COMPUTER SCIENCE – A-LEVEL
Awarding Body: OCR
Course Code: H446
QAN: 601/4911/5
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OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE
This course 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.
CONTENT AND ASSESSMENT
Component 1 – Systems [40% of A-Level]
The internal workings of the CPU, data exchange, software development, data types and legal and ethical issues.
Assessment: Written exam, 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Component 2 – Algorithms and programming [40% of A-Level]
This builds on component 1 to include computational thinking and problem-solving. The focus of this component is on developing an understanding of standard algorithms and how to interpret real-world problems as a combination of variables and structures that can be manipulated in the digital world.
Assessment: Written exam, 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Component 3 – Programming project [20% of A-Level]
Students are expected to apply the principles of computational thinking to a practical programming project. They will analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document a program in a suitable programming language. The project is intended to be independently chosen by the student and provides them with the flexibility to investigate projects within the diverse field of computer science.
Assessment: Internally marked, examined assessment. This will take approximately 70 hours to complete.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Grade 6 or above in GCSE Maths, and in GCSE Computer Science or a relevant ICT course is desirable.