Eduqas GCSE Computer Science (C500QS): papers, the on-screen exam and grade boundaries

Eduqas GCSE Computer Science at a glance

WJEC Eduqas is the exam board that offers WJEC qualifications in England. Its GCSE Computer Science (entry code C500QS) is regulated by Ofqual, taught from 2020 and first awarded in 2022. It is linear and available in the summer series each year, and every student sits the same two components, so all grades from 9 to 1 are open.

The assessment objectives are weighted 30% AO1 (knowledge), 40% AO2 (applying it) and 30% AO3 (analysing problems and designing, programming and refining solutions). Component 1 tests content in a theoretical way, while Component 2 tests the same content through its use in programs.

What each component covers

Component 1: Understanding Computer Science

This written exam covers nine topics: hardware, logical operations, networking and cybersecurity, data representation and storage, data organisation, operating systems, principles of programming, algorithms and constructs, and software development. It also covers the impacts of digital technology on wider society, including codes of ethical behaviour and conduct.

Component 2: Computer Programming

This exam is taken on a computer, with access to Python 3 and a word processor. Before the exam, centres receive a scenario with a list of requirements on 1 September in the year before the award, and you work on its tasks individually and in groups. In the exam you are given a question paper, a prototype Python 3 file and any supporting files. You must use, evaluate and change the program provided to meet additional requirements, and answer extra questions in a word-processed document. You hand in the document, the changed Python files and any data files.

Pseudocode, flowcharts and Boolean logic

Eduqas sets algorithms in a defined pseudocode and in flowcharts, both described in Appendix A of the specification, and Boolean algebra rules are in Appendix B. In the pseudocode convention, assignment is written with set (for example set counter = 0), output is written with output, and selection and repetition use if ... else ... end if and for ... next. Logical operators AND, OR, NOT and XOR are in upper case.

Worked examples in Eduqas style

Data representation: binary to hexadecimal

Convert 11010101 to denary and to hexadecimal. The place values are 128, 64, 16, 4 and 1 for the bits that are set:

Split into nibbles 1101 and 0101, which are 13 and 5, so D and 5: the answer is D5 in hexadecimal. Practise number systems in our course:

Algorithms: totals with a loop

The pseudocode below adds the numbers 1 to 5:

set total = 0
for i = 1 to 5
    set total = total + i
next i
output total

Trace it: the total is 1, 3, 6, 10 and finally 15, so the output is 15. A trace table with a column for i and a column for total is the safest way to show this.

Logical operations: XOR

A XOR B is true when exactly one of A and B is true, so it is false when both are true or both are false. For A = TRUE and B = TRUE the result is FALSE, but for A = TRUE and B = FALSE it is TRUE. Be careful not to confuse XOR with OR, which is true when both inputs are true.

Grades and June 2026 grade boundaries

Eduqas scales your component marks into a total out of 200, with Component 2 multiplied by 1.25, and compares it with the qualification boundaries. Component boundaries are notional, a guide for analysis rather than official grades. This table is from Eduqas’ GCSE Grade Points document for June 2026. Eduqas says it releases boundaries on results day after awarding.

Worked through: 60 on Component 1 and 48 on Component 2 scale to 60 and 60, giving 120 out of 200. That is above the grade 6 boundary of 116 and 14 marks short of grade 7 (134).

Using the daily paper as a short timed mock

Uni-Sine publishes a free daily Computer Science Higher paper, with a new one every day. It is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, marked instantly with worked answers. It is not an Eduqas paper, and it cannot replace the on-screen programming exam, so use it to practise the knowledge in Component 1.

• It covers well: the CPU and computer systems, networks, binary and hexadecimal, programming fundamentals, images and sound, cyber security, algorithms and flowcharts, data types, Boolean logic, and searching and sorting.
• It does not cover: writing and changing Python on a computer. Use your own Python practice and Eduqas’ sample and past materials for Component 2.

For more on mocks, see our GCSE mocks guide, the GCSE Computer Science guide and the GCSE Computer Science mock paper page. The OCR GCSE Computer Science guide covers the other main board, which has two written papers and no on-screen exam.

Exam answers

Uni-Sine does not publish official answers or mark schemes for Eduqas GCSE Computer Science papers. The answers and a worked mark scheme for each question come with today’s paper once you have submitted it and it has been marked, so you can see where every mark was won or lost.

Common mistakes in Eduqas GCSE Computer Science

• Practising Python only on paper. Component 2 is on a computer, so test your code in a real editor.
• Not reading the scenario. The preparation tasks lead into the exam, so do them thoroughly.
• Confusing XOR and OR.
• Vague answers about security. Name the threat and the specific protection.
• Forgetting to save and hand in all files in the on-screen exam.

Read next

UK · GCSEEduqas GCSE Computer Science grade boundaries 2026Eduqas's official June 2026 GCSE Computer Science boundaries, paper by paper, with the change from 2025 and a worked example of the 1.25 scaling.