7517 · AQA A Level
7517/21
Paper 2
Computer Science · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
200
300 min
Fundamentals of Programming and OOP
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
200
Duration
300 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2024 papers represented a high-standard AQA assessment.
Paper 1 demanded robust programming logic, particularly in Section D where students had to implement a CountdownCell subclass and a complex array-shifting algorithm (O(N)O(N)O(N) row shifting).
Paper 2, while containing highly accessible binary and logic gate questions, had extremely demanding extended-writing questions covering magnetic media, the TCP/IP stack, and medical AI ethics.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Algorithmic
Weight: 8100%Trace Table Processing
Weight: 788%Object-Oriented Analysis
Weight: 675%Oriented Analysis
Weight: 563%Mathematical
Weight: 450%Structured
Weight: 338%TheoreSQL &
Weight: 225%Relational
Weight: 113%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level A*
Approx. 80% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 64% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 52% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 40% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 28% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 16% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Match the expected response style for “Simplify” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.8
Min per mark: 1.8
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.1
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Programming (Fundamentals of programming)
48 marks this session
Programming paradigms (Fundamentals of programming)
16 marks this session
The Internet (Fundamentals of communication and networking)
15 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Programming (Fundamentals of programming)
Programming paradigms (Fundamentals of programming)
Structure and role of the processor and its components (Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture)
The Internet (Fundamentals of communication and networking)
Graph-traversal (Fundamentals of algorithms)
Individual (moral), social (ethical), legal and cultural issues and opportunities
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 (7517/1):
Paper 2 (7517/2):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Programming (Fundamentals of programming)
48 marks this session
Practise in RevuiProgramming paradigms (Fundamentals of programming)
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe Internet (Fundamentals of communication and networking)
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The June 2024 papers represented a high-standard AQA assessment.
- 2Message
Paper 1 demanded robust programming logic, particularly in Section D where students had to implement a CountdownCell subclass and a complex array-shifting algorithm (O(N)O(N)O(N) row shifting).
- 3Message
Paper 2, while containing highly accessible binary and logic gate questions, had extremely demanding extended-writing questions covering magnetic media, the TCP/IP stack, and medical AI ethics.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Computer Science
The June 2024 papers represented a high-standard AQA assessment. Paper 1 demanded robust programming logic, particularly in Section D where students had to implement a CountdownCell subclass and a complex array-shifting algorithm (O(N)O(N)O(N) row shifting). Paper 2, while contai
The June 2024 papers represented a high-standard AQA assessment.
Paper 1 demanded robust programming logic, particularly in Section D where students had to implement a CountdownCell subclass and a complex array-shifting algorithm (O(N)O(N)O(N) row shifting).
Paper 2, while containing highly accessible binary and logic gate questions, had extremely demanding extended-writing questions covering magnetic media, the TCP/IP stack, and medical AI ethics.
- Total marks
- 200
- Duration
- 300 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2024 papers represented a high-standard AQA assessment. Paper 1 demanded robust programming logic, particularly in Section D where students had to implement a CountdownCell subclass and a complex array-shifting algorithm (O(N)O(N)O(N) row shifting). Paper 2, while containing highly accessible binary and logic gate questions, had extremely demanding extended-writing questions covering magnetic media, the TCP/IP stack, and medical AI ethics.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 (7517/1):
Paper 2 (7517/2):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
74% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Application & Calculation
58·22·29%
Recall / Short Answer Theory
52·32·26%
Programming Modification / Practical
46·6·23%
Extended Response / Essay
24·3·12%
Trace Tables / Code Analysis
20·4·10%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A (
0.90 m/minPaper 1 Section B (
0.65 m/minPaper 1 Section C (
0.55 m/minPaper 1 Section D (
0.57 m/minPaper 2 (All Questi
0.67 m/minTotal marks
200
Total time
300 min
Avg pace
0.67
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Hash tables (DtCHdPnremXAAl2cmefw)
95%95%
Sorting algorithms (FoZTPD6FW2ELJgzBKvK6)
85%85%
Big Data (F6OoxrbTDWclneUTbDmN)
78%78%
Overall Difficulty Verdict
The June 2024 papers represented a high-standard AQA assessment. Paper 1 demanded robust programming logic, particularly in Section D where students had to implement a CountdownCell subclass and a complex array-shifting algorithm (O(N)O(N)O(N) row shifting). Paper 2, while containing highly accessible binary and logic gate questions, had extremely demanding extended-writing questions covering magnetic media, the TCP/IP stack, and medical AI ethics.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Off-by-One and Indexing Errors: In Paper 1, Question 13.1 (Shift row left), many candidates suffered from indexing errors or lost the leftmost cell because they did not store it in a temporary variable before shifting.
- SQL Delimiters: In Paper 2, Question 8.2, marks were frequently lost for omitting quotation marks or hashes around the date string ("29/09/2024").
- Vague Definitions: In questions regarding the Halting Problem and Local vs. Class Attributes, candidates often used colloquial definitions (e.g., stating a local variable "only works in one place") instead of precise academic terminology concerning scope and lifetime.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.