What is it
SQL (Structured Query Language) is the language used to retrieve, add, update and delete data in a relational database — the actual commands that ask a database questions like 'show me all students in Year 10.'
Why it matters
SQL is one of the most widely used languages in the working world, powering everything from banking systems to the app on your phone. It's also refreshingly logical — the exam-tested commands map directly to plain English questions.
Exam tip
Memorise the exact syntax for SELECT, FROM and WHERE — this is the core pattern tested in nearly every SQL question, and marks are lost on small syntax errors more than on logic.
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