LNF Cymru Literacy and numeracy for Wales

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GCSE Digital Technology

This GCSE asks learners to read unseen client briefs, judge online sources, write extended exam answers, and write proposals, justifications, evaluations and marketing copy for a set audience. Its numeracy centres on Unit 2, where 40% of the qualification rests on cleansing a quantitative data set in a spreadsheet, using formulas and statistics to find audience needs and reporting with charts, plus binary, storage unit and compression ratio work in Unit 1. The biggest thing Key Stage 3 should build is confident spreadsheet data handling, with pupils explaining in writing what their numbers show about an audience.

First taught
September 2026
Amount of literacy work
Medium
Amount of numeracy work
High
Specification
Open the WJEC specification (PDF)
How this GCSE is assessed
  • Unit 1: The Digital World: Digital examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 40%
  • Unit 2: Digital Practices: Non-examination assessment 20 hours, 80 marks, 40%, set by WJEC, marked by the centre, moderated by WJEC
  • Unit 3: Communicating in the Digital World: Non-examination assessment 10 hours, 60 marks, 20%, set by WJEC, marked by the centre, moderated by WJEC

Skills that use Communicating with symbols

  1. Binary, storage units and compression ratios

    Assessed: In the exam

    In the Unit 1 examination learners must relate binary data to storage units, explain how sample rate, bit depth, colour depth and resolution affect file size, and calculate compression ratios and changes in file size.

    Numeracy: Calculation, The number system, Relationships within the number system, Communicating with symbols, Conceptual understanding

    Getting pupils ready

    Year 7
    Pupils convert their names into binary using an ASCII table and count how many bits and bytes each name needs.
    Year 8
    Pupils order file sizes given in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes and gigabytes and work out how many 4 MB photos fit on a 64 GB phone.
    Year 9
    Pupils save the same photo as PNG and as JPEG, record both file sizes, and calculate the compression ratio and the percentage saved.
    Show the specification wording and the LNF statements

    Where it is in the specification: Unit 1, Sections 1.1.1 and 1.1.2, pages 10 to 11

    “calculating compression ratios and the changes in file sizes”
    Progression step 3

    • I can use ratio and proportion to calculate quantities.

    • I can multiply numbers and decimals by a multiple of 10, e.g. 15 x 30, 1.4cm x 20.

    • I can read and write numbers to 1 million and numbers to 3 decimal places.

    Progression step 4

    • I can use ratio and proportion including map scales.

    • I can express one quantity as a percentage of another.

    • I can use powers and understand the importance of powers of 10.

    Progression step 5

    • I can use multipliers as an efficient method when working with percentages, e.g. multiply by 1.2 to increase an amount by 20%.

    • I can use appropriate notation, symbols and units of measurement, including compound measures.

    • I can interpret answers within the context of the problem and consider whether answers, including calculator, analogue and digital displays, are sensible.

Good to know

Links with other GCSEs

Appendix C marks Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing in all three units, and the data analysis in Unit 2 draws directly on Mathematics statistics work, so shared vocabulary for averages, range and outliers with the Mathematics department will help pupils.

Source: WJEC GCSE Digital Technology Specification, teaching from 2026, for award from 2028, Version 2, February 2026.