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AS & A Level · AS/A Level

Computer Science

Security and software quality

Name: ____________________Date: October 10, 2026
  1. 1.

    Distinguish authentication from authorisation using a school results portal.

    [3 marks] · no calculator
  2. 2.

    Explain why a password manager's generated unique passwords reduce the impact of a breach at one website.

    [3 marks] · no calculator
  3. 3.

    Explain how a parameterised SQL query prevents user input from becoming SQL syntax, and why escaping only apostrophes is a weaker design.

    [3 marks] · no calculator
  4. 4.

    Distinguish symmetric encryption from hashing, and explain why password verification normally needs a salted password hash rather than reversible encryption.

    [3 marks] · no calculator
  5. 5.

    A tested application encrypts traffic but logs full medical records and gives all staff administrator access. Evaluate the claim that encryption makes the system secure, proposing two targeted changes.

    [4 marks] · no calculator
  6. 6.

    A classifier is 95% accurate overall but performs poorly for a small demographic group. Evaluate deploying it for high-impact decisions, identifying evidence beyond aggregate accuracy and an operational safeguard.

    [4 marks] · no calculator

Original, unofficial practice questions from SubjectScout — not official past-paper questions.

Marking points are indicative, not an official mark scheme. Accept equivalent valid methods and supported interpretations that address the task; award each mark once without requiring the model wording.