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WACE · WACE Year 12 ATAR · official past papers

WACE Computer Science past exams 2021–2025, by year and topic

The official SCSA exams, marking guides and examiner reports we index, organised by topic and subtopic and labelled with the study design it was written under. Open the official paper, work the question in your own workspace, or bring a tutor into it live.

Index last synced 19 August 2026.

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ATARMAxxing indexes 15 official SCSA Computer Science papers from 2021 to 2025, with 50 questions mapped to 5 topics. Every paper opens on the SCSA website.

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Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026) · 2024–2026Previous Year 12 syllabus (examined to 2023) · 2021–2023

WACE Computer Science exams by year: official papers & marking guidance

Past exams indexed: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021. Open the official SCSA papers, with marking guidance where available.

Year	Study design	Official paper(s)	Marking guidance
2025 WACE Computer Science exam	Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)	Written examination ↗ · Ratified marking key ↗ · Source booklet ↗	Marking guidance ↗
2024 WACE Computer Science exam	Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)	Written examination ↗ · Ratified marking key ↗ · Source booklet ↗	Marking guidance ↗
2023 WACE Computer Science exam	Previous Year 12 syllabus (examined to 2023)	Written examination ↗ · Ratified marking key ↗ · Source booklet ↗	Marking guidance ↗
2022 WACE Computer Science exam	Previous Year 12 syllabus (examined to 2023)	Written examination ↗ · Ratified marking key ↗ · Source booklet ↗	Marking guidance ↗
2021 WACE Computer Science exam	Previous Year 12 syllabus (examined to 2023)	Written examination ↗ · Ratified marking key ↗ · Source booklet ↗	Marking guidance ↗

15 official papers across 5 years (2021–2025), 5 with marking guidance, published by WACE. These span more than one study design; the most recent is Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026). Earlier papers may cover material that has since changed.

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Programming (Unit 3) · 18 mapped questions

Control structures, data types, operators and Boolean logic

2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q12 marksStates the output of a short Python counting function with a for loop.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q54 marksWrites a pseudocode function returning a discount from a membership level using selection.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q126 marksWrites a Python step-counting function for a described odd/even iteration until the number reaches 1.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q143 marksSelects three logically equivalent Boolean expressions from five.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Arrays (1D/2D) and dictionaries

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2317 marksWrites Python functions that build a dictionary of coordinates from a 2D grid and compare two grids to report missing items as a nested list.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2420 marksWrites Python functions computing output from a 2D array of worker speed and error rate and choosing the optimal five workers, then argues for symmetric over asymmetric encryption and for developing the blue team.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q185 marksWrites a Python function counting absences in a 5 x 6 Boolean attendance array.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q2110 marksCompletes Python to look up a book title in a nested dictionary by ISBN and to validate ISBN format.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2616 marksWrites a Python greedy strategy maximising apples picked under a time limit, then calculates and explains the result of a least-first strategy.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Search and sort algorithms and Big O

2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q65 marksDescribes when insertion sort beats selection sort and explains why selection sort is generally slower.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2513 marksExplains Big O for a grid treasure-hunt algorithm and writes a pseudocode path-finding function returning moves.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Object-oriented programming

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q42 marksOutlines two characteristics of OOP that help large development projects.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q510 marksWrites a Python class for an RGB colour value, instantiates an object, then writes a pseudocode method that adds two objects' components with capping at 255.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q1311 marksWrites Python base and derived classes with inheritance, a display method and an instantiated object.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Development framework and good programming practice

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q114 marksDefines exception handling and gives two reasons to use it.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q176 marksChooses and justifies two good programming practices for a deadline-pressured multiplayer game.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Testing, error types, debugging and trace tables

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q14 marksDesk-checks a pseudocode post-test loop that accumulates daily water use until a threshold, completing the trace table for three inputs, then outlines how a pre-test loop differs.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q162 marksIdentifies the error type behind an infinite loop in a Python growth function and the fix.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Also in this topic: Functions, parameters, scope and parameter passing — question-level mapping in progress; the year table above links every official paper.

