Edexcel

iPrimary

COMPUTING
SPECIFICATION
Pearson Edexcel International Award in Primary Computing (JCP11)
For first teaching September 2019
First examination June 2020
Issue 2
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Acknowledgements
This specification has been produced by Pearson on the basis of consultation with teachers,
examiners, consultants and other interested parties. Pearson would like to thank all those who
contributed their time and expertise to the specification’s development.

References to third party materials made in this specification are made in good faith. Pearson does not
endorse, approve or accept responsibility for the content of materials, which may be subject to change,
or any opinions expressed therein. (Materials may include textbooks, journals, magazines and other
publications and websites.)
All information in this specification is correct at time of publication.

ISBN 978 1 446 95995 4

All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Limited 2020
Summary of Pearson Edexcel International Award in Primary
Computing specification Issue 2 changes

Summary of Changes made between previous issue and this Page

current issue number
Added the second assessment session of October 3
1.1 Changed to ‘Understand what an algorithm is and what 5
algorithms are used for’
Changed curriculum reference to PS1.1A, B
1.2 Changed to ‘Be able to interpret algorithms presented as 5
flowcharts and in text format’
Changed curriculum reference to PS6.1C
1.3 Changed to ‘Be able to create algorithms to solve a particular 5
problem in flowchart or text format’
Changed curriculum reference to PS6.1A, B
1.4 Changed to ‘Be able to identify and correct (debug) errors in 5
algorithms’
Changed curriculum reference to PS6.1D
1.5 Added new content area 1.5 ‘Be able to decompose a 5
problem into smaller sub-problems’
Used curriculum reference PS6.1E
2.1 Changed to ‘Understand the structural components of a 5
program (command sequences, selection, repetition, inputs
and outputs)’
Changed curriculum reference to PD6.1B
2.2 Changed to ‘Understand different data types (number 5
(integer, real), text (char, string), Boolean) and arithmetic
operators (add, subtract, divide, multiply)’
Changed curriculum reference to PD6.1D, F
2.3 Changed to ‘Understand what variables are and how they are 5
used in programs’
Changed curriculum reference to PD6.1E
2.4–2.6 Content areas removed 5
Summary of Changes made between previous issue and this Page
current issue number
3.1 Changed to ‘Understand the key features of digital devices 6
(tablets, smartphones, laptops, desktop PCs)’
Changed curriculum reference to CO6.1A
3.2 Changed to ‘Understand the purpose and use of digital 6
devices (cameras and camcorders, games consoles, home
entertainment systems, media players)’
Changed curriculum reference to CO1.1B
3.3 Changed to ‘Know about three types of network which are 6
used to connect users to the Internet (mobile phone
network, wired phone network, cable TV network)’
Changed curriculum reference to CO5.1A
3.4 Changed to ‘Be able to select appropriate digital devices for a 6
given project’
Changed curriculum reference to CO6.1B
3.5 Changed to ‘Know different types of input 6
devices/peripherals (keyboard, mouse, joystick, digital
camera, webcam, microphone, touch screen, distance
sensor, tilt sensor, buttons and switches) and output
devices/peripherals (screen, speakers, printer, motor, buzzer,
lights, servo motor)’
Changed curriculum reference to CO1.1D, CO2.1C, CO3.1B
3.6 Changed to ‘Understand the key features of software 6
applications (apps) (word processing software, database
management system (DBMS), spreadsheet, graphics,
presentation software)’
Changed curriculum reference to CO6.1C
3.7 Added new content area 3.7 ‘Be able to select appropriate 6
software that meets the specified needs of a project’
Used curriculum reference CO6.1D
4.1 Changed curriculum reference to CN2.1E 6
4.2 Changed to ‘Know that digital devices can communicate with 6
each other by transferring data that can be sent wirelessly or
through a wired network'
Changed curriculum reference to CN5.1B
Summary of Changes made between previous issue and this Page
current issue number
4.3 Changed to ‘Understand different forms of cyberattack that use 6
social engineering (shoulder surfing, phishing, pharming)’
Changed curriculum reference to CN2.1A, CN5.2B
