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.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Level 1 and Level 2
- First taught
- September 2026
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- High
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification 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 Proofreading, editing and improving
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Evaluating testing, products and process
At the end of Unit 2 learners write an analysis of how well their ongoing testing worked and evaluate their finished products, their development process and their application of skills against the success criteria.
Literacy: Planning and organising for different purposes, audiences and context, Proofreading, editing and improving
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils test a partner's Scratch game against a simple checklist and write two sentences on what worked and one on what to fix.
- Year 8
- Pupils keep a test log for their own game, recording each error found and how it was fixed, and redraft one entry after feedback.
- Year 9
- Pupils write a structured evaluation of a finished website, taking each success criterion in turn with evidence and a next step.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 2, Section 2.4, page 28, and Section 3.2, page 36
“learners analyse the effectiveness of their ongoing testing and evaluate their completed digital products, development process and application of skills.”
Progression step 3
I can use and adapt different structures within my writing, e.g. reporting an event, investigation or experiment.
I can reflect on, edit and redraft to improve the quality of my expression, and use a range of strategies to ensure greater clarity.
Progression step 4
I can use summary, discussion of issues, detailed explanations and logic when covering a topic.
I can improve writing through independent review and redrafting.
Progression step 5
I can organise writing in an appropriate form, ensuring content is detailed within and between paragraphs or sections, developing and sustaining ideas coherently.
I can improve the content, structure and accuracy of my writing through critical reflection, review and editing, responding constructively to feedback.
I can convey objectivity and impartiality on complex topics, using a range of linguistic devices.
Good to know
- Unit 1 is an on-screen examination, so extended answers are typed: "Assessment type: Digital-only examination" (page 10).
- No marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar or accuracy of language are stated anywhere in the specification; detail is deferred to the Assessment Pack: "The Assessment Pack will include all detailed information relating to assessment." (page 35).
- The specification does not say whether a calculator may be used in the Unit 1 examination; compression ratio calculations (page 11) mean centres should check the Assessment Pack.
- Unit 2 NEA is 20 hours and Unit 3 NEA is 10 hours, on a client brief set by WJEC each year: "The client brief will change annually, the tasks and mark scheme will remain the same." (page 36).
- Research is done with internet access outside the timed NEA: "This research time does not form part of their non-examination assessment time" (page 36).
- Audience-focused planning and evaluation carry most weight: AO3 (identify audience needs and plan) is 20% and AO4 (develop, test and evaluate) is 35% of the qualification (page 35).
Links with other qualifications
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.