Welcome to Computer Science
How is A’ level Computer Science assessed?
Year 1
Year 2
Unit 1 Practical
Unit 1 Practical
Theory of computation.
Fundamentals of programming, data
structures and algorithms.
End of year 1 assessment.
Theory of computation. Fundamentals of
programming, data structures and
algorithms.
150 min on-screen exam. 40% of A’ level.
Unit 2 Theory
Unit 2 Theory
Fundamentals of data
representation, computer systems,
organization and architecture,
communication and networking.
Software development and
consequences of uses of computing.
End of year 1 assessment.
Fundamentals of data representation,
functional programming, computer systems,
organization and architecture,
communication and networking. Big data
and consequences of uses of computing
150 min written exam. 40% of A’ level.
Project Practical
Individual programming project of the
candidates own choice
20% of the A’ level
What does Computing involve?
Theory
o the main components of a
computer
o how data and instructions
are held.
o how an algorithm is designed
and run on a computer
Practical
o
o
how to plan a
computer program
to solve a problem
how to code your
solution in Java
Why bother studying Computer Science?
o Algorithms are all around. Computer science
helps us understand the world we live in.
o You can have much more control over the
computer
o It is a challenge!
o It is fun!
Sutton trust 2014
Should I have some knowledge of
programming already?
You can learn to program right from scratch… BUT
You will need:
• To learn the basic rules of a computer language
• To have a logical approach to problem solving
• To be able to follow instructions carefully!
• To be very patient
– if it doesn’t work at first,
try again!
What support
is available?
• subject workshops
• talks and trips
• materials on Moodle VLE
• library resources
• teacher help outside lessons
• course textbook and course booklets
• regular tests relevant to both theory and practical exams
• many web sites relevant to the course
• each other – students often work together and support each other
• other Computer Science lessons (if free)
• department resources (textbooks for wider reading / micro-controllers)
• IT department technical help
What else can I do?
• work on my own projects
• work on challenging extension problems
• enter for the British Informatics Olympiad
• take part in the national student robotics competition
• take part in the national cipher challenge
• participate in a STEM project
• gain a CREST award for research
• apply for a summer placement at a University or business
• research and gain an AS EPQ in year 2
What do students who have done this course say?
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It is good fun and I have learnt useful skills
Great course, great class atmosphere
Enjoyed it and might open career path
This course provides a good introduction to programming
I loved being able to decide how to solve my own problems - it
really gave me a sense of creative freedom
• This course is challenging yet very fun
• It's not all coding. There's a lot of theory work involved
• I felt the course really furthered my knowledge about hardware and
programming. It has given me a good basic understanding
What do students advise?
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Be sure of the difference between computing and ICT
Learn code by writing a fun program
Learn your theory – it’s not just all programming
Be prepared to complete all work set
What is the difference between
Computer Science and IT?
Computer Science: is an exam based subject – you need to be logical
(generally good at Maths), a good problem solver, persistent and patient. You
will learn to program in Java from scratch. You will learn how to break down
problems of all kinds into small steps (algorithms) that can form the framework
of a computer program. Need GCSE grade 6 (B) in Maths and English.
IT (Cambridge technical qualification): 100% internally assessed coursework
– you need to enjoy problem solving using software including HTML, HTML5,
CSS and JavaScript. You will be working to a brief focused on meeting client
requirements. Need GCSE grade 4 (C) in Maths and English.