Pre Course Introduction and Activities
Course: ICT A Level (AQA)
Units: INFO1 and INFO2
Objectives:
● After downloading material contained in this worksheet you will be ready to start the
course in September and should be able to show you understand the structure of the
course
● After completing the activities you will have a taste of what ICT is like at A Level and
whether it is the right subject for you!
Please note these activities are compulsory for all students and an important part of the A
Level course.
Download this Study Guide
(you will need to select this link at the top of the page to download this Microsoft Word
document)
AS Year
Unit 1 – INFO1 Practical Problem Solving in the Digital World - 50% of the AS
Note: INFO1 is coursework, however marks are gained through the end of year exam
Unit 2 – INFO2 Living in the Digital World - 50% of the AS
A2 Year
Unit 3 – INFO3 The Use of ICT in the Digital World - 60% of the A2
Unit 4 – INFO4 Coursework: Practical Issues Involved in the Use of ICT in the Digital World - 40% of the A2
Now, go online and find the following:
1. A university course which you might progress to
2. Job/s which might require skills learnt on this course
3. An apprenticeship which takes concepts/practical skills further
Practical Problem Solving (INFO1)
Give three examples of what a small business might use Microsoft Excel for:
1. 2. 3. Which of the keywords in the table below relates to microsoft excel? Make them bold!
Which of these have you used? put this tick
✓ by each one
keyword table:
merge cells
sort data
adjust volume
write calculation
fade in
sum
balance and contrast
record macro
insert frames
validation
change gradient
select query
create graph
format cells
conditional formatting
vector shapes
vlookup
html page
form controls
worksheet
frame rate
What involvement might the following people have in your ICT project?
explain
Client
User
Audience
continued...
Hardware and Software (INFO2)
This activity is about hardware and software you have used, this will both help you get an idea
of what INFO 2 is like but also tell your teacher something about the things you enjoy doing with
ICT.
What do you consider the most important items of hardware you own (or have used)
Name / picture of the item
Explain what it does
(add new items by pressing tab)
● more information on hardware and software
Discuss some of the software you have used at home/school
Name of software
What can this do?
What did you enjoy about this?
(add new items by pressing tab)
Now try this exam question
“Discuss the hardware and software required by a student going on a ‘round the world’
backpacking trip”
(20 marks - you have 24 minutes for this in the exam)
Tips: think about all the things you might want to do on the backpacking trip and try and write as
specifically about these as you can. Keep paragraphs organised and use as much ICT
terminology as you can. Include an introduction and conclusion.
Checklist
Downloaded the ‘Study Guide’
Questions on excel and ICT projects
Hardware activity
Software activity
Exam question (20 marks)
Any questions you have prior to the course please feel free to contact me….
We look forward to seeing to in September
The ICT Team