CCEA A-Level · Analysis & Prediction

2025 CCEA A-Level Digital Technology 2650 Past Paper: Analysis & Answers

CCEA GCE A2 1 Digital Technology (Information Systems) is a rigorous 150-mark, 2 hour 30 minute examination assessing fundamental advanced computing topics. High-yield areas include Network architecture, protocols, and topology security (49 marks), Relational Database design, normalisation to 3NF, ER modelling, and SQL DML queries (34 marks), Expert Systems and Artificial Intelligence (27 marks), Mobile and Emerging Tech/Robotics/Cloud (22 marks), and Legislation (18 marks). Four extended 6-mark evaluative questions test Quality of Written Communication (QWC).

Updated: 31 Aug 2026

Analysis Sample paper

Difficulty 3.4/5

Total marks

150

Duration

150 mins

Most tested

Networks (Architecture, Protocols, OSI Model & Security)

Paper breakdown

Unit A2 1: Information Systems: 150 marks · 150 mins

Top chapters

Networks · 49 marksDatabases · 34 marksExpert systems · 19 marksLegislation · 18 marksRobotics · 10 marks

Executive Summary & Exam Overview

The CCEA GCE Digital Technology Unit A2 1 (Information Systems) paper is a comprehensive 150-mark paper spanning 2 hours and 30 minutes (equivalent to 1 mark per minute). The exam features 6 structured compulsory questions, demanding both highly technical recall (OSI model layers, CSMA/CD protocols, exact SQL syntax, normalisation notation) and sustained prose in four designated 6-mark Quality of Written Communication (QWC) extended-response questions.

Where the Marks Are Won and Lost

Relational Databases & SQL (Question 3 - 34 Marks): Representing nearly a quarter of the entire examination, this question tests core technical application. Marks are reliably secured by candidates who master standard 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF table decomposition schemas (identifying repeating groups, partial dependencies, and transitive dependencies) and write clean SQL statements for INSERT INTO, DELETE FROM, and UPDATE ... SET ... WHERE.
Networks & Communication Protocols (Questions 1 & 2 - 49 Marks): A dominant component covering network hardware roles, P2P vs server-based architectures, OSI layers (Session and Network), and MAC/transmission protocols (CSMA/CD, RFID). Evaluation of parity bit error detection requires precise arithmetic reasoning with binary byte patterns.
AI & Expert Systems (Question 4 - 27 Marks): Focuses heavily on the mechanics of AI (Turing test criteria, neural network hidden layers/weights) and expert system components (inference engine forward/backward chaining, shell, knowledge engineer vs domain expert).
Emerging Technologies & Legislation (Questions 5 & 6 - 40 Marks): Covers cellular mobile transmission, robotics definitions/advantages, cloud security trade-offs, and legal impacts of the Computer Misuse Act and Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.

Common Pitfalls & Examiner Advice

Shallow SQL Syntax: Forgetting table names, incorrect clause order, or omitting crucial WHERE clauses on update/delete commands.
Generic QWC Answers: Extended 6-mark answers (such as bus vs star security, parity bit effectiveness, medical expert systems, and cloud data security) require balanced arguments detailing both specific advantages and vulnerabilities rather than generic statements.
Confusing Protocol Roles: Mixing up collision detection steps in CSMA/CD or failing to explain why an odd/even parity bit fails when an even number of bit errors occur.

Exam Strategy & Revision Plan

Prioritise database normalisation drills, ER diagram cardinality notation, and SQL DML syntax as these provide high-yield definitive marks. Practice timed 6-mark essays using clear paragraphs, technical vocabulary, and balanced conclusions.

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Charts

Marks by chapter

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Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

Short Answer / Definition28 marks · 8 questions
Medium Technical / Descriptive60 marks · 11 questions
Application & Practical (Normalisation / SQL / ERD)38 marks · 8 questions
Extended Evaluation (QWC)24 marks · 4 questions

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

79%within easy or medium reach

easy: 45 marksmedium: 73 markshard: 32 marks

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

Database Normalisation (1NF, 2NF, 3NF) & SQL Commands

26 marks · Difficulty 3 · recurrence 5%

Network Protocols & OSI Model Layers

20 marks · Difficulty 3.2 · recurrence 5%

Legislation (Computer Misuse & Copyright Acts)

18 marks · Difficulty 2.2 · recurrence 5%

Expert System Roles & Architecture

19 marks · Difficulty 2.8 · recurrence 5%

Mobile Communications & Robotics

16 marks · Difficulty 2.5 · recurrence 4%

Time vs marks

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marksmins

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Data Mining & Data Warehousing88%

Data mining and big data concepts did not appear on this paper and are central to the A2 1 syllabus; very high probability for the next series.

Data Protection Legislation (GDPR / DPA 2018)85%

Legislation alternates frequently between Computer Misuse/Copyright and Data Protection principles/individual rights.

Natural Language Processing & Voice Recognition82%

NLP and voice recognition technologies were omitted in favour of neural networks/Turing tests; expect direct examination in upcoming papers.

Ethical Considerations in Information Systems78%

Ethical impacts (e.g. AI ethics, surveillance, workplace automation) are standard QWC targets that were rested in this session.

Cumulative marks ladder

The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.

Topic-year heatmap

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Jun 2023

Jun 2024

Jun 2025

Networks

Databases

Expert systems

Cloud computing

Legislation

Natural language and voice recognition

Mobile technologies

Artificial intelligence

Ethical considerations

Data mining

Examiner insights

AI-inferred

Common pitfalls

Writing vague descriptions for network hardware (e.g. stating a repeater 'boosts signal' without explaining signal amplification/regeneration over distance to counteract attenuation).
Incorrect SQL query phrasing, such as omitting quotation marks around text literals, mixing up UPDATE SET syntax with INSERT INTO VALUES, or omitting the WHERE clause in DELETE commands.
Failing to evaluate both sides in 6-mark QWC questions (e.g. discussing only the benefits of cloud storage or star topology without analysing security drawbacks or vulnerabilities).
Incomplete normalisation representations, particularly omitting primary/foreign key underlines/italics or creating invalid intermediate tables in 2NF.

Misconceptions

Believing that parity bits can detect all transmission errors, neglecting to explain that an even number of transposed/flipped bits leaves the parity unchanged and goes undetected.
Confusing the role of a Knowledge Engineer with a Software Programmer or Domain Expert (Medical Consultant).
Confusing the OSI Application layer set (Layers 5-7) with end-user software applications rather than network protocols and user interfacing services.

Where marks are lost

Loss of QWC marks due to lack of technical vocabulary, unstructured formatting, or unbalanced arguments in 6-mark evaluation prompts.
Precision loss in CSMA/CD protocol steps (carrier sensing, wait periods, collision detection, and exponential backoff timers).
ER diagram relationship notation errors (e.g. leaving many-to-many relationships unresolved without introducing an intermediate link entity).

Estimated grade cut-off

Updated: 31 Aug 2026

Source: CCEA

Level	Mark	Percentage
A*	—	90%
A	—	80%
B	—	70%
C	—	60%
D	—	50%
E	—	40%

Official grade boundaries published by CCEA.

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