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AQA A-LEVEL COMPUTER SCIENCE PAPER 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
AQA A-LEVEL COMPUTER SCIENCE PAPER 1
Original Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS
Questions 1–50
1. Which of the following is a primitive data type?
• A) Array
• B) Integer
• C) Record
• D) List
Answer: B) Integer
Rationale: Integer is a primitive data type. Arrays, records, and lists are composite/derived data
types.
2. What is the purpose of a constant in programming?
• A) To store a value that cannot change during program execution
• B) To store multiple values
• C) To define a subroutine
• D) To create a loop
Answer: A) To store a value that cannot change during program execution
Rationale: A constant holds a fixed value that cannot be altered while the program runs.
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3. Which operator is used for integer division in most programming languages?
• A) /
• B) DIV
• C) MOD
• D) ^
Answer: B) DIV
Rationale: DIV performs integer division, discarding any remainder. MOD returns the remainder.
4. What does the MOD operator return?
• A) The quotient of division
• B) The remainder of division
• C) The product of two numbers
• D) The difference between two numbers
Answer: B) The remainder of division
Rationale: MOD returns the remainder after integer division.
5. Which of the following correctly describes a variable?
• A) A named memory location whose value can change
• B) A fixed value
• C) A type of loop
• D) A subroutine
Answer: A) A named memory location whose value can change
Rationale: A variable is a named storage location whose value can be modified during
execution.
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6. What is the result of 17 DIV 5?
• A) 2
• B) 3
• C) 3.4
• D) 2.5
Answer: B) 3
Rationale: 17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2. DIV returns the quotient, which is 3.
7. What is the result of 17 MOD 5?
• A) 2
• B) 3
• C) 3.4
• D) 2.5
Answer: A) 2
Rationale: 17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2. MOD returns the remainder, which is 2.
8. Which data type would be most appropriate for storing a person's age?
• A) String
• B) Boolean
• C) Integer
• D) Real
Answer: C) Integer
Rationale: Age is a whole number, so an integer is most appropriate.
9. Which data type would be most appropriate for storing whether a light is on or off?
• A) String
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• B) Boolean
• C) Integer
• D) Real
Answer: B) Boolean
Rationale: A Boolean stores True/False values, ideal for on/off states.
10. What is the purpose of a subroutine?
• A) To store data permanently
• B) To perform a specific task that can be called multiple times
• C) To define a variable
• D) To create a data structure
Answer: B) To perform a specific task that can be called multiple times
Rationale: Subroutines are reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks.
11. What is a parameter?
• A) A value returned by a subroutine
• B) A value passed into a subroutine
• C) A local variable
• D) A global variable
Answer: B) A value passed into a subroutine
Rationale: Parameters are values passed into subroutines for processing.
12. What is the difference between a function and a procedure?
• A) Functions return a value; procedures do not
• B) Procedures return a value; functions do not
• C) There is no difference
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AQA A-LEVEL COMPUTER SCIENCE PAPER 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
AQA A-LEVEL COMPUTER SCIENCE PAPER 1
Original Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS
Questions 1–50
1. Which of the following is a primitive data type?
• A) Array
• B) Integer
• C) Record
• D) List
Answer: B) Integer
Rationale: Integer is a primitive data type. Arrays, records, and lists are composite/derived data
types.
2. What is the purpose of a constant in programming?
• A) To store a value that cannot change during program execution
• B) To store multiple values
• C) To define a subroutine
• D) To create a loop
Answer: A) To store a value that cannot change during program execution
Rationale: A constant holds a fixed value that cannot be altered while the program runs.
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,Page 2 of 63
3. Which operator is used for integer division in most programming languages?
• A) /
• B) DIV
• C) MOD
• D) ^
Answer: B) DIV
Rationale: DIV performs integer division, discarding any remainder. MOD returns the remainder.
4. What does the MOD operator return?
• A) The quotient of division
• B) The remainder of division
• C) The product of two numbers
• D) The difference between two numbers
Answer: B) The remainder of division
Rationale: MOD returns the remainder after integer division.
5. Which of the following correctly describes a variable?
• A) A named memory location whose value can change
• B) A fixed value
• C) A type of loop
• D) A subroutine
Answer: A) A named memory location whose value can change
Rationale: A variable is a named storage location whose value can be modified during
execution.
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6. What is the result of 17 DIV 5?
• A) 2
• B) 3
• C) 3.4
• D) 2.5
Answer: B) 3
Rationale: 17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2. DIV returns the quotient, which is 3.
7. What is the result of 17 MOD 5?
• A) 2
• B) 3
• C) 3.4
• D) 2.5
Answer: A) 2
Rationale: 17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2. MOD returns the remainder, which is 2.
8. Which data type would be most appropriate for storing a person's age?
• A) String
• B) Boolean
• C) Integer
• D) Real
Answer: C) Integer
Rationale: Age is a whole number, so an integer is most appropriate.
9. Which data type would be most appropriate for storing whether a light is on or off?
• A) String
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• B) Boolean
• C) Integer
• D) Real
Answer: B) Boolean
Rationale: A Boolean stores True/False values, ideal for on/off states.
10. What is the purpose of a subroutine?
• A) To store data permanently
• B) To perform a specific task that can be called multiple times
• C) To define a variable
• D) To create a data structure
Answer: B) To perform a specific task that can be called multiple times
Rationale: Subroutines are reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks.
11. What is a parameter?
• A) A value returned by a subroutine
• B) A value passed into a subroutine
• C) A local variable
• D) A global variable
Answer: B) A value passed into a subroutine
Rationale: Parameters are values passed into subroutines for processing.
12. What is the difference between a function and a procedure?
• A) Functions return a value; procedures do not
• B) Procedures return a value; functions do not
• C) There is no difference
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