OCR GCSE Computer Science guide FAQ (J277)
Guide overview All 11 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
OCR GCSE Computer Science: questions and answers
Specification J277. Two sets, because students and parents ask different things.
For students
Which topics are on which paper?
J277/01 is Systems Architecture, Memory and Storage, Computer Networks, Network Security, Systems Software, and the Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impacts of Digital Technology.
J277/02 is Algorithms, Programming Fundamentals, Producing Robust Programs, Boolean Logic, and Programming Languages and IDEs. The breakdown is here.
Which programming language do I need?
Neither paper requires a specific language. OCR uses its own Exam Reference Language on the written papers, and you can answer in that, in pseudocode or in a high level language. The guide asks what constructs do and what algorithms produce rather than the syntax of any one language.
Is the programming project examined?
No. The programming project is a practical activity your school runs, and it does not count towards the grade on J277. Both papers are written.
Are the binary and hex conversions covered?
Yes. Denary, binary and hexadecimal conversions, binary addition and shifts, overflow, character sets, images and sound, units of storage and compression, all inside Memory and Storage which is 143 questions.
How long does one session take?
About twenty minutes for one subtopic, all three steps. Topics here run from 32 to 143 questions.
Can I do it in my head instead of writing?
Write. Computer Science mark schemes want specific terms, and the conversions and trace tables have to be worked on paper anyway. The method page sets out the evidence.
When should I start?
Any point in Year 10 or Year 11. Both papers are sat at the end of Year 11 and cover the whole course.
Do I still need past papers?
Yes. This guide handles recall. Past papers train writing algorithms to a problem under time and the extended answers. OCR publishes them free.
For parents
What is this, in plain terms?
A PDF of 740 exam-style questions covering the whole of OCR GCSE Computer Science, with the answers printed after each topic. It is not a coding course.
How do I check it is the right course?
The specification code is on the exam timetable. OCR GCSE Computer Science is J277.
Does my child need to be good at a particular language?
Not for the exams. Both papers are written and OCR uses its own Exam Reference Language. A specific language matters for classwork rather than for the grade.
How do I know if it is being used properly?
There should be handwritten answers on paper and three passes over the same questions, and two scores per session to compare.
How much is it compared with a textbook?
£7.00 for the whole specification. A GCSE Computer Science revision guide is usually £6 to £10.
How much time does it take?
46 subtopics at roughly twenty minutes each is about 15 hours for a full first pass of the course.
What else does my child need?
Past papers, free from OCR, and their own notes for anything not yet taught.
OCR GCSE Computer Science Active Recall Guide
740 questions with their answers, 46 subtopics, one file.