Computer Science
GCSE
Year 10 & 11 Course summary:
CS 1: 2 hour examination (50%)
This unit investigates hardware, logical operations, communication, data representation and data types, operating systems, principles of programming, software engineering, program construction, security and data management and the impacts of digital technology on wider society.
CS 2: 3 hour on-line examination (30%)
This unit investigates problem solving, algorithms and programming constructs, programming languages, data structures and data types and security and authentication.
CS 3: Non-exam Assessmenet (20%)
This unit requires learners to produce a programmed solution to a problem. They must analyse the problem, design a solution to the problem, develop a final programmed solution, test the solution and give suggestions for further development of the solution. Throughout the production of the solution learners are required to produce a refinement log that evidences the development of the solution
AS/A Level
AS: Year 12 Course summary:
CS 1: Fundamentals of Computer Science - Examination (2 hours) (25%)
This unit investigates computer architecture, communication, data representation, data structures, software applications, programs, algorithms, logic, programming methodologies and the impact of computer science on society.
CS 2: Practical Programming to Solve Problems - On-screen Examination (2 hours) (15%)
This unit consists of a series of set tasks completed on-screen by candidates. These tasks will assess the practical application of knowledge and understanding and will require the use of Visual Basic.NET, Python or Java as a programming language.
A Level: Year 13 Course summary:
CS 3: Programming and System Development - Examination (2 hours) (20%)
This unit investigates programs, data structures, algorithms, logic, programming methodologies and the impact of computer science on society.
CS 4: Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications - Examination (2 hours) (20%)
This unit investigates computer architecture, communication, data representation, organisation and structure of data, programs, algorithms and software applications.
CS 5: Programmed Solution to a Problem - Non-exam Assessmenet (20%)
Candidates discuss, investigate, design, prototype, refine and implement, test and evaluate a computerised solution to a problem chosen by the candidate which must be solved using original code (programming).
This is a substantial piece of work, undertaken over an extended period of time.