Basic Arithmetic
Add
=A1+B1 Subtract
=A1-B1 Multiply
=A1*B1 Divide
=A1/B1 Power
=A1^2 (A1 to the power of 2) Pearson Edexcel International GCSE ICT 4IT1
💻 Pearson Edexcel IGCSE ICT Formula Sheet 2026
Spreadsheet formulas, database operators, file size & networking calculations, the SDLC and theory keywords — your complete Pearson Edexcel IGCSE ICT 4IT1 reference for 2026.
Spreadsheet Formulas Database Queries File Size Maths SDLC & Practical
Our formula sheets are free to download — save this one as PDF for offline revision.
Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam board’s official specifications for the 2026 exam series.
All the Edexcel IGCSE ICT Theory & Practical Formulas in One Place
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE ICT (4IT1) is assessed across two components — Paper 1: Written Exam (theory) and Component 2: Practical Paper (hands-on tasks with spreadsheets, databases, presentations, web pages and digital graphics). This formula sheet brings every essential formula, function, calculation, theory keyword and SDLC concept together for fast revision.
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Spreadsheet formulas: SUM, AVG, IF, VLOOKUP, COUNTIF, ROUND, INT
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Database operators, query syntax and validation rules
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File size, data transmission and bandwidth calculations
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SDLC stages and Component 2 practical workflow
Spreadsheet Formulas (Component 2 Practical)
Always start spreadsheet formulas with =. Use absolute references ($) when copying formulas across cells.
Aggregation Functions
SUM
=SUM(A1:A10) — adds a range AVERAGE
=AVERAGE(A1:A10) — arithmetic mean MIN / MAX
=MIN(A1:A10) / =MAX(A1:A10) — smallest / largest value COUNT
=COUNT(A1:A10) — counts cells with NUMBERS only COUNTA
=COUNTA(A1:A10) — counts NON-EMPTY cells (text or number) MEDIAN / MODE
=MEDIAN(A1:A10) / =MODE(A1:A10) Conditional Functions
IF
=IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false) — e.g. =IF(A1>50,"Pass","Fail") Nested IF
=IF(A1>=70,"A",IF(A1>=50,"B","C")) AND / OR
=IF(AND(A1>50,B1>50),"Both pass","Fail") COUNTIF
=COUNTIF(A1:A10,">50") — counts cells meeting condition SUMIF
=SUMIF(A1:A10,">50") — sums cells meeting condition AVERAGEIF
=AVERAGEIF(A1:A10,">50") Lookup Functions
VLOOKUP
=VLOOKUP(value, table_range, col_number, FALSE) HLOOKUP
=HLOOKUP(value, table_range, row_number, FALSE) INDEX/MATCH
=INDEX(range, MATCH(value, lookup_range, 0)) Use FALSE (or 0) for exact match in VLOOKUP — TRUE only for sorted approximate match.
Rounding & Number Functions
ROUND
=ROUND(A1, 2) — rounds to 2 decimal places ROUNDUP / ROUNDDOWN
=ROUNDUP(A1, 0) / =ROUNDDOWN(A1, 0) INT
=INT(A1) — drops the decimal (always rounds down) MOD
=MOD(A1, B1) — remainder after division Cell References
Relative
A1 — changes when copied Absolute
$A$1 — never changes when copied Mixed
$A1 (column locked) or A$1 (row locked) Press F4 to toggle through reference types in most spreadsheet apps.
Text Functions & Conditional Formatting
LEFT / RIGHT / MID
=LEFT(A1,3) / =RIGHT(A1,3) / =MID(A1,2,4) LEN / CONCATENATE
=LEN(A1) / =A1&" "&B1 Conditional formatting
Highlight cells based on >, <, between, equal to, top/bottom %, duplicates, formula result Database Functions & Queries (Component 2 Practical)
Edexcel practical databases use simple search criteria. Match the operator to the data type.
Comparison Operators
= (equal) · <> or != (not equal) · > (greater) · < (less) · >= (greater or equal) · <= (less or equal) Logical Operators
AND
Both conditions must be TRUE — e.g. Age > 18 AND Country = "UK" OR
At least one condition TRUE — e.g. City = "London" OR City = "Paris" NOT
Reverses the condition — NOT (Status = "Active") Wildcards
*
Any number of characters — "Sm*" matches Smith, Smyth, Smithers ?
One character — "S?ith" matches Smith but not Smyth [ ]
Range — "[a-c]*" matches words starting with a, b, or c Validation Rules
Range check
Field value within set min and max (e.g. Age between 0 and 120) Type check
Data is correct type (number, text, date) Length check
Number of characters within limits Format/picture check
Data follows pattern (e.g. postcode AA1 1AA) Presence check
Field cannot be empty (required) Lookup/list check
Value must be from a defined list Check digit
Final digit calculated from others (used in barcodes, ISBN) Verification Methods
Verification = data entered correctly (different from validation, which checks data is sensible).
