MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8525/2 –
JUNE 2023
AQA
GCSE
COMPUTER SCIENCE
8525/2
Paper 2 Computing concepts
Mark scheme
June 2023
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8525/2 –
JUNE 2023
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity, you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level, you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8525/2 –
JUNE 2023
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
01 1 Mark is for AO1 (recall) 1
D 16;
R. if more than one lozenge shaded
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
01 2 2 marks for AO1 (understanding) 2
B Hexadecimal is easier for people to read than binary;
F Hexadecimal takes less time to type than binary;
R. if more than two lozenges shaded
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
02 1 Mark is for AO2 (apply) 1
1010 1011;
I. Leading zeros
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
02 2 2 marks for AO2 (apply) 2
0010; 1101;
If the answer given is not fully correct then award a maximum of 1 working mark
as follows:
2 converted to 0010
D converted to 1101
D converted to decimal 13
Conversion to decimal 45
A. missing leading zeros
I. additional leading zeros
4
JUNE 2023
AQA
GCSE
COMPUTER SCIENCE
8525/2
Paper 2 Computing concepts
Mark scheme
June 2023
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8525/2 –
JUNE 2023
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity, you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level, you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE – 8525/2 –
JUNE 2023
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
01 1 Mark is for AO1 (recall) 1
D 16;
R. if more than one lozenge shaded
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
01 2 2 marks for AO1 (understanding) 2
B Hexadecimal is easier for people to read than binary;
F Hexadecimal takes less time to type than binary;
R. if more than two lozenges shaded
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
02 1 Mark is for AO2 (apply) 1
1010 1011;
I. Leading zeros
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
02 2 2 marks for AO2 (apply) 2
0010; 1101;
If the answer given is not fully correct then award a maximum of 1 working mark
as follows:
2 converted to 0010
D converted to 1101
D converted to decimal 13
Conversion to decimal 45
A. missing leading zeros
I. additional leading zeros
4
