Edexcel GCSE Computer Science Tutors Online

Edexcel GCSE Computer Science is code 1CP2, with a qualification number of 601/8058/4, written for first teaching from September 2020 and first certification in 2022. It has two externally examined papers covering six topics, and it is not tiered, so every student sits the same two papers.

The two papers are equal in marks and unequal in everything else. Paper 1, Principles of Computer Science, is coded 1CP2/01, is a written examination of 1 hour and 30 minutes, and carries 75 marks for 50% of the qualification. Paper 2, Application of Computational Thinking, is coded 1CP2/02, is an onscreen examination of 2 hours, and also carries 75 marks for 50%. So the programming paper gets half an hour more to earn the same number of marks, because the work is done at a keyboard rather than written out.

The question counts are fixed. Paper 1 consists of five compulsory questions, each one focused on one of Topics 1 to 5: computational thinking, data, computers, networks, and issues and impact. Paper 2 consists of six compulsory questions on Topic 6, problem solving with programming. In both papers students must answer all questions, and Paper 1 mixes multiple choice, short, medium and extended open response, tabular and diagrammatic items.

Paper 2 is a genuinely practical examination. Students design, write, test and refine programs on screen in their own Integrated Development Environment, using Python 3. They are given coding files, a hard copy of the question paper, and the Programming Language Subset as an insert and in electronic form. Students must not have access to the internet. Because schools choose the IDE, a student practises in the environment they will actually sit the exam in, which is worth more than it sounds.

The objective table has a zero in it, twice. AO1 is demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and principles of computer science, AO2 is applying that knowledge, and AO3 is analysing problems in computational terms to make reasoned judgements and to design, program, evaluate and refine solutions. Overall the split is 30, 40 and 30. On Paper 1 it is 30, 20 and zero; on Paper 2 it is zero, 20 and 30. So no knowledge marks can be earned on the programming paper and no programming marks can be earned on the written paper, and the two papers cannot cover for each other.

Practical work is confirmed rather than assessed. The centre must complete a Practical Programming Statement confirming that reasonable steps were taken to ensure each student had the opportunity to demonstrate programming skills in Python during the course. It is completed by a member of the senior leadership team, made available by 31 January in the year of the examination, and must be submitted by 31 May.