← GCSE Computer Science

D02 3.3.2 Binary ↔ decimal conversion (0–255)

Currently Gap · last touched 2026-10-23

Method is right both ways; the failure is summing 4–5 values in one column. Teach running total from the top and a mandatory second add as the check; dec→bin needs the add-back check line.

Every change

WhenChangeEvidenceSession
2026-10-23Developing → Gap23 Oct: 10110101 — right place values, adding line written, summed to 175 (correct 181); fixed on a second add. Third adding-line slip (14 Oct, 21 Oct test 32→34, 23 Oct): demoted per three-wobble rule. Dec→bin 166 correct with working.session 136
2026-10-21Developing → Developingpaper #10 Q9 0/2 and Q10 3/3 — both conversions wrong on execution (34 for 32; extra 8 bit) with the method right; binary addition of three numbers correctsession 127
2026-10-16Developing → DevelopingSession 114, 16 Oct, typed, with nothing said about working: 01100101 -> '64 + 32 + 4 + 1 = 101', right, adding line written unasked - that loose end closes. With 2 Oct (2/2 unaided on paper, working asked for) two unaided days right; paper #9 on 14 Oct summed 204 for 214. Proposed secure for adjudication; not moved on one item two days after a timed miss. Retrieval: correct.standalone
2026-10-15Developing → Developing15 Oct, typed, 'add it up twice' asked: 11010110 = 128+64+16+4+2 = 214, right - the same five values summed as 204 on paper #9 the day before. Working line was asked for, so the 'unasked' check is still owed.session 108
2026-10-14Developing → Developingpaper #9 Q12: 0/1, loss=technique — correct place values chosen and the adding line written unprompted (128+64+16+4+2), summed as 204 not 214; Q14 part 2 binary→hex 5D rightsession 106
2026-10-02Developing → Developing2 Oct, inside the handwritten hex set, photographed: 200 -> 11001000 with a does-it-fit grid and both subtractions written (200 - 128 = 72, 72 - 64 = 8); 10011010 -> 154 by column addition 128 + 16 + 8 + 2 with the carry shown, correct for the pattern written. 2/2 unaided, 3 days after teaching; working had been asked for. Not moved: proposed secure for adjudication - two embedded items, no standalone retest.session 68
2026-10-01Developing → Developing1 Oct starter, no notes, 2 days on: 10110010 → 178 correct, total only with no adding-up line; 90 → 64, 16, 8 & 2, 01011010 correct with columns once asked. Also 172 → 10101100 = 128 + 32 + 8 + 4 inside the hex work. 3/3 unaided, typed. Not moved: the secure retest is owed by hand with working shown, and the working line did not appear unrequested.session 61
2026-09-29Not started → Developing29 Sep: taught from zero on paper (place-value row, 'does it fit' method). Binary→decimal 10010110 → 150 alone; decimal→binary 45 → 00101101 alone (the placement item), 11111111 → 255; typed exit ticket 11100010 → 226 and 201 → 11001001, 2/2 unaided. 5 conversions unaided, 0 wrong. notstarted → developing, single level. Secure needs a later-session retest by hand with working shown.session 58
2026-09-28Not started → Not startedPlacement Q3: 7 min of focus then 'skip' — binary to decimal and 45 to binary not attempted in writing. 0/3, 28 Sep. Untaught.session 53

In papers

AttemptPaperQMarksNote
Exam practice — week 43 · lang, lit, cs — GCSE Computer Science sectionexam-skills #1090/203.1: 179 (R). Adding-up line 128+34+16+8+2+1: 34 for 32, and it sums to 189 not 179 — two slips. 03.2: 10011110 (R, =158). Decomposition 150=128+16+4+2 correct; bits written with an extra 8. loss=technique x2.
Exam practice — week 42 · maths, lit, cs — GCSE Computer Science sectionexam-skills #9120/10. Answer 204. Adding-up line written (128+64+16+4+2) — the correct five place values picked — but summed as 204 instead of 214. loss=technique (unchecked arithmetic; 15 min unused).
Placement — Computer Science paper 2 (theory) — GCSE Computer Science sectionexam-skills #230/3skip after 7 min of focus — tried and could not start binary conversion. 0/3. D02 untaught.

Materials

video
Teach-ICT: Binary
Binary to decimal conversion practice.
notes
PMT: Fundamentals of Data Representation (notes and questions)
Free, no login. Retrieval layer after teaching.
practice
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.
other
AQA subject-specific vocabulary (first exam 2027)
The terminology examiners expect. Use for retrieval starters and to check definitions in written answers.
notes
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.
notes
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.
notes
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.
notes
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.
notes
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.
notes
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.
paper
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.
paper
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.
paper
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.
other
AQA 8525 assessment resources page
The file list renders in-browser only. Filter by 'Sample papers' for the C# specimen (8525A/1).
other
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.
other
AQA GCSE subject grade boundaries — June 2025
Most recent legacy series. Directional only.
other
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.
other
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