4.4 Changed to ‘Know what is meant by the terms ‘Internet’ and 6
‘World Wide Web’’
Changed curriculum reference to CN5.1A
4.5 Changed to ‘Understand why computers are connected in a 7
network, including the Internet (World Wide Web, video
sharing, telephone services)’
Changed curriculum reference to CN5.1A
4.6 Changed to ‘Know about different methods that are available 7
to secure data and personal information online (username,
password, PIN, biometrics)’
Changed curriculum reference to CN5.2A
4.7 Changed to ‘Understand the impact of networks on 7
information services, learning, entertainment and leisure’
Changed curriculum reference to CN6.1A
4.8 Changed to ‘Understand the social impacts of the use of 7
networks (social interaction, cyberbullying, physical activity)’
Changed curriculum reference to CN6.2A
4.9 Changed to ‘Know the meaning of the term ‘digital etiquette’ 7
and how to behave safely, responsibly and with regard to
others when using digital technologies’
Changed curriculum reference to CN6.2D
4.10 Changed to ‘Understand what constitutes 7
acceptable/unacceptable online behaviour and to report
concerns about content, contact and conduct to an
appropriate individual or organisation’
Changed curriculum reference to CN6.2D
4.11 Changed to ‘Understand key features of online communities 7
(social networking, online gaming, online work spaces, virtual
learning environments (VLEs), user-generated reference sites
(wikis, websites, forums), user-generated content (video
sharing sites, blogs, websites, social bookmarking))’
Changed curriculum reference to CN6.2A
Summary of Changes made between previous issue and this Page
current issue number
4.12 Changed to ‘Understand how copyright legislation affects the 7
use of digital information and media’
Changed curriculum reference to CN4.2A
4.13 Changed to ‘Understand the health and safety issues that 7
arise from individuals’ use of digital devices (neck strain, eye
strain, wrist strain, RSI, sedentary lifestyle) and know how
they can be minimised (taking breaks, positioning of
equipment, exercising, lighting, adjusting text size, adjusting
contrast)’
Changed curriculum reference to CN6.2F
4.14 Changed to ‘Know how to use search engines and 7
bookmarks effectively’
Changed curriculum reference to CN4.3A
4.15 Changed to ‘Be able to evaluate the fitness for purpose of 7
available information in terms of accuracy, age, relevance,
reliability, bias’
Changed curriculum reference to CN4.3B
4.16– Content areas removed 7
4.21
5.1 Added ‘e-waste’ to bracketed examples 8
6.1 Changed to ‘Be able to recommend combinations of 8
appropriate software applications (word processing,
database management, spreadsheet, presentation
(multimedia), graphics, desktop publishing to design and
create a range of content to accomplish given goals’
Changed curriculum reference to IT6.1A
6.2, 6.3 Content areas removed 8
Summary of Changes made between previous issue and this Page
current issue number
7.1 Changed to ‘Be able to recognise/describe the use of 8
features used to edit and format text (bullets, numbering,
sub-numbering, alignment, tabs, line spacing, colour, font
size and style, text wrap, text boxes)’
Changed curriculum reference to SS3.1A
7.2 Changed to ‘Be able to recognise/describe the use of layout 8
features (columns and/or tables, horizontal and vertical text
alignment, merge and split cells, gridlines, borders, shading)’
Changed curriculum reference to SS4.2A
7.3 Content area removed 8
8.1 Changed to ‘Understand the different data types (text, 8
number, date, currency)’
Changed curriculum reference to IT6.2A
8.2 Changed curriculum reference to IT6.2B 8
8.3 Changed to ‘Be able to recommend a single criterion for use 8
in a search/query’
Changed curriculum reference to IT6.2C
8.4 Content area removed 8
9.1 Changed curriculum reference to IT5.2A 9
9.2 Changed curriculum reference to IT5.2B 9
9.3 Changed curriculum reference to IT5.2C 9
10.1 Changed to ‘Be able to recognise the components of slides 9
(text, images, buttons, hyperlinks to internal and external
content, animation effects and transition effects)’
Changed curriculum reference to SS3.2A
11.1 Changed to ‘Understand that images can be created by 9
combining basic shapes and text, rectangles/ squares,
circles/ovals, lines, triangles, arrows and text’
Changed curriculum reference to SS4.1A
11.2 Changed curriculum reference to SS4.1B 9
12.1 Changed curriculum reference to SS3.4A 9