GCSE Computer Science revision covers both theory and programming. You need to understand how computers work (hardware, networks, data representation), how to write and trace algorithms, and how to apply computational thinking to solve problems. It's the only GCSE where you need to write actual code in the exam, making it unique among all subjects.
AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525) has two papers. Paper 1 is Computational Thinking and Programming Skills (1 hour 30 minutes, on-screen exam where you write and trace code). Paper 2 is Computing Concepts (1 hour 45 minutes, written exam covering theory). Paper 1 requires you to write Python code, trace algorithms, and debug programs. Paper 2 covers data representation, networks, cybersecurity, and ethical issues.
3.1 Fundamentals of Algorithms
3.3 Data Representation
3.4 Computer Systems
- Operating Systems
- High & Low Level Languages
- Translators
- Boolean Expressions
- Truth Tables
- CPU Architecture
- Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle
- RAM and ROM
- Secondary Storage
- MAR, MDR & Registers
- Program Counter & Accumulator
- Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
- CPU Performance
- Embedded Systems
- Virtual Memory
- Utility Software
- Logic Gates
- IDE Features
3.5 Fundamentals of Computer Networks
3.6 Fundamentals of Cyber Security
3.7 Relational Databases and SQL
3.8 Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impacts