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Key Stage 5

Learners follow the AQA Computer Science A-Level Specification

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/computer-science-and-it/as-and-a-level/computer-science-7516-7517/specification-at-a-glance 

The specification consists of two exams and a non-exam assessment, which assesses a student's ability to use the knowledge and skills gained through the course to solve or investigate a practical problem. The topics covered by the course include:

  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

Assessment Structure

Paper1

What's assessed: this paper tests a student's ability to program, as well as their theoretical knowledge of Computer Science from subject content 1 to 4.

Students answer a series of short questions and write/adapt/extend programs in an Electronic Answer Document based on a pre-released skeleton code from the exam board

  • On-screen exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • 40% of A-level

 Paper2

What's assessed: this paper tests a student's ability to answer questions from subject content 5 – 13.

Compulsory short-answer and extended-answer questions.

  • Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • 40% of A-level

Non-exam Assessment (NEA)

What's assessed: the non-exam assessment assesses a student's ability to use the knowledge and skills gained through the course to solve or investigate a practical problem. .

Students make their own choice about what they want to do a project in. This goes from creating a game, a simulation or an app, a translator, or a website with backend database. The ideas are endless.

  • 75 marks
  • 20% of A-level

 Useful Websites

Isaac Computer Science - https://isaaccomputerscience.org/?examBoard=all&stage=all 

Craig’n’Dave You Tube Videos -https://www.youtube.com/@craigndave/featured 

Physics and maths tutor computer science materials - https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/computer-science-revision/a-level-aqa/