GCSERevise
AQASpec 3.7Foundation & Higher~35 min

Databases and SQL

Computer Science · Topic revision workspace

Topic progress0%

Read the notes, score 80% and know 75% of the cards.

Topic overview

What you need to know

Relational databases organise structured data into linked tables. Revise records, fields, keys, validation and SQL selection, filtering and ordering.

Exam tip

Read the required output columns, table and condition separately before writing the SQL statement.

Revision notes

Core ideas

Secure these ideas first. Say each definition in your own words, then connect it to the topic overview.

  • Database: An organised collection of data designed for efficient access and update.
  • Record: A complete set of fields describing one entity in a table.
  • Primary key: A field or combination of fields that uniquely identifies each record.

Revision notes

Apply it in the exam

The exam will rarely ask for an isolated definition. Practise selecting the right idea and using it as part of a complete explanation or method.

  • Foreign key: A field that references a primary key in another table.
  • SQL: A language used to query and modify relational databases.
  • SELECT query: An SQL statement that chooses fields and records to return from a database.

Core knowledge

Key facts for Databases and SQL

1

Database

An organised collection of data designed for efficient access and update.

2

Record

A complete set of fields describing one entity in a table.

3

Primary key

A field or combination of fields that uniquely identifies each record.

4

Foreign key

A field that references a primary key in another table.

5

SQL

A language used to query and modify relational databases.

6

SELECT query

An SQL statement that chooses fields and records to return from a database.

Active recall

Close the notes and answer these

  1. 1.Without looking, explain database and give one example or consequence.
  2. 2.Without looking, explain record and give one example or consequence.
  3. 3.Without looking, explain primary key and give one example or consequence.
  4. 4.Without looking, explain foreign key and give one example or consequence.

Content reviewed 23 July 2026 against the current linked specification.

Finished learning?

Mark the notes complete, then test what you can recall.

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