Specification points
Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) Computer Science 4CP0
116 points in 6 topics, with Edexcel's codes and titles.
Grade boundaries·Edexcel command words
Codes and titles are read by a script from Edexcel's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: Edexcel’s specification.
1 Problem solving
- 1.1 Algorithms
- 1.1.1 What algorithms are and interpreting them
- 1.1.2 Creating algorithms with programming constructs
- 1.1.3 Purpose and working of a given algorithm
- 1.1.4 Determining the output of an algorithm
- 1.1.5 Finding and correcting errors in algorithms
- 1.1.6 Coding an algorithm in a high-level language
- 1.1.7 Choosing algorithms for data structures and values
- 1.1.8 Standard sorting and searching algorithms
- 1.1.9 Evaluating the fitness for purpose of algorithms
- 1.2 Decomposition and abstraction
- 1.2.1 Analysing problems and designing solutions
- 1.2.2 Decomposing problems into sub-problems
- 1.2.3 Abstraction to model the real world
- 1.2.4 Programming abstractions of real-world examples
2 Programming
- 2.1 Develop code
- 2.1.1 Writing programs in a high-level language
- 2.1.2 Program readability techniques
- 2.1.3 Types of program error
- 2.1.4 Test plans and test data
- 2.1.5 Interpreting error messages and fixing errors
- 2.1.6 Tracing variable values in a program
- 2.1.7 Strengths, weaknesses and improvements of a program
- 2.2 Constructs
- 2.2.1 Structural components of a program
- 2.2.2 Sequence, selection and iteration constructs
- 2.3 Data types and structures
- 2.3.1 Data types
- 2.3.2 Data structures: records and arrays
- 2.3.3 Manipulating strings
- 2.3.4 Variables and constants
- 2.3.5 Global and local variables
- 2.4 Input/output
- 2.4.1 Accepting and responding to user input
- 2.4.2 Validation
- 2.4.3 Reading from and writing to text files
- 2.5 Operators
- 2.5.1 Arithmetic operators
- 2.5.2 Relational operators
- 2.5.3 Logic operators
- 2.6 Subprograms
- 2.6.1 Benefits and use of subprograms
- 2.6.2 Passing data into and out of subprograms
- 2.6.3 Subprograms with parameters
3 Data
- 3.1 Binary
- 3.1.1 Binary representation of data and instructions
- 3.1.2 Representing unsigned and signed integers
- 3.1.3 Binary and denary conversion
- 3.1.4 Binary arithmetic, shifts and overflow
- 3.1.5 Hexadecimal notation
- 3.2 Data representation
- 3.2.1 Character encoding: ASCII and Unicode
- 3.2.2 Representing bitmap images
- 3.2.3 Representing sound
- 3.2.4 Limitations of binary representation
- 3.3 Data storage and compression
- 3.3.1 Binary and denary multiples of bytes
- 3.3.2 Data compression: lossless and lossy
- 3.3.3 Run-length encoding
- 3.3.4 File sizes in bytes
- 3.4 Encryption
- 3.4.1 The need for encryption
- 3.4.2 Encryption algorithms and ciphers
4 Computers
- 4.1 Machines and computational modelling
- 4.1.1 The input-process-output model
- 4.1.2 Computational models
- 4.2 Hardware
- 4.2.1 Hardware components of a computer system
- 4.2.2 Types of memory
- 4.2.3 Stored programs, CPU components and the fetch-decode-execute cycle
- 4.2.4 Factors affecting CPU performance
- 4.2.5 Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage
- 4.2.6 Cloud and contemporary secondary storage
- 4.2.7 Embedded systems
- 4.3 Logic
- 4.3.1 Truth tables
- 4.3.2 Producing logic statements for problems
- 4.4 Software
- 4.4.1 Operating systems
- 4.4.2 Utility software
- 4.4.3 Simulating and modelling the real world
- 4.4.4 System software and application software
- 4.5 Programming languages
- 4.5.1 High-level and low-level languages
- 4.5.2 Assemblers, compilers and interpreters
5 Communication and the internet
- 5.1 Networks
- 5.1.1 Reasons for networking computers
- 5.1.2 Types of network and usage models
- 5.1.3 Wired and wireless connectivity
- 5.1.4 Network data speeds
- 5.1.5 Network protocols
- 5.1.6 Packets and the TCP/IP model
- 5.1.7 Network topologies
- 5.1.8 Mobile communication standards
- 5.2 Network security
- 5.2.1 Network security, validation and authentication
- 5.2.2 Security of cloud and contemporary storage
- 5.2.3 Forms of cyber attack
- 5.2.4 Identifying vulnerabilities
- 5.2.5 Protecting software systems from cyber attack
- 5.3 The internet and the world wide web
- 5.3.1 The internet and its structure
- 5.3.2 The world wide web and its components
- 5.3.3 IPv4 and IPv6 addressing
- 5.3.4 Components for accessing the internet