Alongside the entry requirements for each course, you will also need to achieve the minimum Sixth Form entry requirements.
Assessment
Components 1 and 2 are externally assessed. Each exam is worth 40% of the final A-level. Component 3 is an internally assessed and moderated unit which is worth 20%.
Next Steps
Studying Computing can lead to a wide array of careers, including App Development and System Analysis.
A-Level in Computer Science
This course has been designed to allow students to familiarise themselves with the subject knowledge and skills in computer science and computer systems, enabling learners to progress to further study of the sector or other computing related sectors.
Explore the relationship between hardware and software as part of a computer system. You will examine the way computer components work both individually and together to store and process data, and the way in which data is transmitted and used in computer systems.
Component 2: Algorithms and Programming
Students will develop their knowledge of computational thinking from GCSE. Looking at the concepts of abstraction and decomposition and applying these skills to produce algorithms for a range of situations and tasks. You will look at standard algorithms for searching and sorting data and be introduced to new algorithms such as Dijkstra’s shortest path. The unit will allow pupils to develop their programming skills, focusing on Python in preparation to undertake their independent programming project.
Component 3: Programming Project
Learners will be expected to analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document an independent program written in a suitable programming language. The underlying approach to the project is to apply the principles of computational thinking to a practical coding problem.
