How many marks and questions are in this predicted paper?

This paper has 100 marks across 12 questions and is designed for a 150-minute practice session.

What are the A-Level Computer Science Paper 1 predictions for 2026?

StudyVector's 2026 A-Level Computer Science Paper 1 predicted paper focuses on programming, data structures, algorithms, theory of computation, skeleton program technique. This is an independent, AQA-style predicted-practice paper modelled on the published specification — it is not a leaked paper and is not official.

Published 8 March 2026Updated 22 April 2026By Lizzie D., founderPrivacy Policy

Source note: use official specifications as the source of truth. StudyVector is an independent revision platform. AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR

Direct answer

This page hosts StudyVector’s independent 2026 A-Level Computer Science Paper 1 predicted-practice paper modelled on 7517/1,100 marks over 150 minutes. Predicted focus topics: programming, data structures, algorithms, theory of computation, skeleton program technique. It is not an official paper, not a leaked paper and not a guarantee — students should still revise the full specification and verify against official past papers from AQA.

Qualification: A-Level Computer Science
Exam board model: AQA
Paper code: 7517/1
Total marks: 100 marks
Time allowed: 150 minutes
Last reviewed: 16 May 2026

StudyVector is independent revision support, not affiliated with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, JCQ or any exam provider. Always verify topic coverage with your exam-board specification.

Predicted paper

AQA A-Level Computer Science 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 1

Q: Is AQA A-Level Computer Science 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 1 an official exam paper?

No. It is an original StudyVector predicted-practice paper for revision. It is not official, leaked or guaranteed, and students should still revise the full specification.

Q: Which topics are likely to come up in A-Level Computer Science Paper 1 2026?

Based on the AQA-style structure and recent paper patterns, StudyVector's prediction prioritises: programming; data structures; algorithms; theory of computation; skeleton program technique. Students should still revise the full specification because exam boards rotate topics.

Q: What is the A-Level Computer Science Paper 1 format (7517/1)?

A-Level Computer Science Paper 1 (7517/1) is 100 marks over 150 minutes. 7517/1 model: 100 raw marks, 150 minutes, on-screen programming and theory of computation practice using original StudyVector prompts.

A-Level Computer Science · AQA-style · 150 minutes · 100 marks

Modelled component: 7517/1

7517/1 model: 100 raw marks, 150 minutes, on-screen programming and theory of computation practice using original StudyVector prompts.

Prediction type: predicted_paper · Evidence mode: historical · Full-length original StudyVector predicted-practice paper modelled on public exam-board structure. It is not official, leaked or guaranteed.

Evidence basis: public exam-board specification structure, historical topic weighting patterns, StudyVector practice-quality review.

AI-generated practice paper. Not an official AQA-style paper, not leaked exam content, and not an exam-board endorsement.

Predicted difficulty score (practice signal)

0–100 model (higher = more demanding)

Candidate focus topics (not guarantees)

programming
data structures
algorithms
theory of computation
skeleton program technique

Preview mode

0/12 questions attempted · score 0/100 (0%)

150:00Warm up with cards Play Daily

Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. You must write down all the stages in your working.

Section A

Programming fundamentals. Answer all questions in the Electronic Answer Document.

Question SECTION-A1 (5 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of programming question. A program processes 12 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-A1 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-A2 (5 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of data structures question. A program processes 13 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-A2 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-A3 (10 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of algorithms question. A program processes 14 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-A3 is 10 marks)

Section B

Data structures and algorithms. Answer all questions in the Electronic Answer Document.

Question SECTION-B1 (5 marks)
Computer Science Theory of computation question. A program processes 15 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-B1 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-B2 (10 marks)
Computer Science Systematic approach to problem solving question. A program processes 16 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-B2 is 10 marks)
Question SECTION-B3 (10 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of programming question. A program processes 17 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-B3 is 10 marks)

Section C

Theory of computation. Answer all questions in the Electronic Answer Document.

