SQL statement structure

Code pattern

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Definition

SELECT fields FROM table WHERE criteria GROUP BY field ORDER BY field ASC or DESC; keyword AS renames a field for display.

Example

SELECT Name FROM Games WHERE Cost > 20 ORDER BY Name ASC

Found in: course specifications, 2025 HSC marking guidelines, sample exam and familiarisation guidelines, school notes, past SDD papers.

Where you'll use it in the test

Syllabus area: Code patterns.

Question types it can appear in

SQL: Write a query (2025 Q21)
Code reading: Code or algorithm reading: interpret a fragment and state its output or purpose.
Multi-select: Familiarisation Q2

Where it has appeared in the paper

Programming for the Web (Part A, B, C). Part letters follow each paper’s own layout.

How to use it

A model sentence

General advice, built from the definition and example above

Code pattern: “SELECT fields FROM table WHERE criteria GROUP BY field ORDER BY field ASC or DESC; keyword AS renames a field for display.” Then apply it: SELECT Name FROM Games WHERE Cost > 20 ORDER BY Name ASC

In a short answer, give the definition in your own words first, then tie it to the situation in the question. Do not copy the example above unless it fits the scenario.

Official worked answer

2025 HSC Q21 (4 marks): SQL queries (4 marks): official criteria and sample answer

Criteria

4: Correct SQL query that extracts 'Pending' and 'Escalated' jobs for the 'Software' and 'Hardware' categories, counts the jobs for each status in each category, and outputs results in descending order. 3: Addresses most requirements. 2: Some understanding of the problem. 1: Some understanding of SQL or the problem.

Sample answer

SELECT Category, Status, COUNT(JobID) AS Jobs FROM Issues WHERE (Status = 'Pending' OR Status = 'Escalated') GROUP BY Status, Category ORDER BY Jobs DESC

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Go deeper

Flashcard: SQL statement structure in Code Patterns: Pseudocode, Python, SQL, CSS (Years 11 and 12) · study that set
Memorise: SQL: HSC syntax and must-know queries
Full term page: every question, note and marking comment for SQL statement structure

Check yourself

Write or say the “SQL statement structure” pattern from memory: the syntax and what it does.

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