AQA · A Level
AQA A Level Computer Science
AQA A-level Computer Science (7517). What it covers, how it is assessed, a link to the official specification, and the free study material Marlbridge publishes for it.
- Syllabus
- 7517
- Board
- AQA
- Qualification
- A Level
- Not your course?
- Change course
Topics and resources
Each topic below is from the official AQA document for AQA A-level Computer Science (7517), with its study guides, revision notes and practice questions together. Everything here is for AQA A Level Computer Science (7517) only.
- Learn with study guides
- Revise with revision notes
- Practise with practice questions
Searches topic names and resource titles for this course only.
No Computer Science (7517) resources match “”.
- Try one shorter word, or check the spelling.
- Try the wording the syllabus uses for the topic, as listed below once you clear the search.
- Some topics have no Marlbridge resource yet; they are still listed.
- Topic 1
Fundamentals of programming
Covers Programming, Programming paradigms
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- Topic 2
Fundamentals of data structures
Covers Data structures, Single- and multi-dimensional arrays (or equivalent), Fields, records and files, Abstract data types/data structures, Queues, Stacks, Graphs, Trees, Hash tables, Dictionaries, Vectors
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- Topic 3
Fundamentals of algorithms
Study guides
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
Practice questions
No practice questions for this topic yet.
- Topic 4
Theory of computation
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 5
Fundamentals of data representation
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 6
Fundamentals of computer systems
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 7
Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 8
Consequences of uses of computing
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 9
Fundamentals of communication and networking
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 10
Fundamentals of databases
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 11
Big Data
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 12
Fundamentals of functional programming
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- Topic 13
Systematic approach to problem solving
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
Covering more than one topic
Course guides, exam preparation and pages that span several topics.
Study guides
No study guide for this course yet.
Revision notes
No revision notes for this course yet.
Practice questions
Source: AQA — official subject content pages at aqa.org.uk/subjects/computer-science/a-level/computer-science-7517/specification/subject-content — 2015-onwards series. Verified 2026-08-19. Subtopics are shown where Marlbridge has entered them; a topic may have more in the official document. A topic listed here is part of the syllabus; it does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.
About this course
- Qualification
- AQA A Level Computer Science
- Spec code
- 7517
- Does Marlbridge teach it?
- Yes — request a free trial class
- Who teaches it?
- Harris Khan
- Are resources available?
- Yes — 8 published
- Is enrolment open?
- Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
- Official specification
- AQA specification
- Topic checklist
- Printable 7517 checklist
- Where was this verified?
- 2026-08-19, official AQA specification
Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official AQA specification on 2026-08-19.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.
The qualification
AQA A-level Computer Science (7517)
Marlbridge's summary of the course
AQA A-level Computer Science develops learners' capacity for computational thinking, and their ability to design, program and evaluate computer systems to solve problems, supporting further study or employment in computing.
The board's own description is on the official AQA syllabus page.
Confirmed live and current: first teaching 2015, 13 named subject-content sections (4.1-4.13) plus a non-exam-assessment computing practical project. Supports C#, Java, Python and VB.Net as programming languages.
Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the AQA syllabus page for your examination year.
Assessment structure
Linear qualification
| Component | Duration | Marks | Weighting | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7517/1: Paper 1 | 2h 30m | 100 | 40% | Written exam |
| 7517/2: Paper 2 | 2h 30m | 100 | 40% | Written exam |
| 7517/NEA: Non-exam assessment: the computing practical project | — | 75 | 20% | Non-exam assessment |
Source: official AQA specification, verified 2026-08-28. Directly confirmed against the official AQA specification-at-a-glance and scheme-of-assessment pages: linear, not tiered. Paper 1 (on-screen exam testing programming ability and theoretical knowledge from content 10-13 plus systematic problem-solving skills from content 22): 2h30, raw 100 marks, 40% of A-level. Paper 2 (written exam testing content 14-21): 2h30, raw 100 marks, 40% of A-level. Non-exam assessment (the computing practical project, assessing ability to solve/investigate a practical problem using a systematic approach): raw 75 marks, 20% of A-level, internally assessed and externally moderated by AQA. Raw Paper 1/2 marks are scaled x1.5 (to 150 each) for the final total of 375 scaled marks – the RAW marks the board publishes per component are shown here, as for every other qualification on this site. First teaching September 2015, first A-level assessment June 2017.
Questions about this course
How is AQA Computer Science (7517) assessed?
AQA Computer Science (7517) is assessed through: 7517/1 (Paper 1) — 2h 30m, 100 marks, 40% of the qualification; 7517/2 (Paper 2) — 2h 30m, 100 marks, 40% of the qualification; 7517/NEA (Non-exam assessment: the computing practical project) — no fixed duration, 75 marks, 20% of the qualification. It is a linear qualification. Source: official AQA specification, verified 2026-08-28.
What topics does AQA A Level Computer Science (7517) cover?
13 topics in the current syllabus: Fundamentals of programming; Fundamentals of data structures; Fundamentals of algorithms; Theory of computation; Fundamentals of data representation; Fundamentals of computer systems; Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture; Consequences of uses of computing; Fundamentals of communication and networking; Fundamentals of databases; Big Data; Fundamentals of functional programming; Systematic approach to problem solving. The printable topic checklist lists every topic and subtopic on one page.
Can I get a tutor for AQA A Level Computer Science (7517)?
Yes. Marlbridge teaches AQA A Level Computer Science (7517) live online, one-to-one or in small groups, taught by a named subject teacher from its academy in Lahore, Pakistan. The first trial class is free.
Are there free AQA A Level Computer Science (7517) revision notes and practice questions?
Yes. Marlbridge has published 8 free resources for this course (study guides, exam preparation guides, practice questions, revision notes), free to read with no sign-up.
The subject
Computer Science teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.
Computer Science at other qualifications
These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.
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