This qualification is linear, meaning that pupils will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course.

Subject content

1. Fundamentals of algorithms
2. Programming
• Fundamentals of data representation
• Computer systems
• Fundamentals of computer networks
• Fundamentals of cyber security
• Ethical, legal and environmental impacts of digital technology on wider society, including issues of privacy
• Aspects of software development
• Non-exam assessment

Assessed by two papers

Paper 1: Computational thinking and problem solving

What’s assessed
Computational thinking, problem solving, code tracing and applied computing as well as theoretical knowledge of computer science from Subject content 1–4 above.

How it’s assessed
• Written exam set in practically based scenarios:
1 hour 30 minutes
• 80 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Made up of a mix of multiple choice, short-answer and longer-answer questions assessing a pupil’s practical problem solving and computational thinking skills.

Paper 2: Written Assessment

What’s assessed
Theoretical knowledge from Subject content 3–7 left.

How it’s assessed
• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 80 marks
• 50% of GCSE

This includes again a mix of multiple choice, short-answer, longer-answer and extended response questions assessing a pupil’s theoretical knowledge.

Non Examined Assessment

The non-exam assessment (NEA) assesses a pupil’s ability to use the knowledge and skills gained through the course to solve a practical programming problem. Pupils will be expected to follow a systematic approach to problem solving, consistent with the skills described in Section 8 of the Subject content above left.

How it’s assessed
• Report: detailing 20 hours of NEA work

Tasks
The development of a computer program along with the computer programming code itself which has been designed, written and tested by a pupil to solve a problem. Pupils will produce an original report outlining this development.