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CCEA GCSE Digital Technology (2017): complete guide to Unit 1 Digital Technology, the Multimedia route, the Programming route and every dot point

A complete guide to CCEA GCSE Digital Technology (2017) for Northern Ireland. Covers the compulsory examined Unit 1, the two practical routes (Route A Multimedia, Route B Programming), the units and their weightings, the assessment, and how to study each unit for top grades, with a direct link to every dot point.

Browse guides →Syllabus dot points (19)

CCEA GCSE Digital Technology (2017) is the Northern Ireland GCSE in digital technology, set by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment. It has a compulsory examined core, Unit 1, taken by every student, plus a choice of two practical routes: Multimedia (Route A) or Programming (Route B). This page is the index: below is a map of the units, the routes, the assessment, and how to study each part, with a direct link to every dot point.

The compulsory core and the two routes

Every student takes the compulsory examined Unit 1, then follows one of two practical routes.

Unit 1: Digital Technology
The compulsory examined core, covering representing data, software, database applications, spreadsheet applications, computer hardware, network technologies, cyberspace, network security and data transfer, cloud technology, and the ethical, legal and environmental impact of digital technology on wider society.
Route A: Multimedia
Unit 2 Digital Authoring Concepts (a written exam) and Unit 3 Digital Authoring Practice (controlled assessment). This route is about designing, creating, testing and evaluating multimedia products that combine text, graphics, sound, video and animation.
Route B: Programming
Unit 4 Digital Development Concepts (a written exam) and Unit 5 Digital Development Practice (controlled assessment). This route is about analysing problems, designing solutions and writing, testing and evaluating programs.

A student follows the compulsory Unit 1 and one route, not both.

Assessment and weightings

The qualification combines written examinations with a controlled assessment in the chosen route.

Unit Route Assessment Weighting
Unit 1: Digital Technology All students External written examination 20%
Unit 2: Digital Authoring Concepts Route A (Multimedia) External written examination 40%
Unit 3: Digital Authoring Practice Route A (Multimedia) Controlled assessment 30%
Unit 4: Digital Development Concepts Route B (Programming) External written examination 40%
Unit 5: Digital Development Practice Route B (Programming) Controlled assessment 30%

The controlled assessment units (3 and 5) are completed under supervised conditions in response to a task set by CCEA, and a sample is moderated by CCEA to keep standards consistent across schools.

How to study CCEA Digital Technology

Digital Technology rewards precise knowledge, clear explanation and balanced judgement.

  1. Master Unit 1 first. Every student is examined on it and it underpins both routes, so work area by area against the specification.
  2. Learn the key definitions precisely. Terms such as bit and byte, RAM and ROM, LAN and WAN, variable and constant, and the three laws are tested directly.
  3. Explain, do not just name. Many marks reward reasons, so practise explaining and justifying, and weighing advantages against disadvantages.
  4. Apply the concepts to scenarios. Both concepts units use scenario questions, so practise matching ideas to situations.
  5. Finish with CCEA past papers. Sit full CCEA papers for Unit 1 and your route's concepts unit, and review the mark schemes.

Syllabus, dot point by dot point

Each unit has specification-level answer pages with worked exam questions and cross-links, plus an overview guide and quiz. Browse the full set at /ccea-gcse/digital-technology/syllabus.

Unit 1: Digital Technology (compulsory core)

Route A: Multimedia (Units 2 and 3)

Route B: Programming (Units 4 and 5)

Overview guides and quizzes

For the official specification

CCEA publishes the full specification (2017), past papers and mark schemes at ccea.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and CCEA's own past papers, because question style is board-specific.

Digital Technology guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Digital Technology practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The CCEA-GCSE system, explained

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Common questions about Digital Technology

How is CCEA GCSE Digital Technology structured?
CCEA GCSE Digital Technology has a compulsory examined core, Unit 1 Digital Technology, taken by every student, plus one of two practical routes. Route A, Multimedia, is Unit 2 Digital Authoring Concepts (a written exam) and Unit 3 Digital Authoring Practice (controlled assessment). Route B, Programming, is Unit 4 Digital Development Concepts (a written exam) and Unit 5 Digital Development Practice (controlled assessment). Every student takes Unit 1 and then either Units 2 and 3 or Units 4 and 5, not both routes.
What does Unit 1 of CCEA GCSE Digital Technology cover?
Unit 1, Digital Technology, is the compulsory examined core. It covers nine areas: representing data (binary, hexadecimal, units of storage, encoding text, images, sound and video, and compression), software (systems and application software, the operating system and utilities), database applications, spreadsheet applications, computer hardware (input, output, the CPU, RAM, ROM, cache and storage), network technologies (LANs, WANs and the internet), cyberspace, network security and data transfer, cloud technology, and the ethical, legal and environmental impact of digital technology on wider society.
What is the difference between the Multimedia and Programming routes?
Both routes have a written concepts unit and a controlled-assessment practical unit. The Multimedia route (Route A) is about designing, creating, testing and evaluating multimedia products that combine text, graphics, sound, video and animation, using generic software. The Programming route (Route B) is about analysing problems, designing solutions and writing, testing and evaluating programs, typically in an object-oriented or visual programming environment. A student follows one route, not both.
How is CCEA GCSE Digital Technology assessed?
Unit 1 is an external written examination, the compulsory core worth 20 percent. The concepts unit of the chosen route (Unit 2 for Multimedia or Unit 4 for Programming) is an external written examination worth 40 percent. The practical unit of the chosen route (Unit 3 for Multimedia or Unit 5 for Programming) is a controlled assessment worth 30 percent, completed under supervised conditions in response to a CCEA-set task and moderated by CCEA.
Which three laws are examined in CCEA GCSE Digital Technology?
Three pieces of legislation are examined in Unit 1. The Data Protection legislation protects personal data about living people and sets principles such as keeping data secure, accurate and used only for stated purposes. The Computer Misuse Act makes it illegal to gain unauthorised access to computer systems or to damage them. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act protects creative and intellectual work, so copying music, software, images or text without permission is unlawful. A common exam task gives an action and asks which law it breaks.
How should I revise for CCEA GCSE Digital Technology?
Master Unit 1 first, because every student is examined on it and it underpins both routes; work area by area against the specification and learn the key definitions precisely. Then focus on your chosen route's concepts unit, practising the scenario-style questions, and use the practical unit to apply those concepts to the CCEA-set task. Many marks reward explanation, justification and balanced evaluation rather than just naming, so practise giving reasons. Finish with CCEA past papers and mark schemes for Unit 1 and your route's concepts unit.
How does CCEA GCSE Digital Technology compare with GCSE Computer Science?
CCEA GCSE Digital Technology covers a broad range of digital skills and concepts, including data, hardware, networks, databases, spreadsheets, security and the impact of technology, plus a choice of a multimedia or a programming practical route. GCSE Computer Science is more tightly focused on programming, algorithms and computational theory. Digital Technology suits students who want a wide, applied grounding in digital technology with a creative or programming specialism, and it is assessed through CCEA's own papers and controlled assessment, so always revise from the current CCEA specification.