Computer Science
Content
Computer Science is a practical subject where learners can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real world systems. It is an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement, and can look at the natural world through a digital prism. OCR’s A Level in Computer Science will value computational thinking, helping learners to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence. |
Entry requirements
Please refer to The John of Gaunt Sixth Form entry requirements. |
Attendance
This is a two year A Level course. |
Assessment
By following this link, you can see the specification on the exam board website:
https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/computer-science-h046-h446-from-2015/
Module |
Level |
Module Title |
Mode of Assessment |
Brief Outline of Module |
Comp 1 |
A2 |
Computing principles |
140 marks 2 hours and 30 minutes written paper |
The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices Software and software development Programming Exchanging data Data types, data structures and algorithms Legal, moral, ethical and cultural issues |
Comp 2 |
A2 |
Algorithms and problem solving |
140 marks 2 hours and 30 minutes written paper |
Elements of computational thinking Problem solving and programming Algorithms |
Comp 3 |
A2 |
Programming project |
70 marks Non-exam assessment |
Analysis of the problem Design of the solution Developing the solution Evaluation |
Moving On
The whole course is based on studying and applying the use of Computing in the workplace so it is difficult to think of any career in which a study of the use of computers at this level would not be advantageous. Computing A Level provides a good basis for further study or a career in the IT industry.