About this practice. Revision Robin is built and maintained by Bloor Engineering Ltd, a UK-registered company. Our GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel) questions are written and reviewed in-house to match the current syllabus, each with a plain-English worked explanation. They are original practice material, not the official exam questions and not affiliated with or endorsed by Edexcel. Always confirm current test rules, fees and content with the official provider. See our Terms and Privacy.
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Try 3 real GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel) questions
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Q1. What is 'decomposition' in computational thinking?
A. Breaking a complex problem down into smaller, more manageable sub-problems
B. Removing unnecessary detail from a problem to focus on what matters
C. Writing a program in a low-level language
D. Testing a program with a range of different inputs
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A. Breaking a complex problem down into smaller, more manageable sub-problems
Decomposition means splitting a large problem into smaller parts that are easier to design, code and test individually. Abstraction (option B) is a different technique — it means ignoring irrelevant detail, not splitting the problem up.
Q2. A program contains the line: age = int(input("Enter your age: ")). What is the purpose of int() here?
A. It rounds the age to the nearest ten
B. It casts the text entered by the user into an integer data type
C. It checks that the age entered is a positive number
D. It converts the age into a string for display
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B. It casts the text entered by the user into an integer data type
input() always returns a string, so int() casts (converts) that string into an integer so it can be used in numeric calculations or comparisons. int() does not validate or round the value, and it converts to a number, not to a string.
Q3. A student adds the binary numbers 00000001 and 11111111 using 8-bit registers. What problem occurs?
A. Rounding error
B. Truncation error
C. Overflow error
D. Parity error
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C. Overflow error
Adding 1 and 255 gives 256, which needs 9 bits to store correctly, but the register only holds 8 bits, so the result cannot be represented accurately. This is called an overflow error, not a rounding error, since no fractional values are involved.
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Who has to sit the GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel)
Who needs a GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel)?
Computing is a foundation subject students must study until age 16, but there is no expectation to sit exams for a GCSE unless chosen.
The real GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel): format
How many questions are in the GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel)?
The real GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel) has 2 questions and lasts 210 minutes. Our mock uses 40 questions in 60 minutes.
What it costs, and what a resit costs
How much does the GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel) cost?
Real exam fee: Ranges from £150 to over £230 for private candidates, excluding late fees. Some services charge around £349.00. Resit fee: Ranges from £110-£160. Private candidate exam centre fees for resits typically range from £150 to over £230, with late entries incurring additional charges.
How hard is it
What is the GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel) pass rate?
Real exam first-time pass rate: For Edexcel, 69.7% of candidates achieved a Grade 4 or above in June 2026. Difficulty: Perceived as a 'hard' subject. Students struggle with applying knowledge, connecting ideas, and step-by-step logical reasoning rather than memorising facts.
Why people fail it
Why do people fail the GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel)?
Errors in tracing loops, conditions, and nested structures in algorithms/pseudocode.
Inaccuracy in binary/hex/denary conversions and binary arithmetic.
Struggling to debug unfamiliar Python code in the onscreen exam.
Figures for the real exam from mathsgenie.co.uk, tutor2u.net, cognito.org, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the test provider before you book.
GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel): common questions
Frequently asked
What is the pass mark for the GCSE Computer Science (Edexcel)?
You need 24 out of 40 correct to pass, which is about 60%. Our mocks mark you against this exact threshold.
How long do you get?
The test is timed at 60 minutes. Our full mock runs on the same clock so you can practise your pacing.
Are these the real exam questions?
No. Our questions are original and written to match the current syllabus, so they give realistic practice without copying the official paper. Every answer comes with a plain-English explanation. Always confirm current rules and content with Edexcel.