← GCSE Computer Science

N01 3.5 What a computer network is; advantages and disadvantages

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Every change

No recorded changes. The status is where it was seeded.

In papers

No marked question has been recorded against this topic yet.

Materials

AQA Teaching guide: Fundamentals of computer networks (2027 content)
Reflects the reduced 3.5 content. Prefer this over any pre-2025 textbook chapter on networks.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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June 2022 Paper 1 mark scheme 8525/1 (all languages)
Legacy but Paper 1 content is unchanged. Question paper via the past-paper finder.
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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.
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