SQL: INSERT INTO — AQA GCSE CS (8525)

Spec & Goals 3 min

AQA Spec 3.7.2 — Inserting data with INSERT INTO … VALUES

By the end of this lesson you can:

Use INSERT INTO … VALUES to add a new record.
Match values to the correct fields, quoting text and dates.
Spot and fix common INSERT errors.

Warm-Up 5 min

So far every query read data. SQL can also add data. A new student joins — how do we put their record into the table?

Quick starter

To add a row, what two things must you give the database — and in what order?

Reveal the idea

The fields and the matching values, in the same order: INSERT INTO Student (…fields…) VALUES (…values…);

Key Concept — adding a record 14 min

INSERT INTO tableName (field1, field2, field3)
VALUES (value1, value2, value3);

List the fields you are filling, then the values in the same order.
Text and dates go in single quotes ('Lina'); numbers do not (107).
The number of values must match the number of fields.
The primary key value must be unique and not already used.

Before

StudentID	Name	Form	Town	Mark
105	Mei Ling	11C	Penang	88
106	Hafiz	10B	Kuala Lumpur	72

Insert a new student

INSERT INTO Student (StudentID, Name, Form, Town, Mark)
VALUES (107, 'Lina', '10A', 'Melaka', 83);

After

StudentID	Name	Form	Town	Mark
105	Mei Ling	11C	Penang	88
106	Hafiz	10B	Kuala Lumpur	72
107	Lina	10A	Melaka	83

Key point: values must line up with fields in the same order, with the correct quoting. A new primary key (here 107) must be unique.

Exam tip: AQA assesses SELECT … FROM … WHERE … ORDER BY and INSERT INTO … VALUES. UPDATE and DELETE are not in the 8525 spec.

Beyond the spec (not examined): real databases also use UPDATE to change records and DELETE to remove them. These are useful to know but are not assessed in AQA 8525.

Worked Example — write and debug 12 min

Part 1 — write it: add product 12, "Teh Tarik", RM 2.50, category "Drinks" to Product(ProductID, ItemName, Price, Category).

INSERT INTO Product (ProductID, ItemName, Price, Category)
VALUES (12, 'Teh Tarik', 2.50, 'Drinks');

Part 2 — find the errors in this attempt:

INSERT INTO Product (ProductID, ItemName, Price)
VALUES (13, Roti Canai, '1.20', 'Food');

Three fields are listed but four values are given — counts don't match.
Roti Canai is text but has no quotes.
'1.20' is a number wrongly written in quotes.

Corrected:

INSERT INTO Product (ProductID, ItemName, Price, Category)
VALUES (13, 'Roti Canai', 1.20, 'Food');

Try It Yourself 12 min

🟢 Easy

Goal: Write an INSERT to add student 108, "Arif", form "10B", town "Ipoh", mark 69.

🟡 Medium

Goal: Explain why VALUES (108, Arif, 10B, Ipoh, 69) would fail.

Hint: which values are text?

🔴 Stretch

Goal: A new INSERT reuses StudentID 103. Explain why this should be rejected.

📝 Exam Practice 10 min

Write a program[3 marks]

Write an SQL statement to add a new student to the Student table: ID 109, name Suresh, form 11C, town Penang, mark 76.

Mark scheme

INSERT INTO Student (StudentID, Name, Form, Town, Mark) (1).
VALUES (109, 'Suresh', '11C', 'Penang', 76); — correct values in order (1).
Text values quoted, numbers unquoted (1).

Identify[2 marks]

Identify two errors in: INSERT INTO Student (StudentID, Name) VALUES ('110', Tan, '10A');

Mark scheme

Two fields listed but three values given (1).
'110' is a number but quoted / Tan is text but not quoted (any one) (1).

Explain[1 mark]

Explain why an INSERT using an existing primary-key value should be rejected.

Mark scheme

The primary key must be unique; a duplicate would break that / records could not be told apart (1).

Recap & Key Terms 3 min

INSERT INTO table (fields) VALUES (values); adds a record. Values must match the fields in number and order; quote text and dates, not numbers; the primary key must be unique. AQA assesses SELECT/WHERE/ORDER BY and INSERT only.

INSERT INTO: The SQL command that adds a new record to a table.
VALUES: The list of data, in field order, for the new record.
Quoting rule: Text and dates go in single quotes; numbers do not.

Homework 1 min

Task (≤ 15 min): A library adds a new member: MemberID 220, name "Devi", town "Ipoh", joined '2026-06-05'. Write the INSERT, then list two rules your statement obeys.

Model answer

INSERT INTO Member (MemberID, Name, Town, JoinDate)
VALUES (220, 'Devi', 'Ipoh', '2026-06-05');

Rules obeyed: text and the date are in single quotes, the number is not; the number of values matches the fields and is in the same order; MemberID 220 is unique.

Award marks for: correct INSERT structure (1); correct quoting (1); two valid rules stated (1).