Give your child the best chance with our top-notch resources and outstanding teachers.
We have some of the best GCSE computer science teachers - with years of experience and among the highest student progression scores
We humbly pride in our prep material - including all past papers, effective quizzes and matchless learning resources
We offer 1-1 or group sessions with only 2-3 students to help your child prepare for their Computer Science GCSE. Whether it's the full curriculum or just revision, let us give them the confidence to excel
We will provide with any resources you might need - exam questions, mock papers, past papers, notes. We introduce these resources at the right time to maximise your readiness for the exam
If you are a private candidate or want to take your Computer Science GCSE early, we can help you with all the arrangements - including registering with an exam center
You will be preparing for the OCR Computer Science GCSE exam. Click here for the OCR Computer Science GCSE website.
Of course, if you need help with other exam boards such as AQA, EdExcel, Eduqas, or IGCSE, we can help you equally well.
There is no coursework involved - the exam includes 2 papers, each for 80 marks.
The final test will consist of Paper 1 and Paper 2. Each of them is worth 80 marks and you get 90 minutes for each paper.
Paper 1 focusses on theory of computer systems: architecture, memory and storage, networking, software and ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impact of digital technology. It is a written paper.
Paper 2 focusses on algorithms and programming. It is also a written paper.
Here is a link to the formal OCR specification. Please look at pages 5 to 21.
In a nutshell, Paper 1 focusses on theory of computer systems: architecture, memory and storage, networking, software and ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impact of digital technology.
Paper 2 focusses on algorithms and programming.
If you want to cover the entire curriculum, you want to start preparing between Mar and June the year before. So, if you are planning to take Computer Science GCSE in summer 2024, you should start preparing now-ish.
To cover the curriculum, you will need about 30 sessions and another 10 for revision and exam practice.
Sessions will be once a week, online and an hour long.
Some students can progress very quickly and you might be able to cover the curriculum in only 20 sessions instead of 30.
During the summer holidays, we might have some sessions.
If you do not know how to code, then ideally you'd join a week-long beginner's camp, followed by another week of the intermediate camp.
You should assume that there will be about an hour (or less) of self-study. This would normally include watching a short video or going over some material, based on the concepts covered in class, followed by homework / quiz questions.
In addition, there might be some reading and additional questions from a revision book.
Overall, it should take you less than an hour to complete all your work.
Yes, you will need to learn how to code.
If you do not know how to code, then you'd need to join a week long beginner's Python coding camp, followed by another week of the Python iintermediate camp.
We will cover that as camps during holidays - if you don't already know how to code.
You will get all the notes, videos, past papers and quizzes for your prep. In addition, you will need to buy a book for practice and revision.
On an on-going basis, there will be a quiz, for each sub topic.
Once we've gone through the entire curriculum, there will be revision, past paper practice and multiple mock exams including a mock exam in the actual test center.
We will review your progress with your parents once every 8 or 10 weeks - about 4 times a year.
We will go over what we've covered, and how you performed in each of the sub-topics and units.
If, as a parent, you'd like a detailed view of how we track and review progress, please email learn@rivalearning.com with your details and goals.