Computing Science · National 5
National 5 Computing Science splits into computer systems and software design & development. You learn how computers represent and move data, how processors and networks fit together, and how to design, build and test programs, web pages and databases.
What it offers you
Computing Science builds the logical and technical thinking behind software, data and networks — a direct route into computing, cyber security, software engineering and data science study and careers.
What National 5 actually asks of you
Question paper
One paper that covers computer systems (data representation, computer structure, networking, security) and software design & development (programs, data structures, standard algorithms, web and databases). Short-answer questions plus problem-solving tasks you answer in code, SQL and markup.
Assignment — you analyse, design, implement, test and evaluate a digital solution in class, then write it up in a short report.
Exact timings and mark allocations are printed on the front cover of each paper below.
Topics that come up
Papers & marking schemes
SQA publishes the most recent five years of papers. Older papers and specimen papers live on their site — open Computing Science National 5 on sqa.org.uk.