A-Level Computer Science

Course summary

To enable students to develop an understanding of and ability to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science. To gain the ability to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving problems by writing programs. The course is split into three main sections. The first section; Computer Systems, contains the majority of the theory content. This will test students’ knowledge and understanding of key computing hardware and software concepts. The second section is Algorithms and programming; this relates principally to problem solving skills needed by learners to apply the knowledge and understanding encountered in section one. The third section is a programming project. This is a practical portfolio based assessment with a task that is chosen by the teacher or learner and is produced in an appropriate programming language. Summary of course content: • The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices • Software and software development • Exchanging data • Data types, data structures and algorithms • Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues • Elements of computational thinking • Problem solving and programming • Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms