We revise our qualifications regularly to make sure that they continue to meet the needs of learners, schools and higher education institutions around the world and reflect current thinking. Please see the 2023-2025 syllabus document for full details on the changes.
What are the main changes to the syllabus?
To support teachers and learners, we have:
- updated the learning objectives to demonstrate the depth you should teach each topic. The wording looks different in many places, but the teaching content remains largely the same
- updated the topic structure to make sure topics and sub-topics are clearly linked
- removed and added topics; making sure that the teaching time is still within the guided learning hours.
What are the main changes to the assessment?
- There will no longer be any pre-release material and the overall component weightings have changed.
- In Paper 1 (now called ‘Computer Systems’), we have made changes to the assessment objectives weightings and moved ‘Logic gates’ to Paper 2.
- In Paper 2 (now called ‘Algorithms, Programming and Logic’), we have made changes to the assessment objectives weightings and added a new scenario-based question.
When do these changes take place?
The updated syllabus is for examination from June 2023 onwards. Examinations are available in March 2023 for India only. Please see the 2023-2025 syllabus for full details.
Support
We are developing a comprehensive range of materials to help you teach the updated syllabus. These resources will be available from June 2021 onwards (before first teaching) through our School Support Hub and include:
- Scheme of work
- Learner guide
- Teacher guide
- Specimen Paper Answers
- Example Candidate Responses (after first examination).
Training
Face-to-face and online training will be available. For up-to-date information, visit our Events and training calendar.
Endorsed resources
View the latest resources that are being developed by our Endorsement Partners for the Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science syllabus (0478).
Computer Science for Cambridge IGCSE and O Level (Second edition) (Cambridge University Press)
Build on the fundamentals of computational thinking and programming, brought to you through real-life contexts and Microsoft Research case studies. New features and programming workbooks give your students the tools they need to study with confidence.
Read more on the Cambridge University Press website
Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Computer Science (Second edition) (Hodder Education)
Written by renowned expert authors, our updated resources enable the learner to effectively navigate through the content of the updated Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Computer Science syllabuses.
Read more on the Hodder Education website
Marshall Cavendish Education Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (Marshall Cavendish Education)
This series nurtures life-long thinking, spurring students on to develop technological and digital literacy skills through real-life scenario-based problems and situations. This enables them to embrace changing technologies and become independent thinkers and problem solvers.
Read more on the Marshall Cavendish Education website