Ethics and law (Units 3 and 4) · 5 mapped questions

Impacts of software and developer responsibilities

2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q92 marksDescribes one way developers address inclusivity.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q103 marksExplains why developers are responsible for ergonomics.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Privacy Act 1988, APPs and Notifiable Data Breaches

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q104 marksDiscusses an ethical issue in training an AI loan-approval system on mined data.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q182 marksOutlines two responsibilities of a telecommunications company under the Notifiable Data Breaches legislation after a breach.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q193 marksExplains three APP5 requirements for a business collecting names and emails in exchange for free eBooks.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Network communications (Unit 3) · 8 mapped questions

OSI and DoD TCP/IP models and packet architecture

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q86 marksIdentifies the OSI layer of fibre-optic cable, explains that layer's role and describes the medium's role at it.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q123 marksCompares the OSI and DoD TCP/IP models.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Protocols, ports, DNS, gateways and IP versions

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q138 marksFor a message between two laptops on one network, names and describes the PDU at the transport and internet layers, describes a feature of ports, and identifies the addresses used at the network access layer.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q193 marksExplains the role of DNS in accessing web pages.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

IP addressing, subnetting and CIDR

2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2319 marksChooses an IP version, TCP vs UDP for tutors, explains why to subnet, routers in a subnetted LAN, and a wireless threat with mitigation.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Network components, Cisco diagrams and performance tools

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q93 marksExplains how traceroute helps diagnose slow access to an overseas cloud application.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2229 marksDraws a 20-mark Cisco-convention office network with named subnets, IP ranges, router interfaces and an internet connection from source requirements, then explains ping, analyses ping output with packet loss and gives two causes.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q204 marksIdentifies the role and DoD layer of a router and a switch.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Cyber security (Unit 4) · 8 mapped questions

Network threats

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q26 marksFor a high-traffic news website, outlines denial of service, cross-site scripting and man-in-the-middle threats with one mitigation for each.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q2010 marksDescribes solutions that mitigate zero day attacks in general and that minimise impact once an unpatched vulnerability is found.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q42 marksDescribes a zero day vulnerability.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2414 marksExternal threat to tutors' personal laptops and mitigation, APP11 actions after unauthorised viewing, symmetric vs asymmetric for bulk data, current encryption best practice, red vs blue team.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Security solutions, CIA triad, AAA and ethical hacking

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q143 marksExplains how VPNs protect against network threats.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q116 marksOutlines advantages and disadvantages of patients carrying encrypted records on USB drives to limit breaches.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Cryptography

2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q75 marksEncrypts and decrypts with a substitution cipher and explains its weakness.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q84 marksDescribes authenticating data across a network and a threat to that method.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Data management (Unit 4) · 11 mapped questions

Relational concepts, anomalies, ACID and ODBC

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q154 marksOutlines the role of each ACID property for concurrently updated hospital records.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q29 marksDistinguishes primary and foreign keys with an example, the effect of missing primary keys, and two factors influencing data integrity.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q156 marksDescribes the role of two ACID properties.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q166 marksDescribes insert and delete anomalies with examples from two school tables lacking referential integrity.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

ER diagrams, relational notation and data dictionaries

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q32 marksIdentifies two errors in a small crow's foot ER diagram for a shark-monitoring application.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q72 marksDescribes the purpose of a data dictionary as developer documentation.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2144 marksSource-booklet ticketing case: identifies an anomaly in a spreadsheet, describes normalising to 3NF, draws a 25-mark crow's foot ER diagram resolving M:N, writes a multi-table SQL query, completes a pseudocode class and names a database connectivity standard.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

Data integrity, data quality and normalisation

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q69 marksExplains referential, domain and entity integrity using faults visible in two small patient/allergy tables.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section Two Q2225 marksSource-booklet arts-institute case: explains 1NF and 2NF purposes, normalises tutor data to 3NF in relational notation, writes INSERT, COUNT with alias and AVG duration queries.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

SQL

2025Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q177 marksWrites SQL to total hours by job level with GROUP BY and an alias, and to count junior employees with marketing hours.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →
2024Year 12 syllabus for teaching from 2024 (current; minor changes for 2026, v4 effective 1 January 2026)Written examination Section One Q36 marksChooses data types for columns of a results table and writes an SQL average per student with GROUP BY.Official paper ↗Marking guidance ↗Check tutors for this question →

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