WJECAS/A Level47 resources

WJEC AS/A Level Computer Science Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Free WJEC A Level Computer Science papers, mark schemes & resources. Units 1–4 covering theory, on-screen programming, systems & architecture. 51 resources.

📅Summer series📄47 resources available✅Free to download

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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47 of 47 resources — page 1 of 2

Summer 2023

8 files

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 4: Written: – Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 1: Written: Fundamentals of – Computer Science – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 2: OnScreen: Practical Programming to Solve Problems [Resource] – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 3: Written: Programming and System Development – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 4: Written: – Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 1: Written: Fundamentals of – Computer Science – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 2: OnScreen: Practical Programming to Solve Problems – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 3: Written: Programming and System Development – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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Summer 2022

7 files

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 3: Written: Programming and System Development – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 4: Written: – Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

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✅

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 1: Written: Fundamentals of – Computer Science – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

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✅

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 2: OnScreen: Practical Programming to Solve Problems – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 1: Written: Fundamentals of – Computer Science – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

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📄

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 2: OnScreen: Practical Programming to Solve Problems – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 3: Written: Programming and System Development – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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Summer 2019

7 files

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 4: Written: – Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper

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✅

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 1: Written: Fundamentals of – Computer Science – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

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✅

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 2: OnScreen: Practical Programming to Solve Problems – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 4: Written: – Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

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✅

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 3: Written: Programming and System Development – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

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✅

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 3: Written: Programming and System Development – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

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✅

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 4: Written: – Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

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Summer 2018

3 files

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 4: Written: – Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications – Past Paper – Summer 2018

Past Paper

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📄

AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 1: Written: Fundamentals of – Computer Science – Past Paper – Summer 2018

Past Paper

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AS/A Level – Computer Science – Unit 3: Written: Programming and System Development – Past Paper – Summer 2018

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From Fundamentals to Architecture: WJEC’s Four-Unit Approach to Computer Science

WJEC AS/A Level Computer Science spans four units that progress from foundational theory to advanced system design. The qualification blends written examinations with a distinctive on-screen programming component, testing both conceptual understanding and practical coding ability. Unit 1 — Fundamentals of Computer Science (AS, 2 hours, 25% of A Level) — is a written paper assessing hardware, software, data structures, algorithms, logic, and the legal and ethical dimensions of computing. Short-answer, structured, and extended-response questions probe whether candidates can connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications. Unit 2 — Practical Programming to Solve Problems (AS, on-screen, 2 hours, 25%) — presents candidates with a programming challenge requiring them to design, code, test, and evaluate a solution using a high-level language. Resource files are supplied, and candidates must demonstrate systematic decomposition, appropriate data structures, and rigorous testing. Unit 3 — Programming and System Development (A2, 2 hours, 25%) — deepens the theoretical treatment: object-oriented programming, databases, software engineering methodologies, and computational complexity. Unit 4 — Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications (A2, 2 hours, 25%) — covers processor architecture, operating systems, networking, encryption, and emerging technologies. With 51 resources spanning question papers, mark schemes, and programming resource files, students can reconstruct authentic examination conditions for every component.

Exam Paper Structure

Unit 1No calculator

Fundamentals of Computer Science

⏱ 2 hours🎯 80 marks📊 25% of grade

Hardware and communicationData representationData structures and algorithmsLogic and Boolean algebraSoftware and legal issues

Unit 2No calculator

Practical Programming to Solve Problems

⏱ 2 hours (on-screen)🎯 80 marks📊 25% of grade

Problem decompositionProgramming in a high-level languageData file handlingTesting and evaluation

Unit 3No calculator

Programming and System Development

⏱ 2 hours🎯 80 marks📊 25% of grade

Object-oriented programmingDatabases and SQLSoftware engineeringComputational complexity

Unit 4No calculator

Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications

⏱ 2 hours🎯 80 marks📊 25% of grade

Processor architectureOperating systemsNetworks and encryptionEmerging technologies

