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Introducing new Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Computer Science and Information
and Communication Technology qualifications
Available for first teaching in September 2017
Luka Hunter (International Academic Portfolio Manager, Pearson)
We have recently launched a new suite of Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) qualifications for
first teaching in September 2017.
This video is to give you more information about the new Computer Science and Information
and Communication (or ICT) qualifications.
Before we go into detail about the new Computer Science and ICT specifications, I wanted to
give you some information that will affect the whole of our International GCSE suite.
The first key feature is that the new qualifications will have the new 9-1 grading scale, which
provides greater differentiation across the full range of students.
The second key feature is that the new International GCSEs include more international content,
making them more appropriate for international students.
The third key feature is that the new International GCSEs continue to provide successful progression
to further education and higher education. We've worked with higher education representatives
and level 3 teachers from across the world to make sure that the new international GCSEs
enable progression onto further education and higher education and ultimately into employment.
And we've also worked with internal and external subject experts to ensure that the new International
GCSEs remain fully comparable to the new GCSEs.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT Subject Advisor, Pearson)
So you might be asking yourself, why choose Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Computer
Science and ICT qualifications?
One of the key things to highlight is that we've listened to feedback from all parts
of the international school community; including a large number of teachers. As a result, we've
made changes that will engage students and give them the skills to support progression
to further study of Computer Science and ICT and a wide range of other subjects.
They're also clearly of an equivalent standard to Pearson's regulated Edexcel GCSE qualifications,
which is important for recognition internationally and in the UK.
They also provide teachers with the choice of offering Computer Science and / or ICT
qualifications, offering you the flexibility to select a specification that best meets
the needs of your learners.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT Subject Advisor, Pearson)
So why choose the Computer Science qualification?
This qualification provides students with the opportunity to develop computational thinking
skills, so that they can operate confidently in the digital world.
Students learn how to apply these computational thinking skills in context, in both written
and practical examinations.
During this qualification students will have the opportunity to design, implement and test
programme solutions to real world scenarios and these skills will help them progress onto
further education or into the world of programming.
Taking a closer look at the Computer Science specification, you will see that Paper 1 is
focused on the Principles of Computer Science and Paper 2 is focused on the Application
of Computational Thinking. Both Papers are externally assessed and are worth 50% of the
total marks.
Paper 2 is a really interesting way of assessing in a practical way all of the topics covered
in paper 1. It gives students the opportunity to construct truth tables, produce logic statements
and read and interpret pseudo code - all in a real-world context to solve problems right
there in the paper.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT Subject Advisor, Pearson)
Moving onto the Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) in ICT. This qualification affords learners
the opportunity to develop into confident and competent ICT users. These are the skills
that are absolutely essential to develop into higher or further education, as well as into
the workplace.
It is designed to be a practical qualification, where students will learn about the devices
as well as the applications and get to develop their skills in both the hardware and the
software aspects of ICT and how it's relevant to today's world.
Taking a look at the ICT specification you can see that paper 1 is a 1 hour, 30 minute
paper focused on topics 1 to 4 in the subject content.
Paper 2 is 3 hours, also 50% of the total marks. We're focusing here on topics 5 and
6, which are the application of the knowledge.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT Subject Advisor, Pearson)
We wanted to talk to you about the assessment opportunities for both the Edexcel International
GCSE (9-1) Computer Science and ICT specifications.
Both the Computer Science and ICT qualification have their first assessment opportunity in
May / June 2019.
Tim Brady (Edexcel Computer Science and ICT Subject Advisor, Pearson) interview
Question 1: What are the key differences between Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Computer
Science and ICT qualifications? Computer Science and ICT are distinct and complementary subjects.
The differences you could summarise as being in the ICT qualification, student develop
skills to become competent and confident users of the tools that are already out there and
in existence and these are really important skills. In Computer Science, you are trying
to get the students to consider building their own tools.
Question 2: Will I require specialist equipment or software in order to deliver Edexcel International
GCSE (9-1) in Computer Science and ICT? In order to successfully deliver the Edexcel
International GCSE (9-1) Computer Science specification, you won't need any special
equipment or software. Access to a computer system and an IDE that supports one of the
three languages will be perfectly adequate.
Chris Boor (Commissioning Editor, Global Schools, Pearson)
We've developed a new suite of teacher and learner resources designed specifically to
support Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) ICT qualification.
These resources include textbooks and digital support, and they've gone through a rigorous
development and review process and have been endorsed by Edexcel.
They include: a rich set of activities in every chapter
to support student progression; transferable skills, embedded throughout the
resources, and signposted explicitly, which supports their development;
and exam practice tests and exam style questions, to prepare students for the assessments.
Luka Hunter (International Academic Portfolio Manager, Pearson)
We also wanted to take this opportunity to highlight that the new Computer Science and
ICT qualifications are supported by a wider range of teaching and learning materials,
resources and training.
Support includes schemes of work, exemplar materials, ExamWizard, comprehensive textbooks,
interactive resources and Getting Ready to Teach events.
It also features detailed exam analysis with ResultsPlus: a service unique to Pearson that
provides free online in-depth mock and actual exam performance analysis, supporting teachers
to plan improvements in teaching and learning, driving attainment.
To find out more, please visit qualifications.pearson.com/edexcel-internationalgcse and download our Computer Science and ICT subject guide.
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