Frequently Asked Questions
How many units of study are there for this course?
How many examinations are there for GCSE Applied ICT?
How many coursework units are there for this course?
How are the coursework units marked?
What are the pre-requisites for this course?
What progression paths are available?
Are the units equally weighted?
What grades are available for this examination?
Can the assessment units be sat more than once?
Do all students in the centre have to take the computer based examination at the same time?
Q. How many units of study are there for this course?
A. There are three compulsory units:
- ICT Tools and Applications;
- ICT in Organisations; and
- ICT and Society.
Q. How many examinations are there for GCSE Applied ICT?
A. There is one externally assessed examination paper. This is a two and a half hour computer-based test and is based on the contents of Unit 1.
Q. How many coursework units are there for this course?
A. There are two coursework units: one for Unit 2 and one for Unit 3.
Q. How are the coursework units marked?
A. The coursework portfolios are internally assessed and externally moderated by CCEA.
Q. What are the pre-requisites for this course?
A. Students embarking on a GCSE in Applied ICT should have achieved a general educational level equivalent to Level 3 of the Northern Ireland Curriculum or Entry Level 3 in the National Qualifications Framework. They will also find the following learning skills and aptitudes helpful:
- basic proficiency in literacy;
- basic proficiency in numeracy;
- some aptitude for computers; and
- some motivation to work independently.
Q. What progression paths are available?
A. This qualification supports progression into further education, training or employment. Appropriate further education includes GCE, VCE or other vocationally-related qualifications such as GNVQs and CCEA BTEC Firsts and Nationals. Appropriate training includes Modern Apprenticeships or the NVQs in Information Technology.
Q. Are the units equally weighted?
A. Yes – each unit is worth 33.3 percent.
Q. What grades are available for this examination?
A. Students can achieve a grade in the range A* - G.
Q. Can students re-sit the assessment units?
A. Students may re-sit each assessment component once prior to certification. Students may, however, retake the whole qualification more than once.
Q. Do all students in the centre have to take the computer-based examination at the same time?
A. To overcome constraints on computer equipment, centres can timetable the examination for different groups of students at different times over a set period of five days.
Centres must schedule the tests as late as possible within the set exam dates. For example, a small centre must schedule all tests on Day 5, a medium centre on Days 3, 4 and 5, while large centres schedule tests on days 1 – 5.
All centres must inform CCEA of their chosen test dates prior to the examination period. CCEA will select and inspect a sample of centres during the test period.