EuraStudy
RevisionRevision / N11UK · A-Levels
Computer Science
A-Level Computer Science is the study of computation itself - how problems are decomposed and abstracted into algorithms, how those algorithms are expressed as programs and reasoned about for correctness and efficiency, and how the whole edifice is built up from binary digits, logic gates and the stored-program processor. Set against the Department for Education GCE AS and A level subject content and delivered here through the AQA 7517 specification, it runs from the fundamentals of programming, data structures and algorithms and the theory of computation, through data representation, computer systems, organisation and architecture, up to networking, databases, big data, functional programming and the consequences of computing, closing with a substantial independently-developed programming project. It is assessed as much on the ability to write, trace and analyse algorithms and to build a working solution as on recall, and it carries a high practical and mathematical demand.
0/62 Texts14 Chapters~211 min total
AQA 7517 4.1.1AQA 7517 4.1.2DfE GCE Computer Science - programmingAQA 7517 4.1.3DfE GCE Computer Science - programming constructsAQA 7517 4.1.4+128 moreFoundationStandardAdvanced
Table of contents · 14 ChaptersT·14
- Number bases and conversionsText L·213 min
- Signed integers and binary arithmetic (two's complement)Text L·223 min
- Fixed- and floating-point representationText L·234 min
- Character sets and bitwise operationsText L·244 min
- Representing images and soundText L·254 min
- Data compression and encryptionText L·264 min
- Fundamentals of programming
- Fundamentals of data structures
- Fundamentals of algorithms
- Theory of computation
- Fundamentals of data representation
- Fundamentals of computer systems
- Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture
- Fundamentals of communication and networking
- Fundamentals of databases
- Big Data
- Fundamentals of functional programming
- Consequences of uses of computing
- Systematic approach to problem solving
- Non-exam assessment – the computing practical project
- Paper 1 (AQA 7517/1) - on-screen
- 2 hours 30 minutes, 100 marks, 40% of the A-Level. An on-screen examination that tests a student's ability to program together with the theoretical content of programming, data structures, algorithms and the theory of computation (in particular sections 4.1-4.4, with the problem-solving skills of 4.13). Candidates answer on-screen using a Preliminary Material booklet and a Skeleton Program issued in advance in their chosen language (C#, Python, VB.NET, Java, C++ or Pascal/Delphi). Assessment is weighted towards application and design: AO2 (apply knowledge and understanding) and AO3 (design, program, evaluate) dominate, with AO1 (knowledge and understanding) the remainder.
- Paper 2 (AQA 7517/2) - written
- 2 hours 30 minutes, 100 marks, 40% of the A-Level. A written examination that tests the theoretical content of data representation, computer systems, organisation and architecture, the consequences of computing, communication and networking, databases, big data, functional programming and the systematic approach to problem solving (sections 4.5-4.13). A mix of short-answer, structured and extended-response questions, including Boolean simplification, number and logic work, and evaluative essay-style items on the consequences of computing.
- Non-exam assessment (NEA) - the practical project
- 75 marks, 20% of the A-Level, marked by the centre and moderated by AQA. A substantial, independently-developed programming project for a real end user, documented across analysis, documented design, technical solution, testing and evaluation (section 4.14). It is the only component that is not a timed examination and is the principal place the practical programming skills are assessed.
- Assessment objectives and grading
- Across the whole A-Level the assessment objectives are: AO1 knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of computer science (roughly a quarter of the marks); AO2 application of that knowledge and understanding, including to analyse problems in computational terms (the largest single share); and AO3 design, program and evaluate computer systems that solve problems, making reasoned judgements and presenting conclusions (a substantial share, much of it in the NEA and Paper 1). The full linear A-Level is sat at the end of the course and graded A*-E (U below E).