Edexcel GCSE Computer Science exam papers and weighting (1CP2)
Guide overview All 6 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
What each Edexcel GCSE Computer Science paper assesses
Pearson Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) is examined in two papers, each worth half the GCSE. Paper 1, Principles of Computer Science, is a 1 hour 30 minute written paper on computational thinking, data, computers, networks, and issues and impact, with one question on each and no calculator. Paper 2, Application of Computational Thinking, is a two-hour onscreen paper in which students design, write, test and refine programs in Python. There are no options: every student studies all six topics, and every one of them is here.
| Paper | Covers |
|---|---|
|
Paper 1 Principles of Computer Science |
COMPUTATIONAL THINKING DATA COMPUTERS NETWORKS ISSUES AND IMPACT |
|
Paper 2 Application of Computational Thinking |
PROBLEM SOLVING WITH PROGRAMMING |
Every topic, and where it is examined
| Topic | Examined on | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Computational Thinking | Paper 1 | 107 |
| Data | Paper 1 | 128 |
| Computers | Paper 1 | 95 |
| Networks | Paper 1 | 92 |
| Issues and Impact | Paper 1 | 88 |
| Problem Solving with Programming | Paper 2 | 170 |
Assessment details from the Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Computer Science, specification 1CP2, Issue 1, January 2020, with the Programming Language Subset, version 6. Pearson Edexcel specification.
Edexcel GCSE Computer Science Active Recall Guide
680 questions across every paper on the specification.