[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-622894-105":59,"doc-detail-622894-en":129},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":122,"head_meta":124,"extra_data":126,"updated_unix":128},105,"en","switching-to-aqa-gcse-computer-science-from-pearson-edexcel","Switching to AQA GCSE Computer Science from Pearson Edexcel","","Guide compares AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525) with Pearson Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) to support informed course selection for learners. Covers assessment structure, including Paper 1 and Paper 2 titles, focus areas, written vs on-screen delivery, time and mark allocation, and question styles. Provides a high-level summary of key topic differences, highlighting what is no longer required from Edexcel and what must be taught for AQA, across programming, data representation, and computer systems.",{"@graph":69,"@context":121},[70,84,104],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":30,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/technology/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/switching-to-aqa-gcse-computer-science-from-pearson-edexcel/622894/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":98,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":99,"interactionStatistic":100},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/switching-to-aqa-gcse-computer-science-from-pearson-edexcel/622894.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"jay","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-20",true,{"@type":101,"interactionType":102,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":103},"ViewAction",{"@type":105,"mainEntity":106},"FAQPage",[107,113,117],{"name":108,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":110},"What are the key assessment structure differences between AQA 8525 and Pearson Edexcel 1CP2?","Question",{"text":111,"@type":112},"AQA uses a Paper 1 written exam (2 hours, 90 marks) and a Paper 2 written exam (1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks), while Edexcel uses a Paper 1 written exam (1 hour 30 mins, 75 marks) and a Paper 2 on-screen exam (2 hours, 75 marks). The question formats also differ, including programming task emphasis and question types.","Answer",{"name":114,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":115},"How do the Paper 1 focuses differ between the two specifications?",{"text":116,"@type":112},"AQA Paper 1 targets computational thinking and programming skills, with learners answering using languages such as C#, Python (3), or VB.NET. Edexcel Paper 1 focuses more on principles of computer science, assessing computational thinking plus data, computers, and networks, alongside issues and impact.",{"name":118,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":119},"Which topics are listed as no longer needed from Pearson Edexcel but required for AQA 8525 in Paper 1?",{"text":120,"@type":112},"The guide highlights changes such as algorithm representation and inputs/processes/outputs, efficiency considerations in designing algorithms, nested selection and nested iteration, casting, concatenation, and structured programming elements like advantages/disadvantages of subprograms and modularised programming with documented interfaces. It also notes a shift in handling arithmetic operators such as exponentiation.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":123,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":125,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":127,"site_id":62},622894,1792467270,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":130},{"doc_id":127,"user_id":131,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":132,"doc_module":4,"category_id":29,"category_name":30,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":133,"file_id":134,"file_url":135,"file_type":136,"file_size":137,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":34,"language":138,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":139,"faqs":140,"seo_title":141,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":128,"read_time":142},3985747858866,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","Switching to AQA GCSE Computer Science from Pearson Edexcel  \nThis guide compares our GCSE Computer Science (8525) specification with the Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Computer Science (1CP2) to help you make the right choice for your learners. At the end of the document, you will find links to further support and helpful resources.  \nAssessment structure Option/entry codes  \n\n| AQA GCSE Computer Science | Pearson Edexcel GCSE Computer Science |\n| --- | --- |\n| 8525A (C\\#), 8525B (Python), 8525C (VB.NET) 8525/1A, B or C | 1CP2 |\n\nPaper 1  \n\n| AQA GCSE Computer Science | Pearson Edexcel GCSE Computer Science |\n| --- | --- |\n| Title: Computational thinking and programming skills | Title: Principles of Computer Science |\n| Assesses computational thinking, code tracing, problem-solving, programming concepts including the design of effective algorithms and the designing, writing, testing and refining of code | Assesses computational thinking, data, computers, networks, issues and impact |\n| Written paper: 2 hours\u003Cbr>90 marks\u003Cbr>50% of GCSE | Written paper: 1 hour 30 mins 75 marks\u003Cbr>50% of GCSE |\n| Mix of multiple choice, short answer and longer answer questions assessing programming, practical problem-solving and computational thinking skills\u003Cbr>Learners answer questions using one of the following: C\\#, Python (version 3), VB.NET | Five compulsory questions, each one focused on one of the topic areas Questions consist of multiple choice, short-, medium-and extended-openresponse, tabular and diagrammatic items |\n\nPaper 2  \n\n| AQA GCSE Computer Science | Pearson Edexcel GCSE Computer Science |\n| --- | --- |\n| Title: Computing concepts | Title: Application of Computational Thinking |\n| Assesses data representation, computer systems, computer networks, cyber security, relational databases and SQL, ethical, legal and environmental impacts of technology | Assesses:\u003Cbr>• understanding what algorithms are, what they are used for and how they work in relation to creating programs\u003Cbr>• understanding how to decompose and analyse problems\u003Cbr>• ability to read, write, refine and evaluate programs |\n| Written paper: 1 hour 45 minutes 90 marks\u003Cbr>50% of GCSE | On-screen exam: 2 hours\u003Cbr>75 marks\u003Cbr>50% of GCSE |\n| Mix of multiple choice, short answer, longer answer and extended response questions assessing SQL programming skills and theoretical knowledge | Six practical questions requiring learners to design, write, test and refine programs using their Integrated Development Environment (IDE) of choice\u003Cbr>Learners provided with coding files and the programming language subset (PLS) Learners answer on-screen using Python |\n\nSummary of key differences  \nThe following tables give a high-level summary of some key differences between the two qualifications. This list is not comprehensive but highlights the differences we think will be most important for you and your learners. In some areas this may be a difference in terminology only.  \nAQA Paper 1 – Computational thinking and programming skills  \n\n| Topic | What you will no longer need to teach (Pearson Edexcel 1CP2) | What you will now teach (AQA 8525) |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Representing algorithms |  | Be aware that a program is an implementation of an algorithm Identify inputs, processes and outputs in an algorithm |\n| Designing\u003Cbr>algorithms | Efficiency (number of compares, number of passes, use of memory) | Compare the time efficiency of algorithms\u003Cbr>Understand that different algorithms can solve the same problem\u003Cbr>Advantages and disadvantages of an algorithm |\n| Arithmetic\u003Cbr>operators | Exponentiation |  |\n| Programming concepts |  | Nested selection\u003Cbr>Nested iteration |\n| Input/output | Read/write to comma separated files | Casting |\n| String handling | Case conversion | Concatenation |\n| Structured programming | Global variables | Advantages of using subprograms Advantages and disadvantages of the structured approach\u003Cbr>Use of modularised programming and documented inte","cbCaij1zIGBbzszu","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaij1zIGBbzszu","pdf",135054,"English","# Assessment structure\n## Paper 1\n## Paper 2\n# Summary of key differences\n## AQA Paper 1 – Computational thinking and programming skills\n## AQA Paper 2 – Computing concepts\n### Fundamentals of data representation\n### Computer systems\n### Fundamentals of computer networks","[{\"question\":\"What are the key assessment structure differences between AQA 8525 and Pearson Edexcel 1CP2?\",\"answer\":\"AQA uses a Paper 1 written exam (2 hours, 90 marks) and a Paper 2 written exam (1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks), while Edexcel uses a Paper 1 written exam (1 hour 30 mins, 75 marks) and a Paper 2 on-screen exam (2 hours, 75 marks). The question formats also differ, including programming task emphasis and question types.\"},{\"question\":\"How do the Paper 1 focuses differ between the two specifications?\",\"answer\":\"AQA Paper 1 targets computational thinking and programming skills, with learners answering using languages such as C#, Python (3), or VB.NET. Edexcel Paper 1 focuses more on principles of computer science, assessing computational thinking plus data, computers, and networks, alongside issues and impact.\"},{\"question\":\"Which topics are listed as no longer needed from Pearson Edexcel but required for AQA 8525 in Paper 1?\",\"answer\":\"The guide highlights changes such as algorithm representation and inputs/processes/outputs, efficiency considerations in designing algorithms, nested selection and nested iteration, casting, concatenation, and structured programming elements like advantages/disadvantages of subprograms and modularised programming with documented interfaces. It also notes a shift in handling arithmetic operators such as exponentiation.\"}]","Switching to AQA GCSE Computer Science from Pearson Edexcel | PDF",18]