Double entry
Same data entered twice; computer compares Visual check
User reads back data on screen against source document Database Field Types & Sorting
Field types
Text · Number (integer/decimal) · Currency · Date/Time · Boolean (Yes/No) · Memo · AutoNumber · Picture/OLE Ascending / Descending
A→Z, 0→9, oldest→newest / Z→A, 9→0, newest→oldest Multi-level sort
Primary field first, then secondary (e.g. Country ASC, then Surname ASC) File Size, Data Transmission & Storage (Paper 1 Theory)
Always state units in your final answer (bits, bytes, seconds).
Storage Units
1 nibble = 4 bits 1 byte = 8 bits 1 KB = 1024 bytes (binary) or 1000 bytes (decimal — used by manufacturers) 1 MB = 1024 KB · 1 GB = 1024 MB · 1 TB = 1024 GB Image File Size (Bitmap)
Bits
File size = Width (px) × Height (px) × Colour depth (bits per pixel) Bytes
File size (bytes) = (W × H × CD) / 8 Colour depth: 1-bit = 2 colours · 8-bit = 256 · 24-bit = 16.7 million.
Sound & Video File Size
Sound
File size (bits) = Sample rate (Hz) × Bit depth × Duration (s) × Channels Video
File size ≈ Frame size × Frame rate × Duration. Apply compression ratio if specified. Text File Size
ASCII = 7-8 bits, Unicode (UTF-16) = 16 bits.
File size (bits) = Number of characters × Bits per character Data Transmission Time
Time (s)
Time = File size (bits) / Data transfer rate (bits per second) Convert bytes to bits (×8) before dividing by bps. State units in answer.
Bandwidth & Compression
Bandwidth
Bandwidth (bps) = Data transferred / Time taken Compression ratio
Original size : Compressed size (e.g. 4:1) Lossy
Permanent quality loss — JPEG, MP3, MP4 Lossless
No quality loss — ZIP, PNG, FLAC Networking, Internet & Digital Communication
Network Types & Topologies
LAN / WAN / WLAN / PAN
Local · Wide · Wireless · Personal Area Network Star
All devices connect to central switch/hub — most common Bus / Ring / Mesh
Single backbone · Closed loop · Every device connected to every other Network Hardware
Router
Connects different networks (e.g. LAN to internet) Switch / Hub
Switch sends to destination only · Hub sends to ALL devices NIC / Modem / WAP
Network Interface Card · Modulator-demodulator · Wireless Access Point Internet Protocols & Addresses
IP address
IPv4: 4 numbers 0-255 (e.g. 192.168.1.1) · IPv6: 128-bit hex MAC address
Unique hardware ID — 6 hex pairs (e.g. 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E) URL / HTTP / HTTPS
protocol://domain/path — HTTPS uses TLS/SSL encryption FTP / SMTP / POP3 / IMAP
File transfer / Email send / Email receive / Email sync Cloud Computing
SaaS
Software as a Service — e.g. Google Docs PaaS / IaaS
Platform / Infrastructure as a Service Cyber Security
Threats: Hacking · Phishing · Pharming · Smishing · Vishing · Malware (virus, worm, trojan, spyware, ransomware) · DoS attack Protection: Firewall · Anti-malware · Encryption · Strong passwords · 2FA · HTTPS · Biometrics · Backups Hardware, Software & User Interfaces (Paper 1 Theory)
Input & Output Devices
Input
Keyboard · Mouse · Touchpad · Touchscreen · Microphone · Camera · Scanner · Barcode/OMR/OCR/MICR · Sensors · Stylus · Graphics tablet Output
Monitor (LCD/LED/OLED) · Printer (inkjet, laser, dot-matrix, 3D) · Speakers · Headphones · Plotter · Projector · Actuator Storage Types
Magnetic
HDD, magnetic tape — cheap, large capacity, slower Optical
CD, DVD, Blu-ray — read by laser Solid-state
SSD, USB flash, SD card — fast, no moving parts Internal Memory
RAM
Random Access Memory — volatile, holds running programs ROM
Read-Only Memory — non-volatile, holds boot instructions Software Categories
System software
Operating system, utilities (antivirus, file manager, disk defrag) Application software
User-facing — word processors, spreadsheets, browsers User Interface Types
GUI / CLI
Graphical (WIMP) · Command Line (text) Menu-driven / Voice / Touch
Menu lists · Speech recognition · Smartphones, tablets, kiosks File Formats
Image
JPEG (lossy) · PNG (lossless, transparency) · GIF (animation) · BMP (uncompressed) · SVG (vector) Audio / Video
MP3, WAV, FLAC · MP4, AVI, MOV Document
PDF · DOCX · TXT · CSV (data) · RTF SDLC & Project Management (Component 2 Practical Workflow)
Edexcel's practical paper expects you to follow the Systems Development Life Cycle on every multi-stage task.
