A Level Computer Science
Exam Board: OCR
Why study Computer Science?
Technology underpins most aspects of our daily life but what actually is the Internet and why is it different to the World Wide Web? Why won’t Android work on your iPhone? How can I make a video call to anyone in the world immediately and securely from any device? Study A Level Computer Science to begin to understand the answers to questions like these.
A Level Computer Science helps students understand the core academic principles of computer science. Classroom learning is transferred into creating real-world systems through the creation of an independent programming project. The A Level will develop the student’s technical understanding and their ability to analyse and solve problems using computational thinking.
Whilst there is no need to have studied computing or computer science at GCSE level, a minimum grade 6 in Maths is required.
How is the course assessed?
| Component | % of A-Level | Exam Length | Assessment Requirements |
|
Paper 1: Computer Systems |
40% |
2 hours 30 mins written exam
|
140 Marks The internal workings of the (CPU), data exchange, software development, data types and legal and ethical issues.
|
|
Paper 2: Algorithms and programming |
40% |
2 hours 30 mins written exam
|
140 Marks Using computational thinking to solve problems.
|
|
Programming project |
20% |
Non-exam assessment. |
70 Marks Students will be expected to analyse a problem (10 marks), and design (15 marks), develop and test (25 marks), and evaluate and document (20 marks) a program. The program must be to solve it written in a suitable programming language.
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Where can this subject lead?
Being amongst the technologically educated population will put you in a brilliant position for job searching, as there are so many careers where A-level computing skills are essential; besides obvious Computing roles these include Architecture, Engineering, Investment Banking, Research.
