Computer Science – Wickersley Sixth Form

COMPUTER SCIENCE

QUALIFICATION

A Level

EXAM BOARD

OCR

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A minimum of a 5 in Maths is required, if GCSE Computer Science was studied, you must have achieved a minimum of grade 5.

COURSE LEADER

Mr N Lilleker

SUBJECT TEACHERS

Mr D Brown

WHY STUDY THIS COURSE?

It’s a great way to develop critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills, which can be transferred to further learning and to everyday life. The aims of this qualification are to enable learners to develop:

An understanding and ability to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including Abstraction, Decomposition, Logic, Algorithms and Data Representation.
The ability to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems including writing programs to do so.
The capacity to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically.
The capacity to see relationships between different aspects of computer science.
Mathematical skills.

WHAT DOES THIS QUALIFICATION COVER?

This course covers a comprehensive range of computer science topics, including hardware, software, computational thinking and algorithms. Modules include:

The characteristics of contemporary processors
Software and software development
Exchanging data
Data types, data structures and algorithms
Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
Problem solving and programming
Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

Unit 1 – Computer systems (40%)

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

Unit 2 – Algorithms and programming (40%)

Elements of computational thinking
Problem solving and programming
Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms

Unit 3 – Programming Project (20%)

The learner will choose a computing problem to work through according to the guidance in the specification.
Analysis of the problem
Design of the solution
Developing the solution
Evaluation

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

Two exams in the second year

Unit 1 – 2.5 hours – Worth 40% of final grade
Unit 2 – 2.5 hours – Worth 40% of final grade

The programming project for Unit 3 is submitted and marked during the second year, this is worth 20% of the final grade.

WHERE CAN IT LEAD?

Students who want to go on to higher study and employment in the field of Computer Science will find it provides a superb stepping stone, it will also provide a good grounding for other subject areas that require computational thinking and analytical skills.

COURSE MATERIALS

SUBJECTS