Computer Science extends beyond IT literacy and teaches students about the fundamentals of computing systems. This subject would be of most relevance to those seeking to apply for Computer Science or Mathematics/Science/Engineering at university.
Pre-requisites
Students wish to take A-Level Computer Science must have achieved at least a grade 6 in GCSE Computer Science (or equivalent) in order to join this course. Experience with programming in Python is preferred.
Course specs
Exam board: AQA
The full specification can be found by following this link:
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/ict-and-computer-science/as-and-a-level/computer-science-7516-7517
The course is assessed by 2 exams (theory and hands on) and an exploratory piece of coursework worth 20% of the total grade.
Topic Overview
1. Fundamentals of programming
2. Fundamentals of data structures
3. Fundamentals of algorithms
4. Theory of computation
5. Fundamentals of data representation
6. Fundamentals of computer systems
7. Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture
8. Consequences of uses of computing
9. Fundamentals of communication and networking
10. Fundamentals of databases
11. Big Data
12. Fundamentals of functional programming
13. Systematic approach to problem solving
14. Non-exam assessment – the computing practical project
Assessment weighting
| Type of assessment | Format of assessment | Weighting |
| Paper 1 – 2 hour 30 on screen | Topics 1-13 | 40% |
| Paper 2 – 2 hour 30 written | Topics 4-13 | 40% |
| Non exam assessment | Topic 14 | 20% |
Contact for further information
Mrs MC Patterson: mcp@wellingtoncollege.org.uk