Why bother getting a GCSE in Computer Science?

So … you want to learn computer science and you think a GCSE in computer science is a good place to start your CS education. Firstly – yes! Taking any qualification in computer science is a very good idea (taking nearly any exam and qualification is a good idea) because it tests understanding against a standard that people accept as being good. Having a GCSE, and only a GCSE, in computer science will give you a good fundamental understanding of computers: what they are made off (components), what they work with (networks), what they work out (calculations, processing). Let’s dig in to how to get a GCSE in computer science.

1. Why bother getting a GCSE in Computer Science?
2. Computer Science Exam Boards
   1. AQA Computer Science
      1. Paper 1: Computational thinking and programming skills
      2. Paper 2: Computing Concepts
   2. Edexcel
      1. Paper 1: Principles of Computer Science
      2. Paper 2: Application of Computational Thinking
   3. Eduqas
      1. Component 1: Understanding Computer Science
      2. Component 2: Computer Programming
   4. OCR
      1. Paper 1: Computer Systems
      2. Paper 2: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming

Computer Science Exam Boards

When taking a GCSE you need to pick an exam board who put the exam together and all the teaching materials needed to study for and sit the exam. There are four exam boards in the UK: 1) AQA, 2) Edexcel, 3) Eduqas, and 4) OCR. All four will cover the same topics so regardless of the board the qualification is the same and students will have the confidence in the qualification and be able to move onto a higher exam like an Advanced (A) Level.

AQA Computer Science

Spec: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/computing/specifications/AQA-8525-SP-2020.PDF

2 written papers

Paper 1: Computational thinking and programming skills

• Written exam: 2 hours
• 90 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Paper 2: Computing Concepts

• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 90 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Edexcel

Spec: https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Computer%20Science/2020/specification-and-sample-assessments/GCSE_L1_L2_Computer_Science_2020_Specification.pdf

Written + Onscreen

Paper 1: Principles of Computer Science

• Written examination: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• 50% of the qualification
• 75 marks

Paper 2: Application of Computational Thinking

• Onscreen examination: 2 hours
• 50% of the qualification
• 75 marks

Eduqas

Spec https://wjecwebsitelive.blob.core.windows.net/media/tf3bvmxe/eduqas-gcse-computer-science-specification-10-02-2020.pdf?sv=2019-07-07&sr=b&sig=q5WOCTwv2y6nmGT4EB04jYC9%2BOIBfihGVNsOk1KxqMk%3D&se=2024-06-12T22%3A21%3A01Z&sp=r

Written + Onscreen

Component 1: Understanding Computer Science

• Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 100 marks
• 50% of the qualification

Component 2: Computer Programming

• On-screen examination: 2 hours
• 80 marks
• 50% of the qualification

OCR

Paper 1: Computer Systems

• Written examination: 1 hr 30 mins
• Marks 80
• 50% of the qualification

Paper 2: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming

• Written examination: 1 hr 30 mins
• Marks 80
• 50% of the qualification

As you can see the exams are very similar with a paper on how a computer physically works and a paper on how a computer digitally works – how it solves problems through programming.

For this run through of the GCSE I’m going to use the OCR as we can see how both parts are worked through (and it just happens to be the exam board that my children will be taking).

Here are is my break down of the specific details for the OCR Computer Science Syllabus and here is the official OCR Computer Science page that will be kept up-to-date (my information will date over time but the way computers work thankfully will not).