What do the non-exam assessment units (Unit 2 and Unit 3) require, and how are they marked?
Outline the two non-exam assessment components (Unit 2 Digital Practices and Unit 3) and how the systems development life cycle and good practice apply to producing digital products.
A concise overview of the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology non-exam assessment, covering the two NEA components, the kind of practical digital work involved, and how the systems development life cycle, testing and evaluation apply.
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What this dot point is asking
This page is a concise overview of the non-exam assessment (NEA) part of WJEC GCSE Digital Technology, which is assessed by coursework rather than a written paper. It is not extra examinable theory: it explains what the practical components require and how the knowledge from Unit 1, especially the systems development life cycle, is applied to produce real digital products. Always follow your centre's instructions and the current WJEC documents for the exact tasks and rules.
How the NEA fits the qualification
The qualification combines an examination with practical coursework.
What the NEA involves
The NEA is about creating digital products, not answering exam questions.
Applying the systems development life cycle
The Unit 1 theory of the SDLC is exactly what you use in the NEA.
Working well in the NEA
A structured, responsible approach is rewarded.
Why this matters
The NEA is where the knowledge from Unit 1 becomes practical skill: the systems development life cycle, software choices, and the legal and ethical rules around copyright and personal data all apply directly when you create products. A structured, well-evidenced and reflective approach is what the marking rewards, and it mirrors how digital products are made professionally. Because the exact briefs and rules are set by WJEC and can change, always work from the current WJEC documents and your teacher's guidance rather than relying on a general description.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC-style4 marksWhen producing a digital product for a client brief, describe how you would use the stages of the systems development life cycle.Show worked answer →
Analysis: read the brief carefully and identify the requirements, including who the product is for, its purpose and any constraints.
Design: plan the product before building it, for example sketching layouts, structure, content and how it will meet each requirement.
Development and testing: create the product to match the design, then test it against the requirements and fix any problems found.
Evaluation: review the finished product against the original brief, judging how well it meets the requirements and identifying improvements.
Markers (in NEA marking) reward evidence of each stage applied to the brief, with clear links between the requirements, the design decisions, the testing and the evaluation. This question shows the same life cycle assessed in the written exam being used in practice.
WJEC-style2 marksExplain why testing and evaluation are important when creating a digital product for the NEA.Show worked answer →
Testing checks that the product works correctly and meets the requirements in the brief, so errors can be found and fixed before it is submitted, producing a higher-quality product.
Evaluation judges how well the finished product meets the original requirements and suggests improvements, which shows understanding and is directly credited in the marking.
Markers give one mark for the purpose of testing (find and fix errors / check requirements) and one mark for the purpose of evaluation (judge against the brief / suggest improvements). Both demonstrate the structured, reflective approach the NEA rewards.
Related dot points
- Describe the stages of the systems development life cycle (analysis, design, development, testing, implementation and evaluation/maintenance) and explain why a structured process is used.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on the systems development life cycle, covering the stages from analysis to evaluation and maintenance and why a structured development process is used.
- Distinguish between system software and application software, give examples of each, and describe the role of application software in carrying out user tasks.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on software, covering the difference between system software and application software, examples of each, and the role of applications in user tasks.
- Describe the main laws affecting digital technology (data protection, the Computer Misuse Act and copyright law) and explain the duties and offences each defines.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on legislation, covering data protection law, the Computer Misuse Act and copyright law, with the rights, duties and offences each one defines.
- Describe how digital technology has changed the way people work and how organisations trade and make money, including new business and monetisation models.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on the digital shift, covering how technology has changed work patterns, how businesses trade online, and new monetisation models such as subscriptions and advertising.
- Describe technical and behavioural methods of protecting systems and data, including passwords, firewalls, antivirus, encryption, updates and user training.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on protecting systems and data, covering passwords, two-step verification, firewalls, antivirus, encryption, software updates, backups, access rights and user training.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Digital Technology specification — WJEC (2021)
- WJEC GCSE Digital Technology assessment and key documents — WJEC (2021)