A-Level guide · checked October 2026
A-Level Computer Science, explained simply
Programming, algorithms and how computers really work, plus a substantial programming project of your child's own. This page shows how each board sets the exams and project, the marks your child really needs for an A*, A or B, and how to prepare.
- 2 exams
- Programming project (20%)
- On-screen paper (AQA)
- Grades A* to E
Exam board
Not sure which board? Ask your child's school, or check the front of a mockA practice exam, usually set by school a few months before the real thing. paper.
The exams at a glance
AQA A-Level Computer Science (7517). 2 exams and coursework, 5 hours of exams and 375 marks in total.
Specification: AQA A-Level Computer Science (7517)
What's in the exams
The shares are each part's weight in the final grade, as the specification states. Pearson's June 2026 grade boundaries list no A-Level in this subject.
- Paper 1: programming and theory, on screen40%
- Paper 2: computing theory, written40%
- Programming project20%
How the grading works
How the grading works
Everyone sits the same papers. The marks are added up and the total decides the grade, from A* down to E. The programming project is 20% of the grade: students analyse a problem, then design, build, test and evaluate their own program. AQA's first paper is taken on a computer, writing and editing real code.
The marks you really need for each grade
You do not need 90% for a top grade. Grade boundaries are set after the exams are marked, so a grade stays the same standard even when the papers are harder. These are the real AQA boundaries from June 2026:
Source: AQA, A-level grade boundaries June 2026 (same for every programming language option). Boundaries change slightly every year.
Your target score in practice papers
Sit a full set of past papers under timed conditions every few weeks. Work out the percentage for each set, ignore your single worst result (everyone has an off day) and average the rest. Aim for:
89%
to secure a grade A*
74%
to secure a grade A
62%
to secure a grade B
We add 5 percentage points to last year's boundary, because boundaries move a little each year and exam nerves cost marks.
Past paper mock builder
Pick an exam series and we'll set out the full AQA mock: which papers to sit, how long to allow and where to download them. Then type in your marks to see the grade they would have earned.
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Paper 1, June 2026 · On screen: programming and theory (100 marks, scaled) · 2 hours 30 minutes
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Paper 2, June 2026 · Written: theory (100 marks, scaled) · 2 hours 30 minutes
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Non-exam assessment, June 2026 · Programming project
Download the papers and mark schemes: AQA official past papers or Save My Exams past papers. Exam boards keep the most recent series for schools only for a while, so if the newest one isn't there, take the one before.
Enter your marks for each paper to see the grade they would have earned.
What Computer Science is really about
Where the word comes from
"Computer" first meant a person who computes, from the Latin computare, "to count up". "Algorithm" comes from the name of the 9th-century Baghdad scholar al-Khwarizmi.
Where it comes from
Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine in London in the 1830s, and Ada Lovelace wrote what is often called the first computer program for it. In 1936 Alan Turing, then at Cambridge, described the "universal machine", the idea behind every modern computer, and in 1989 Tim Berners-Lee, a London-born scientist, invented the World Wide Web.
Why it's still taught
Computer Science teaches rigorous problem solving and the programming skills used across science, finance and industry. It leads to degrees in computer science, software engineering and data science, and to careers in technology, cyber security and artificial intelligence.
How to do well in A-Level Computer Science
Code regularly
Programming improves with practice. Small daily projects beat occasional long sessions.
Master the standard algorithms
Searching, sorting and graph algorithms come up every year. Trace each one by hand.
Choose a project you care about
The project is 20% of the grade. A topic your child finds interesting keeps them motivated.
Document the project as you go
Marks are given for analysis, design, testing and evaluation, not just working code.
Learn the theory precisely
Questions on hardware, networks and data structures reward exact definitions.
Practise past papers
Exam questions follow patterns. Past papers show what depth examiners expect.
The three best places to revise
Our teachers' picks. We have no connection with these sites.
Isaac Computer Science
Free A-Level lessons and questions from the National Centre for Computing Education.
Craig'n'Dave
Free video lessons matched to the AQA and OCR specifications.
Physics & Maths Tutor
Free past papers, mark schemes and notes for AQA and OCR.
Questions parents ask
Not sure where your child stands?
Our free 45-minute assessment often uses a real past paperA real exam from a previous year, used for practice., so you'll know their likely grade and exactly what to work on. Lessons online across the UK, or at our seven London hubs.