AQA A-level Computer Science Year 12 revision

Topic 1: Fundamentals of programming

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Programming, and takes it further.

There are 5 parts: we start with programming fundamentals, and finish with object-oriented programming.

1. 1.1Programming fundamentalsFree 28 questions
2. 1.2Subroutines, structured programming, parameter passing and scope31 questions
3. 1.3String handling, file handling, random numbers and exception handling32 questions
4. 1.4Recursion24 questions
5. 1.5Object-oriented programming: classes, objects, inheritance, encapsulation and polymorphism34 questions

Topic 2: Fundamentals of data structures

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Programming, and takes it further.

There are 7 parts: we start with data structures, and finish with records, tuples, vectors, dictionaries and user-defined data types.

1. 2.1Data structures24 questions
2. 2.2Queue variants and multi-dimensional arrays: circular queues, priority queues, 2D and 3D arraysFree 25 questions
3. 2.3Linked lists28 questions
4. 2.4Graphs: adjacency matrices and adjacency lists22 questions
5. 2.5Trees and binary search trees68 questions
6. 2.6Hash tables and hashing22 questions
7. 2.7Records, tuples, vectors, dictionaries and user-defined data types26 questions

Topic 3: Fundamentals of algorithms

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Fundamentals of algorithms, and takes it further.

There are 5 parts: we start with representing and tracing algorithms, and finish with shortest path algorithms.

1. 3.1Representing and tracing algorithms: pseudocode, flowcharts and trace tables26 questions
2. 3.2Graph and tree traversal: depth-first, breadth-first, pre-order, in-order and post-order25 questions
3. 3.3Reverse Polish notation and expression evaluation using stacks21 questions
4. 3.4Searching, sorting and complexityFree 24 questions
5. 3.5Shortest path algorithms: Dijkstra's algorithm and A*20 questions

Topic 4: Theory of computation

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Fundamentals of algorithms, and takes it further.

There are 9 parts: we start with abstraction and automation, and finish with Turing machines and the universal Turing machine.

1. 4.1Abstraction and automationFree 28 questions
2. 4.2Thinking procedurally and logically: decomposition, sequencing and decision points30 questions
3. 4.3Finite state machines and state transition diagrams/tablesFree 22 questions
4. 4.4Finite state machines with output (Mealy machines)24 questions
5. 4.5Set theory and notation for regular languages16 questions
6. 4.6Regular expressions and regular languages17 questions
7. 4.7Context-free languages, BNF and syntax diagrams20 questions
8. 4.8Classification of problems, tractability and the halting problem25 questions
9. 4.9Turing machines and the universal Turing machine19 questions

Topic 5: Fundamentals of data representation

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Fundamentals of data representation, and takes it further.

There are 7 parts: we start with number systems and data representation, and finish with encryption and hashing.

1. 5.1Number systems and data representationFree 67 questions
2. 5.2Bitwise manipulation, binary shifts and masks65 questions
3. 5.3Floating-point normalisation, precision, rounding errors and absolute/relative error65 questions
4. 5.4Error detection and correction: parity, majority voting, checksums and check digits60 questions
5. 5.5Representing images, sound and MIDI69 questions
6. 5.6Data compression: lossy, lossless, run-length encoding and dictionary coding60 questions
7. 5.7Encryption and hashing: Caesar cipher, Vernam cipher, symmetric/asymmetric encryption and hash functions71 questions

Topic 6: Fundamentals of computer systems

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Computer systems, and takes it further.

There are 10 parts: we start with hardware and software classification, and finish with Boolean algebra laws, De Morgan's laws and expression simplification.

1. 6.1Hardware and software classification: system, application, general-purpose, special-purpose and bespokeFree 31 questions
2. 6.2Operating systems: memory management, paging, segmentation and virtual memory45 questions
3. 6.3Utility software, BIOS, device drivers and virtual machines27 questions
4. 6.4Programming paradigms and levels of language: procedural, modular, object-oriented, low-level and high-levelFree 38 questions
5. 6.5Translators: compilers, interpreters, assemblers and stages of compilation32 questions
6. 6.6Libraries, linkers, loaders and open/closed source software26 questions
7. 6.7Logic gates and truth tablesFree 61 questions
8. 6.8Half adders and full adders59 questions
9. 6.9D-type flip-flops and designing logic circuits56 questions
10. 6.10Boolean algebra laws, De Morgan's laws and expression simplification52 questions

Topic 7: Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Computer systems, and takes it further.

There are 9 parts: we start with Computer architecture, and finish with secondary storage.

1. 7.1Computer architecture62 questions
2. 7.2Primary memory: RAM, ROM and cache46 questions
3. 7.3Von Neumann, Harvard and contemporary architecturesFree 19 questions
4. 7.4Machine code instruction formats and addressing modes20 questions
5. 7.5Assembly language and the Little Man Computer32 questions
6. 7.6Interrupts and scheduling algorithms27 questions
7. 7.7Factors affecting processor performance: clock speed, cores, cache, word length and bus width30 questions
8. 7.8Input, output and specialised external hardware devicesFree 45 questions
9. 7.9Secondary storage: magnetic, flash and optical68 questions

Topic 8: Consequences of uses of computing

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Ethical, legal and environmental impacts, and takes it further.

There are 8 parts: we start with consequences of computing, and finish with offensive communications, cultural implications and the digital divide.

1. 8.1Consequences of computing25 questions
2. 8.2Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPRFree 22 questions
3. 8.3Computer Misuse Act 1990 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 200022 questions
4. 8.4Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, software licensing and piracy44 questions
5. 8.5Computers in the workforce and automated decision making33 questions
6. 8.6Artificial intelligence: benefits, risks and ethics30 questions
7. 8.7Environmental effects, censorship, monitoring behaviour and analysing personal information28 questions
8. 8.8Offensive communications, cultural implications and the digital divide24 questions

Topic 9: Fundamentals of communication and networking

It builds on what you learned at GCSE in Fundamentals of computer networks and Cyber security, and takes it further.

There are 11 parts: we start with communication and networking, and finish with ports, sockets, MAC addresses and application protocols.

1. 9.1Communication and networkingFree 65 questions
2. 9.2Data transmission: serial and parallel, synchronous and asynchronous, bit rate, baud rate, bandwidth and latency64 questions
3. 9.3Network topologies, transmission media and wired vs wireless networks68 questions
4. 9.4Wi-Fi: CSMA/CA, SSID, wireless access points and wireless security29 questions
5. 9.5Packet switching, routing and circuit switching27 questions
6. 9.6DNS, URLs and the structure of the Internet71 questions
7. 9.7Network security: malware, threats, firewalls and proxy servers75 questions
8. 9.8Public and private keys, digital signatures and digital certificates24 questions
9. 9.9The TCP/IP protocol stackFree 33 questions
10. 9.10IP addressing, IPv4 and IPv6, subnetting, NAT and DHCP29 questions
11. 9.11Ports, sockets, MAC addresses and application protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, POP3, IMAP and SSH44 questions

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