Assessment - GCSE Computers
Assessment requirements
The Pearson Edexcel International GCSE in Computer Science consists of two externally-assessed papers. Both papers must be taken in the same examination series.
Overview of Assessment Structure
| Paper number and unit title | Level | Assessment information | Number of raw marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Principles of Computer Science | 1/2 | Assessed through a 2-hour written examination set and marked by Pearson. The paper is weighted at 50% of the qualification. The paper consists of multiple-choice, short open-response, open-response and extended open-response answer questions. | 80 |
| Paper 2: Application of Computational Thinking | 1/2 | Assessed through a 3-hour practical examination set and marked by Pearson. The paper is weighted at 50% of the qualification. | 80 |
Assessment objectives and weightings
Assessment Objectives (AO)
| Objective | Description | % in International GCSE |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key principles of computer science | 27.5% |
| AO2 | Apply knowledge and understanding of key concepts and principles of computer science | 42.5% |
| AO3 | Analyse problems in computational terms: • to make reasoned judgements • to design, program, test, evaluate and refine solutions | 30.0% |
| Total | Overall qualification weighting | 100% |
Relationship of assessment objectives to units
| Unit number | AO1 | AO2 | AO3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Principles of Computer Science | 21.5% | 21% | 7.5% |
| Paper 2: Application of Computational Thinking | 6% | 21.5% | 22.5% |
| Total for International GCSE | 27.5% | 42.5% | 30% |