OCR · GCSE (Years 10–11)
GCSE Computer Science Homework and Practice
OCR J277 GCSE Computer Science
OCR J277 is the OCR GCSE (9–1) Computer Science specification, usually taught over Years 10 and 11. It is assessed by two written papers: J277/01 Computer systems, and J277/02 Computational thinking, algorithms and programming.
CS Ninja follows the J277 specification numbering, from 1.1 Systems architecture to 2.5 Programming languages and IDEs, so you can set homework that lines up with your scheme of work. Calculation-heavy areas such as binary, hexadecimal, file sizes and Boolean logic use generated values, while the exam-style question bank uses OCR command words like State, Describe and Explain, with mark schemes, to prepare students for both papers.
OCR J277 specification coverage
Topics are grouped by paper and numbered to match the OCR J277 specification.
J277/01: Computer systems
1.1 Systems architecture
CPU purpose, FDE cycle, performance, embedded systems
Skills practised: CPU Performance Factors; CPU Structure and Function; Embedded Systems; Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle; Memory Hierarchies; Von Neumann Architecture
1.2 Memory and storage
1.2.1–1.2.2 Primary storage, secondary storage
Skills practised: Memory and Storage Types; Memory Capacity Calculation; Secondary Storage Selection; Storage Capacity Calculation; Storage Device Characteristics
1.2 Units and data representation
1.2.3–1.2.5 Units, binary, hex, images, sound, compression
Skills practised: Binary Arithmetic; Binary Representation Basics; Data Compression; File Size Calculations; Number Base Conversions; Representing Characters & Images; Units of Data & Conversion
1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols
Networks, topologies, protocols, layers
Skills practised: Network Addressing; Network Hardware; Network Performance & Calculation; Network Topologies; Network Types & Models; Protocols & Layers
1.4 Network security
Threats to networks and how to prevent them
Skills practised: Attack Methods & Prevention; Network Protection Strategies; Network Security Concepts; Network Security Evaluation; Network Security Threats
1.5 Systems software
Operating systems and utility software
Skills practised: Operating System Features; Operating System Functions; Software Types & Interactions; Utility Software Functions
1.6 Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts
Legislation, privacy, environment
Skills practised: Environmental Impacts; Ethical & Legal Software; Ethical Considerations; Impact Analysis; Legal Frameworks; Socio-Economic Impacts
J277/02: Computational thinking, algorithms and programming
2.1 Algorithms
Computational thinking, searching, sorting, tracing
Skills practised: Algorithm Analysis; Algorithm Concepts; Algorithm Efficiency; Algorithm Representation; Algorithm Tracing; Computational Thinking; Searching Algorithms; Sorting Algorithms
2.2 Programming fundamentals
Constructs, operators, data types, arrays
Skills practised: Control Flow & Tracing; Data Structures & Iteration; Data Types & Variables; Operators; Strings; Subroutines
2.3 Producing robust programs
Defensive design, validation, testing
Skills practised: Debugging and Error Identification; Defensive Programming; Program Quality; Testing Strategies; Validation and Verification
2.4 Boolean logic
AND, OR, NOT and truth tables
Skills practised: Applications of Boolean Logic; Basic Logic Operations; Boolean Logic in Context; Boolean Logic in Programming; Logic Expressions and Simplification; Logic Gates Fundamentals; Truth Tables
2.5 Programming languages and IDEs
High/low level languages, translators, IDE tools
Skills practised: Choosing a translator; Compilers and interpreters; High and low level languages; High-level vs low-level languages; IDE tools; Tools in an IDE; Translators; Translators and levels of language
How CS Ninja supports OCR J277
- Set homework on a whole specification section (for example 1.2 Memory and storage) or on individual skills within it.
- Multiple-choice and short-answer questions are marked instantly with explanations on every plan.
- Ninja Plus adds OCR-style exam questions with mark schemes and command-word guidance for J277/01 and J277/02 topics.
- Ninja AI marks students’ written exam answers against the mark scheme, so longer responses do not add to your marking load.
- Schedule homework across the two-year course and review results by class, student and skill.
For teachers
Set up your Year 10 and Year 11 GCSE classes, then choose J277 topics as you teach them. A typical pattern is a short weekly homework on the current section plus a mixed retrieval set covering earlier topics. For mock preparation, add exam-style questions to a set and decide whether students self-mark against the mark scheme or have their answers marked by AI.
For students
Students work through generated questions for the topics set, get instant feedback, and see any skill they miss return later in the same homework. Where exam questions are included, they write full answers and then see the mark scheme. Independent study lets them revise any J277 topic before a test or the real exams.
Tracking progress across 12 topics
Results break each homework down by skill, showing which J277 areas each student is secure in and which need revisiting before the exams. All homework for a class can be exported to one spreadsheet.
Example OCR J277 questions
Taken from the CS Ninja question bank. Generated questions use different values each time they are set.
Multiple choice · Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle
Which register holds the address of the next instruction to be fetched?
- Accumulator (ACC)
- Memory Address Register (MAR)
- Memory Data Register (MDR)
- Program Counter (PC)
Answer: Program Counter (PC)
Multiple choice · Memory and Storage Types
Which type of memory is volatile memory holding programs and data currently in use?
- Cache
- ROM
- Virtual memory
- RAM
Answer: RAM
Exam-style (Describe) · 6 marks · Ninja Plus and Ninja AI
A computer runs a program stored in main memory. Describe the fetch–execute cycle, referring to the registers used at each stage. [6]
Mark scheme includes:
- The address of the next instruction is held in the Program Counter (PC).
- That address is copied into the Memory Address Register (MAR).
- The instruction at that address is fetched along the data bus into the Memory Data Register (MDR).
Related courses
- KS3 Computer Science
The KS3 foundations students bring into GCSE.
- OCR H446 A Level Computer Science
The OCR A Level that follows on from J277.
OCR J277 is one part of CS Ninja’s wider Computer Science homework platform, which lets one department set auto-marked homework from Year 7 through to A Level.
See all Computer Science and IT courses supported by CS Ninja, read about CS Ninja, or compare school pricing plans.
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