AQA COMPUTER SCIENCE
PAPER 1
8520/1
Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving
MARK SCHEME
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8520/1 – JUNE 2020
AQA COMPUTER SCIENCE PAPER 1
GCSE
COMPUTER SCIENCE
8520/1
Paper 1 Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving
Mark scheme
June 2020
1
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8520/1 – JUN 2020
*206G8520/1/MS*
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
The following annotation is used in the mark scheme:
; - means a single mark
// - means alternative response
/ - means an alternative word or sub-phrase
A. - means acceptable creditworthy answer. Also used to denote a valid answer that goes beyond
the expectations of the GCSE syllabus. R. - means reject answer as not creditworthy
NE. - means not enough
I. - means ignore
DPT.- in some questions a specific error made by a candidate, if repeated, could result in the candidate
failing to gain more than one mark. The DPT label indicates that this mistake should only result
in a candidate losing one mark on the first occasion that the error is made. Provided that the
answer remains understandable, subsequent marks should be awarded as if the error was not
being repeated.
Copyright information
AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own
internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third
party even for internal use within the centre.
2
PAPER 1
8520/1
Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving
MARK SCHEME
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8520/1 – JUNE 2020
AQA COMPUTER SCIENCE PAPER 1
GCSE
COMPUTER SCIENCE
8520/1
Paper 1 Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving
Mark scheme
June 2020
1
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8520/1 – JUN 2020
*206G8520/1/MS*
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
The following annotation is used in the mark scheme:
; - means a single mark
// - means alternative response
/ - means an alternative word or sub-phrase
A. - means acceptable creditworthy answer. Also used to denote a valid answer that goes beyond
the expectations of the GCSE syllabus. R. - means reject answer as not creditworthy
NE. - means not enough
I. - means ignore
DPT.- in some questions a specific error made by a candidate, if repeated, could result in the candidate
failing to gain more than one mark. The DPT label indicates that this mistake should only result
in a candidate losing one mark on the first occasion that the error is made. Provided that the
answer remains understandable, subsequent marks should be awarded as if the error was not
being repeated.
Copyright information
AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own
internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third
party even for internal use within the centre.
2
