Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 2029: A New Python Course for 0265

Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science is changing significantly for examinations from 2029. One of the biggest changes is the move away from pseudocode towards Python 3, with students expected to solve programming problems using real Python syntax.

To support this, I have created a new Cambridge 0265 Python Commands – 2029 course. The aim is simple: teach the specific Python students need for the new specification without turning it into a general-purpose Python course. (The handwritten version will remain as 0478, but they will still need to write Python.)

Students begin with familiar commands such as:

name = input("Name: ")
score = int(input("Score: "))

if score >= 50:
    print("Pass")

But the new requirements introduce a much wider range of Python features.

Some of the important additions

One of the most noticeable is Python’s match-case selection:

match choice:
    case "A":
        print("Option A")
    case "B":
        print("Option B")
    case _:
        print("Unknown")

Students also need to understand more complete use of range():

range(10)
range(2, 10)
range(10, 0, -2)

along with loops that use break:

while True:
    answer = input("Continue? ")

    if answer == "no":
        break

String handling becomes more Python-specific too, including indexing and slicing:

name[0]
name[-1]
sentence[5:15]

Students also use methods such as:

name.upper()
name.lower()
name.title()
name.find("a")
name.replace("old", "new")

Lists become more powerful and practical:

scores.append(18)
scores.insert(0, 12)
scores.pop()
scores.sort(reverse=True)

along with functions such as:

sum(scores)
max(scores)
min(scores)
scores.count(18)

Functions use normal Python syntax:

def calculate_area(width, height):
    return width * height

and students also encounter useful features from the random and statistics modules:

random.randint(1, 6)
statistics.mean(scores)
round(answer, 2)

There is also proper Python file handling:

with open("scores.txt", "r") as file:
    scores = file.readlines()

17 levels of practice

The new course contains 17 progressive challenges, moving from variables and operators through selection, loops, strings, lists, functions, modules and files. The final challenge brings several of these skills together, requiring students to choose the appropriate Python tools rather than simply reproduce individual commands. This course is for those familiar with Python to get to know the specific features and highly recommended for teachers and students alike!

Try the course

The complete course is now available free online:

Cambridge 0265 Python Commands – 2029

It runs directly in the browser, so students can work through the challenges without installing Python.

For a broader look at the changes coming to Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science from 2029, I have also written:

Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 2029 – What is changing?

The key shift is that students are no longer just learning programming concepts and expressing them in pseudocode. They now need to become comfortable with the actual tools Python gives them.

That means understanding not only what an algorithm should do, but also how to make it work in Python.