Key Information

Exam Board	WJEC
Specification Code	601/6920/4 (AS) / 601/6921/6 (A Level)
Qualification	AS/A Level
Grading Scale	A*–E (A Level), A–E (AS)
Assessment Type	3 written exams + 1 on-screen practical exam
Tiers	No tiers
Number Of Papers	4 units
Exam Duration	Unit 1: 2 hrs; Unit 2: 2 hrs (on-screen); Unit 3: 2 hrs; Unit 4: 2 hrs
Total Marks	320 (80 per unit)
Calculator Status	Not applicable
Available Sessions	Summer series
Total Resources	51

Key Topics in Computer Science

Topics you need to know

Hardware architecture and processor designData structures, algorithms, and complexityObject-oriented programming principlesDatabase design and SQL queriesNetwork protocols and encryption methodsSoftware engineering methodologiesOn-screen programming and debuggingLegal, ethical, and environmental issues in computing

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
State	Provide a brief factual answer
Describe	Set out the main characteristics or steps
Explain	Give reasons linked to computing concepts
Discuss	Examine different aspects and reach a conclusion
Write a program	Produce working code meeting the given requirements
Trace	Step through code, recording variable values at each stage

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
A*	80–90%
A	70–79%
B	59–69%
C	48–58%
D	37–47%
E	26–36%

⚠️ Typical A Level boundaries across all four units (320 total marks). Boundaries vary by session.

Balancing Code Fluency with Theoretical Depth for WJEC Computer Science

Unit 2’s on-screen examination is unique among A Level computing qualifications. Practise timed programming challenges using past resource files, working through the full cycle of decomposition, implementation, testing, and evaluation. Build fluency with file handling, string processing, and data structures in your chosen language — the two-hour window passes quickly when debugging under pressure. For the written units, create summary cards linking related concepts across units: Unit 1’s data representation connects to Unit 4’s processor architecture; Unit 1’s algorithm analysis connects to Unit 3’s computational complexity. Examiners reward candidates who demonstrate these cross-unit connections in extended responses. Unit 3 questions on object-oriented programming frequently ask candidates to design class hierarchies or explain inheritance and polymorphism using concrete examples. Practise sketching class diagrams and writing pseudocode that demonstrates encapsulation. For Unit 4, ensure you can trace through fetch-execute cycles and explain how pipelining improves throughput — diagrams significantly strengthen these answers.

More WJEC AS/A Level Subjects

Explore other AS/A Level subjects from WJEC

WJEC AS/A Level Computer Science Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download Past Papers

Summer 2023

Summer 2022

Summer 2019

Summer 2018

From Fundamentals to Architecture: WJEC’s Four-Unit Approach to Computer Science

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Computer Science

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

Balancing Code Fluency with Theoretical Depth for WJEC Computer Science

More WJEC AS/A Level Subjects

History

Religious Studies

Biology

Physics

Chemistry

Geology

English Literature

Sociology

Psychology

English Lang & Lit

Film Studies

Mathematics

French

Business

English Language

Economics

German

Spanish

Geography

Law

Cymraeg Iaith Gyntaf

Electronics

Government & Politics

Music

Drama and Theatre

Welsh Second Language

Physical Education

Media Studies

Further Mathematics

D&T: Product Design

Electronics ET1

Electronics ET4

Geology GL3: Human and Environmental Geology

D&T: Engineering Design

Electronics ET2

Electronics ET5

Geology GL5: Lithosphere

Geology GL1: Foundation (Resource Materials)

Geology GL5: Evolution and British Geology

Geology GL5: Natural Resources (Resource Materials)

D&T: Food Science and Nutrition

Further Mechanics A

Geology GL4: Geological Record (Resource Materials)

Further Statistics A

Further Pure Mathematics A

Geology GL5: Quaternary Geology (Resource Materials)

D&T: Fashion and Textiles

Geology GL1: Foundation

Geology GL5: Quaternary Geology

Electroneg

Geology GL2: Geological Processes (Resource Materials)

Geology GL3: Human and Environmental (Enlarged Print)

Art, Craft and Design

Geology GL4: Geological Record

Geology GL2: Geological Processes

Geology GL5: Natural Resources (Enlarged Print Resources)

Geology GL5: Natural Resources

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