Computer Science

WJEC GCSE Computer Science is assessed by a written examination on computational thinking and computer systems, plus an on-screen or practical programming component depending on the specification version in use.

Content covers algorithms and standard search and sort routines, programming constructs and data structures, data representation including binary, hexadecimal and two's complement, logic gates and truth tables, CPU architecture and the fetch-execute cycle, memory and storage, networks and protocols, cyber security, databases, and the ethical, legal and environmental impact of technology.

The programming component rewards genuine fluency rather than memorised examples. Pupils who write code regularly — and who can hand-trace an algorithm on paper — perform markedly better in both parts of the assessment.