← GCSE Computer Science

A04 3.1.1 Reading and writing AQA pseudo-code and program code

Currently Developing · last touched 2026-11-01

Inclusive FOR bound now right cold under time (paper #10 Q7). Still to see: 'last value of i' asked alone, and a WHILE line read in pseudo-code. Secure on a set of 3+ pseudo-code lines read unaided on one day including a WHILE.

Every change

WhenChangeEvidenceSession
2026-11-01Developing → Developingadjudicated paper #10 Q7: 1/1, why:bar, developing at the bar (FOR 1 TO 6 read as 6 passes, cold, timed). With 15 Oct's 3/3 translation this is a second unaided day, but a single 1-mark item is not the set the secure bar asks for (as D03 on paper #9), and WHILE in pseudo-code is still unread: no move. The 'how many passes' cold ask is answered.standalone
2026-10-21Developing → Developingpaper #10 Q7 1/1 and Q8 0/1, loss=technique — FOR bounds read right (6 passes); output of a running-total loop given as 13, no tracesession 127
2026-10-20Developing → Developing19 Oct cold: FOR i <- 1 TO 4 -> 4 passes, then range(1, 5) written unasked; read as 3 passes on 16 Oct. 1/1 unaided.session 117
2026-10-16Developing → DevelopingSession 114, 16 Oct, cold: IF score > 50 THEN -> 'if score > 50:', right first time (first IF line read). In the trace, FOR i <- 1 TO 4 read as three passes ('3' when asked how many) - the TO bound read as exclusive, Python range habit; inclusive stated once by the tutor, final total then 10. IF read; FOR misread; WHILE unread. Retrieval: retry.standalone
2026-10-15Developing → Developing15 Oct, cold, no table on screen, 2 days on: price <- USERINPUT / total <- price * 3 / OUTPUT total -> price = int(input()) / total = price*3 / print(total), 3/3 unaided, typed. Also read the REPEAT...UNTIL-with-input algorithm and translated it on paper (logic errors were Python, not reading). Second session right; IF/WHILE/FOR in pseudo-code still unread.session 108
2026-10-13Not started → DevelopingSession 102, 13 Oct: taught / confirmed / applied. Before teaching (task set too early, a planning fault): 3 replies off-target. Taught arrow, USERINPUT, OUTPUT from a table. Teach 2/2 ('the user'; print(age)). Confirm 2/2 (zero typed by the user; 5, 10, 0 -> 15). Apply unaided: Code Lab translation passed run 1 (plan line stated by the tutor first); price <- USERINPUT / OUTPUT price * 2 -> price = int(input()), print(price*2), 2/2. notstarted -> developing, one level.standalone

In papers

AttemptPaperQMarksNote
Exam practice — week 43 · lang, lit, cs — GCSE Computer Science sectionexam-skills #1071/16 — correct. Working is a Python rewrite, not a trace; not needed.

Materials

AQA Notes and guidance: Pseudo-code (8525/1)
The AQA pseudo-code conventions — the reading half of this topic.
notes
AQA 8525 specification v1.3 (first teaching Sept 2025, exams June 2027 onwards)
THE document to teach to. Sections 3.1–3.8 are the syllabus; the right-hand 'additional information' column gives the depth limits. Verified 5 Sep 2026.
notes
AQA Summary of changes (8525), June 2025 — what was removed for 2027
Removed: Von Neumann as a named model, optical storage, LAN topologies, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, UDP, FTP, alternative link-layer names. Void these questions on any 2022–2026 paper.
notes
AQA 8525 overview page (specs, teaching guides, sample papers)
Stable entry point if any file link below dies. Lists both spec versions and the 2027 sample materials.
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AQA subject-specific vocabulary (first exam 2027)
The terminology examiners expect. Use for retrieval starters and to check definitions in written answers.
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AQA Notes and guidance: Pseudo-code (8525/1)
Every algorithm in a question paper uses this pseudo-code. She must READ it fluently; she need not write in it.
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AQA Notes and guidance: Python (8525/1)
The exact Python style AQA uses in question papers and mark schemes. Use if Python 3 is the chosen language.
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AQA Notes and guidance: C# (8525/1)
The exact C# style AQA uses in question papers and mark schemes. Use if C# is the chosen language.
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AQA Notes and guidance: VB.NET (8525/1)
The exact VB.NET style AQA uses in question papers and mark schemes. Use if VB.NET is the chosen language.
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AQA Notes and guidance: 8525/1 Marking guidance (coded solutions)
FOR THE MARKER. AQA's examiner rulebook: logic over syntax, indentation rules per language, design marks, meaningful variable names, typing rules, records. Read before marking any code question. Verified 5 Sep 2026.
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Specimen Paper 1 (Python) 8525B/1 — sample assessment materials
Official specimen, 90 marks, 2h. Paper 1 content unchanged for 2027, so fully usable. Handwrite the code answers.
paper
Specimen Paper 1 (VB.NET) 8525C/1 — sample assessment materials
VB.NET variant of the same specimen. The C# variant (8525A/1) is on the AQA assessment-resources page.
paper
Specimen Paper 1 mark scheme (all three languages) 8525/1
Mark against the section for her language only. Shows the 'Mark A/B/C' feature-marking and 'max N if any errors' caps.
paper
Sample Paper 2 question paper — Sample set 1 (first exam 2027) 8525/2
The ONLY official Paper 2 on the 2027 content. Use as the first full Paper 2 mock. 90 marks, 1h45.
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Sample Paper 2 mark scheme — Sample set 1 (first exam 2027) 8525/2
Contains the level-of-response band descriptors and flags the Von Neumann question as no longer asked from 2027.
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June 2023 Paper 2 question paper 8525/2 (legacy spec)
LEGACY: void any question on Von Neumann, optical storage, topologies, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, UDP, FTP and reduce the maximum before marking.
paper
June 2023 Paper 1 (VB.NET) question paper 8525/1C (legacy spec)
Paper 1 is unaffected by the 2027 changes. The 1A (C#) and 1B (Python) variants of the same paper are on the AQA past-paper finder.
paper
June 2023 Paper 1 mark scheme 8525/1 (all languages)
Covers 1A, 1B and 1C. Note the examiner 'I.' (ignore) lists — the compile tolerance in practice.
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June 2023 Paper 1 examiner report 8525/1
What real candidates got wrong. Key lines: design marks exist even for wrong code; attempt every coding question; the indentation grids are misused.
notes
June 2022 Paper 1 mark scheme 8525/1 (all languages)
Legacy but Paper 1 content is unchanged. Question paper via the past-paper finder.
paper
AQA past-paper finder (2022–2024 papers, mark schemes, examiner reports, modified papers)
Search 8525. The most recent series (2025, 2026) are login-gated for about a year — ask the exam centre. 2027 is the first series on the new content.
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AQA 8525 assessment resources page
The file list renders in-browser only. Filter by 'Sample papers' for the C# specimen (8525A/1).
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AQA GCSE grade boundaries — June 2024 (contains 8525A/B/C rows, out of 180)
Legacy proxy only. The tracker holds the 8525C row. Look up 8525A or 8525B here once the language is chosen. No 2027 boundaries exist until August 2027.
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AQA GCSE subject grade boundaries — June 2025
Most recent legacy series. Directional only.
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AQA GCSE exam timetable May/June 2027 (version 1.0)
8525/1A/1B/1C Monday 10 May 2027 am; 8525/2 Wednesday 19 May 2027. Confirm with the centre.
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AQA private candidates page
PARENT: the centre must sign the Practical Programming Statement (spec 5.1) and declare the Paper 1 language at entry. Confirm both in writing early.
other