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Unit 1: Ethical, legal and environmental impacts

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are the environmental and social impacts of digital technology, including e-commerce?

The environmental impacts of digital technology (energy use, e-waste and resources) and its social impacts, including the effects of e-commerce.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Computer Science Unit 1 content on the environmental and social impacts of digital technology, covering energy use, electronic waste and resource use, the social effects on work, communication and society, and the impact of e-commerce on shopping and the high street.
8 min answer →

What laws and ethical issues govern the use of computers and data?

The main legislation governing computer use (data protection, the Computer Misuse Act and copyright law) and the ethical and cultural issues raised by computing.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Computer Science Unit 1 content on legislation and ethics, covering data protection law, the Computer Misuse Act, copyright and intellectual property law, the difference between legal and ethical issues, and the cultural and privacy issues raised by computing.
9 min answer →

What are the stages of the software development life cycle, and how is software tested?

The stages of the software development life cycle (analysis, design, development, testing, evaluation and maintenance) and the use of test plans and test data.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Computer Science Unit 1 content on the software development life cycle, covering the stages of analysis, design, development, testing, evaluation and maintenance, the purpose of each stage, and the use of test plans and test data including normal, boundary and erroneous data.
9 min answer →

How are the practical programming components (Unit 2 and Unit 3) assessed, and what do they require?

An overview of the practical assessment: Unit 2 (the on-screen computational thinking and programming examination) and Unit 3 (the non-exam software development project).
A concise overview of the practical assessment in WJEC GCSE Computer Science, covering Unit 2 (the on-screen computational thinking and programming examination) and Unit 3 (the non-exam software development project), how each is assessed, and how the Unit 1 theory underpins both.
8 min answer →