Free WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500) Exam Questions and Answers
WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500) is WJEC's GCSE Computer Science qualification, specification 3500, taken in Wales. The questions here come from WJEC's published question papers from June 2019 to June 2025, plus its specimen papers, with answers and marking guidance taken from WJEC's own mark schemes. Written-answer questions let you work out your answer and then reveal what the mark scheme accepts; diagrams, graphs and source material appear with the questions that use them.
Looking for WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500) exam dumps or ExamTopics questions? These practice questions cover the same ground with verified answers and explanations, a downloadable PDF and a full practice test, kept current as WJEC updates the exam.
Last updated: October 15, 2026
- Provider
- WJEC
- Questions in our bank
- 1000+
- Free to read
- First 10, with answers
- Our test mode duration & pass mark
- 130 mins · 70%
- Verified answers
- Reviewed weekly
- Practice format
- Written answers
Recommended: Switch to Test Mode to start a practice test that simulates the real exam experience.
Question #1
The diagram shows the routing cost between each node for data transmitted on a certain network. Complete the table, indicating the lowest cost routes from node D to each destination. One of the rows has been completed for you.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: Destination A: lowest cost 6, route D > C > A. Destination B: lowest cost 7, route D > C > A > B.
Explanation
Four marks: one mark for each correct cell (cost and route for A, cost and route for B).
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #2
The computer systems used at a school are starting to run slowly. The school is considering replacing their computers with one of the following: Compare the CPU performance of the two computers in terms of cache size, clock speed and number of cores. Cache size: Clock speed: Number of cores:
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: Cache size: CPU 2 has more cache, so more repeatedly used data/instructions can be stored, which increases performance. Clock speed: CPU 1 has the faster clock speed, so it runs the fetch-decode-execute cycle faster and processes more instructions, but needs more power and heat dissipation and costs more to run. Number of cores: CPU 2 has more cores (4 against 2 for CPU 1), so in theory it can process twice as many instructions at once, but performance may be no better if one core waits on the result of another.
Explanation
One mark per valid point, up to 6. Cache: CPU 2 has more cache (1); more data/instructions stored gives better performance (1). Clock speed: CPU 1 is faster (1); runs the fetch-decode-execute cycle faster (1); processes more instructions (1); needs more power, more heat and higher running cost (1). Cores: CPU 2 has more cores (1); in theory 4 instructions at once against 2, i.e. twice as many (1); cores waiting on each other may mean CPU 2 is no better than CPU 1 (1).
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #3
The computer systems used at a school are starting to run slowly. The school is considering replacing their computers with one of the following: Compare the secondary storage devices used in the two computers.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: Compare the storage devices on capacity, speed of access, durability, portability and cost. For example, an HDD has greater capacity and is cheaper per unit of storage than an SSD, but an SSD is faster and more durable (no moving parts, shock resistant, uses less power, quieter). Optical media (DVD/Blu-ray) are portable and durable, but have lower capacity and are slower than HDD or SSD. Blu-ray has greater capacity than DVD and is more durable.
Explanation
One mark per valid point, up to 6. Comparison points are capped at 3 per pairing (HDD v SSD, DVD/RW v Blu-ray, magnetic v optical, SSD v optical). Description points are capped at 3 per device type (HDD, SSD, optical). HDD v SSD: HDD has greater capacity; SSD is faster; SSD is more durable; neither is portable here; HDD is cheaper per unit of storage. DVD/RW v Blu-ray: Blu-ray has greater capacity; Blu-ray is more durable; both are portable; speed cannot be judged from the example. Magnetic v optical: HDD has greater capacity; HDD is faster; optical is more durable; neither is portable. SSD v optical: SSD has greater capacity; SSD is faster; optical is more durable. HDD description: magnetic platters; read/write head on an arm; spinning disk measured in RPM (e.g. 7200); good compromise of capacity, speed and cost; slower than SSD; fragmentation slows access. SSD description: NAND flash with no moving parts; shock resistant; faster boot; no defragmentation needed; lower power, heat and noise; lighter and smaller. Optical description: lasers read pits and lands in a spiral; DVD has two layers; Blu-ray pits and lands are closer together, so a shorter (blue) wavelength is used.
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #4
State the logical operator that has been used to produce the output in the following truth table.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: XOR (A ⊕ B)
Explanation
One mark for XOR.
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #5
Tick (✓) the correct boxes below to show the Boolean expression that represents the function described by each truth table.
Correct answer: C
Explanation
One mark for C = A.NOT B.
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #6
Tick (✓) the correct boxes below to show the Boolean expression that represents the function described by each truth table.
Correct answer: B
Explanation
One mark for C = NOT (A + B).
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #7
Protocols provide an agreed set of rules to allow networked devices to communicate. Tick (✓) the boxes to match the protocol with the correct description.
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: TCP: the protocol that allows packets to be sent and received between computer systems. IMAP: stores email messages on a mail server. SMTP: delivers email from the sender to an email server.
Explanation
One mark for each correct match.
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #8
Describe the network layer and physical layer in the TCP/IP 5-layer model for data transmission: Network layer:
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: The network layer is responsible for addressing and routing data. Routers use logical addresses to direct data from the sender to the receiver, and determine the path the data takes based on network conditions. They manage traffic to minimise congestion.
Explanation
One mark per valid point, up to 2: addressing and routing of data; routers use logical addresses to direct data from sender to receiver; a router determines the path based on network conditions; routers manage traffic problems such as congestion.
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #9
Describe the network layer and physical layer in the TCP/IP 5-layer model for data transmission: Physical layer:
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: The physical layer transmits the raw data (not packets). It consists of hardware such as switches and routers. It deals with setting up and maintaining a link between the communicating computers.
Explanation
One mark per valid point, up to 2: transmits the raw data (not packets); consists of hardware such as switches and routers; sets up and maintains a link between the communicating computers.
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Question #10
Identify one protocol from question 4(a) used in each of the following layers in the TCP/IP 5-layer model for data transmission. Application Layer:
Type your answer, then reveal.
Correct answer: SMTP or IMAP
Explanation
One mark for SMTP or IMAP.
Continue with WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500)
Unlock the full question bank
You have read the first 10 questions. A subscription opens every question in WJEC GCSE Computer Science (3500), the full timed practice test, and your progress and weak-topic reporting.
Single exam
$19.99for 30 days
Full question bank and practice test for one exam, for 30 days.
Single exam
$49.99for 1 year
One exam for a full year. Nothing renews and nothing to cancel.
Full access
$39.99/mo
Every exam in the catalogue, month to month.
Full access
$199.99/yr
Every exam in the catalogue for a year.
Already subscribed? Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Discussion
Explain your reasoning, not just the letterOther WJEC certifications
- WJEC GCSE Mathematics (3300) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE Combined Science (3430) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE Biology (3400) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE Chemistry (3410) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE French (3800) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE German (3820) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE History (3100) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE Business (3510) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE Geography (3110) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE Physics (3420) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE Design and Technology (3601) (opens in a new tab)
- WJEC GCSE English Literature (3720) (opens in a new tab)
Reviews
Write a review★★★★★
Exam Practice is worth every penny. The mock exams are realistic, and the feedback helped me focus on key areas.
Amit SharmaVerified buyer
★★★★★
I highly recommend Exam Practice. The feedback after each test helped me improve significantly, and I passed my exams easily.
Oscar NyströmVerified buyer
★★★★★
This platform is a lifesaver. The practice questions and explanations are so detailed. It’s the best study tool I’ve ever used.
Hannah SmithVerified buyer