A Level Computer Science

How is the course examined?

80% exam, 20% NEA coursework

Unit 1 - Computer systems (Component 1) 2 hour 30 minute written exam 40% of final grade

This component will introduce students to the internal workings of the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the exchange of data and will also look at software development, data types and legal and ethical issues. It is expected that students will draw on this underpinning content when studying computational thinking, developing programming techniques and devising their own programming approach in the Programming project component.

Algorithms and programming (Component 2) 2 hour and 30 minute written exam 40% of final grade

This component will incorporate and build on the knowledge and understanding gained in the Computer systems component (01). In addition, you should:

• Understand what is meant by computational thinking
• Understand the benefits of applying computational thinking to solving a wide variety of problems
• Understand the principles of solving problems by computational methods
• Be able to use algorithms to describe problems
• Be able to analyse a problem by identifying its component parts.

Programming project (Component 3) coursework 20% of final grade

You will be expected to analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document a program written in a suitable programming language.

How is the course internally assessed?

Students complete an assessment each half term, requiring students to answer short and extended writing questions based on content covered within the class. Grade outcomes range from A* - U.