Qualifications Scotland (SQA) Higher Computing Science Past Papers 2026

Software design + computer-systems + database + web

Duration: 2 hours

Practical programming task

Duration: Up to 6 hours, conducted over several shorter sessions; high supervision, open-book

Parameters and data flow — identifying IN/OUT correctly and avoiding unnecessary parameters

In 2023 the assignment flagged that many candidates could not correctly indicate parameters passed in or out of a sub-program, particularly failing to distinguish array and non-array variables. The 2025 report repeated the same issue, noting candidates added unnecessary parameters to their data flow diagrams.

Assignment

Scope of variables — linking local scope to maintainability

The 2023 report identified that most candidates could not link local variables to maintainability or answer in the context of the specific question. The 2024 report noted that most candidates could explain scope in isolation, but explaining scope in an unfamiliar code context remained demanding.

Question Paper

Recursive algorithms and logic — understanding and tracing unfamiliar code

Across all three diets, the reports consistently highlight that understanding code in an unfamiliar context is one of the more demanding areas, particularly for extended 'explain' questions about what code does and why. Candidates are improving at writing code but not at explaining it.

Question Paper

SQL GROUP BY — explaining why it is required, not just using it

In 2024, only some candidates could explain why GROUP BY was required to produce the expected output. In 2025, candidates' answers about SQL errors were described as incomplete and not specific enough, citing 'missing GROUP BY' without further explanation.

Question Paper, Assignment

Normalisation — identifying compound keys and their constraints

The 2024 report flagged that only some candidates identified that a tournament ID formed part of a compound key and therefore could not be left blank. Compound key constraints and the link to entity integrity are consistently under-answered.

Question Paper, Assignment

Computer architecture — security concepts (DOS attacks, digital signatures vs digital certificates)

In 2024, very few candidates could describe a resource starvation DOS attack, with many omitting any mention of a resource such as a processor, RAM or backing storage. In 2025, many candidates confused the benefits of a digital signature with those of a digital certificate.

Question Paper

Web development — CSS layout properties (float, clear, block vs inline elements)

The 2025 report flagged that few candidates could identify that an increased margin would exceed the given width, few could explain resolution issues, and few could explain the difference between block and inline element placement. The 2024 report noted that only some candidates provided all the CSS to style a horizontal navigation bar.

Question Paper

Assignment evaluation — assessing code efficiency and maintainability at Higher standard

In 2023, candidates offered generic National 5 responses (internal commentary, white space, meaningful names) instead of Higher-level evaluation of data structures and loops. The 2025 report repeated that answers were often generic and not related to the identified function, data structures, or loops, or were of a National 5 standard.

Assignment