 90), from its GCSE grade boundary documents. AQA published June 2026 on 20 August 2026 and June 2025 on 21 August 2025. The figures are the same for all three programming language options.

Grade 4 needed 72 in 2026 and 74 in 2025. Compare with every other subject in theAQA GCSE grade boundaries 2026 guide.

How AQA GCSE Computer Science differs from Edexcel

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) is also two papers worth 50% each, but they are 1 hour 30 minutes for the written Principles of Computer Science paper (75 marks) and a 2 hour on-screen Application of Computational Thinking paper (75 marks) answered in Python 3. AQA's Paper 1 covers algorithms and programming in a choice of three languages, with Paper 2 covering the theory. See theEdexcel GCSE Computer Science guide.

Use the daily paper as a short timed mock

Uni-Sine publishes a free daily paper on theGCSE Computer Sciencetrack. It is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full AQA paper, and it is not written by AQA. It covers binary and hexadecimal, the CPU, Boolean logic, programming fundamentals, searching and sorting, images and sound, cyber security, networks, databases and SQL, and ethical, legal and environmental impacts. It is a theory mock, so write your own code on the side for Paper 1 practice.

Common mistakes in AQA GCSE Computer Science

• Describing instead of tracing. Show every pass of a loop in a trace table.
• Off-by-one errors. Check whether a loop runs from 0 or from 1, and whether the end value is included.
• Vague "it is faster". Say what is faster and why, such as fewer comparisons.
• Mixing hex and binary conversions. Convert four bits at a time.

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. We do not publish official or past paper answers. Every question on the daily paper is our own.

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UK · GCSEAQA GCSE Computer Science grade boundaries 2026AQA's official June 2026 GCSE Computer Science (8525) grade boundaries for every grade from 9 to 1, compared with June 2025.