Stage 1 — Analysis
Understand the problem and the user's requirements before building anything.
Read the brief carefully · Identify inputs, outputs and processes · List user requirements · Note constraints (time, software available, file formats) Stage 2 — Design
Plan the solution before opening the software.
Sketch layouts (spreadsheet, web page, presentation) · Plan database fields and data types · Plan formulas/queries · Identify house style (font, colour, logo) Stage 3 — Implementation
Build the solution using the chosen application.
Save regularly with sensible filenames · Use absolute references for copied formulas · Apply validation rules · Maintain a consistent house style Stage 4 — Testing
Check the solution does what was required.
Test data types
Normal (typical) · Boundary (edge values) · Erroneous (invalid) Document expected vs actual outcome and screenshot evidence Stage 5 — Evaluation
Reflect on whether the solution meets requirements.
Compare against original user requirements · Identify strengths and limitations · Suggest improvements (more validation, better layout, automation) Evidence & Submission
Screenshot in formula view AND results view for every spreadsheet · Print/PDF database query design + results · Save web pages as both HTML and screenshot Use Show Formulas (Ctrl+`) before saving spreadsheet evidence — this is the most-missed mark on Component 2.
Effects of ICT — Theory Vocabulary (Paper 1)
Theory questions reward both 'benefits' and 'drawbacks' — always present BOTH.
Effects on Employment
Created roles
Network engineer · Web designer · Data analyst · Cyber-security · Software developer · UX designer Lost roles
Manual factory work · Bank tellers · Travel agents · Retail (high-street) Working Patterns
Teleworking · Remote / hybrid · Flexitime · Compressed hours · Job sharing · Part-time Pros: less commute, flexibility, cost savings · Cons: isolation, work-life blur, distractions Online Services
Online banking · Online shopping · Online booking · E-government · E-learning · Streaming · Cloud storage · Social networking Health & Safety with ICT
RSI / Eye strain
Repetitive Strain Injury — breaks, ergonomic kit · Glare, blue light — anti-glare screen, 20-20-20 rule Back/neck / Headaches
Adjustable chair, monitor at eye level · Lighting, regular breaks Electrical hazards
No trailing cables, PAT testing Data Protection
Personal data must be: collected lawfully · used only for stated purpose · accurate & up-to-date · kept securely · not kept longer than needed · accessible to data subject · not sent abroad without protection How to Use This Formula Sheet
Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.
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Practise Formula Building
Build sample spreadsheets weekly: VLOOKUP, IF nesting, COUNTIF. Examiners reward correct argument order — practise without copying examples.
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Follow the SDLC on Every Practical Task
Edexcel Component 2 marks reflect process as well as result. Plan → build → test → evaluate, and screenshot evidence at every stage.
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Always State Units
For file size and transmission questions, state bits, bytes, MB or seconds in your answer. Method marks are awarded even with arithmetic slips — but only if working is shown.
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Two-Sided Theory Answers
Theory questions on effects of ICT (employment, working patterns, health) usually want BOTH benefits and drawbacks. Plan a balanced response.
Formula Sheet FAQ
Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.
Is the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE ICT Formula Sheet 2026 free to download as a PDF?
Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.
What Information & Communication Technology topics and equations does this formula sheet cover?
This page groups key Information & Communication Technology formulas in one place for revision. Comprehensive Pearson Edexcel International GCSE ICT (4IT1) formula sheet for 2026 exams. Covers spreadsheet formulas (SUM, IF, VLOOKUP, COUNTIF), database operators, file size & data transfer calculations, networking… Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.
Can I use this instead of the official exam formula booklet in the exam?
No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hall—usually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.
Who is this formula sheet for (Secondary)?
It is written for students preparing for assessments at Secondary in Information & Communication Technology, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.
How should I revise with this formula sheet?
Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.
Where can I get more help with Information & Communication Technology revision?
Explore Tutopiya’s study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.
Need Help with Edexcel IGCSE ICT Theory & Practical?
Practice Pearson Edexcel ICT Paper 1 theory and Component 2 practical with an experienced tutor — spreadsheets, databases, web authoring, presentations and SDLC documentation. We focus on accurate formulas, validation rules and theory keyword precision.
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This formula sheet aligns with Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Information & Communication Technology (4IT1) specification content for 2026 examinations.
For Component 2, always check spreadsheet formulas display correctly with Show Formulas before saving evidence — and use absolute references when copying.