Question SECTION-C1 (5 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of data structures question. A program processes 18 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-C1 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-C2 (5 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of algorithms question. A program processes 19 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-C2 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-C3 (10 marks)
Computer Science Theory of computation question. A program processes 20 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-C3 is 10 marks)

Section D

Skeleton program and systematic problem solving. Answer all questions in the Electronic Answer Document.

Question SECTION-D1 (10 marks)
Computer Science Systematic approach to problem solving question. A program processes 21 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-D1 is 10 marks)
Question SECTION-D2 (10 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of programming question. A program processes 22 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-D2 is 10 marks)
Question SECTION-D3 (15 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of data structures question. A program processes 23 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-D3 is 15 marks)

Train weak areas

Turn this paper into targeted practice. Start with the topics where you lost marks, then come back and resit the same style of question.

Start low-focus cards Play Daily Save full practice progress

Published 8 March 2026Updated 22 April 2026By Lizzie D., founderPrivacy Policy

Source note: use official specifications as the source of truth. StudyVector is an independent revision platform. AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR

Direct answer

Qualification: A-Level Computer Science
Exam board model: AQA
Paper code: 7517/1
Total marks: 100 marks
Time allowed: 150 minutes
Last reviewed: 16 May 2026

StudyVector is independent revision support, not affiliated with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, JCQ or any exam provider. Always verify topic coverage with your exam-board specification.

Predicted paper

AQA A-Level Computer Science 2026 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 1

A-Level Computer Science · AQA-style · 150 minutes · 100 marks

Modelled component: 7517/1

7517/1 model: 100 raw marks, 150 minutes, on-screen programming and theory of computation practice using original StudyVector prompts.

Evidence basis: public exam-board specification structure, historical topic weighting patterns, StudyVector practice-quality review.

AI-generated practice paper. Not an official AQA-style paper, not leaked exam content, and not an exam-board endorsement.

Predicted difficulty score (practice signal)

0–100 model (higher = more demanding)

Candidate focus topics (not guarantees)

programming
data structures
algorithms
theory of computation
skeleton program technique

Preview mode

0/12 questions attempted · score 0/100 (0%)

150:00Warm up with cards Play Daily

Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. You must write down all the stages in your working.

Section A

Programming fundamentals. Answer all questions in the Electronic Answer Document.

Question SECTION-A1 (5 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of programming question. A program processes 12 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-A1 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-A2 (5 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of data structures question. A program processes 13 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-A2 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-A3 (10 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of algorithms question. A program processes 14 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-A3 is 10 marks)

Section B

Data structures and algorithms. Answer all questions in the Electronic Answer Document.

Question SECTION-B1 (5 marks)
Computer Science Theory of computation question. A program processes 15 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-B1 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-B2 (10 marks)
Computer Science Systematic approach to problem solving question. A program processes 16 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-B2 is 10 marks)
Question SECTION-B3 (10 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of programming question. A program processes 17 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-B3 is 10 marks)

Section C

Theory of computation. Answer all questions in the Electronic Answer Document.

Question SECTION-C1 (5 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of data structures question. A program processes 18 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-C1 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-C2 (5 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of algorithms question. A program processes 19 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-C2 is 5 marks)
Question SECTION-C3 (10 marks)
Computer Science Theory of computation question. A program processes 20 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-C3 is 10 marks)

Section D

Skeleton program and systematic problem solving. Answer all questions in the Electronic Answer Document.

Question SECTION-D1 (10 marks)
Computer Science Systematic approach to problem solving question. A program processes 21 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-D1 is 10 marks)
Question SECTION-D2 (10 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of programming question. A program processes 22 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-D2 is 10 marks)
Question SECTION-D3 (15 marks)
Computer Science Fundamentals of data structures question. A program processes 23 records using a simple algorithm. (a) Explain the relevant concept. (b) Complete or trace the algorithm for the data given. (c) Describe one improvement to correctness, efficiency or security.
(Total for Question SECTION-D3 is 15 marks)

Train weak areas

Turn this paper into targeted practice. Start with the topics where you lost marks, then come back and resit the same style of question.

Start low-focus cards Play Daily Save full practice progress