Computing

Computing AS and A2 INTRODUCTION
Introducing AQA's new course specification for Computing for AS and A Level. This new redrafted specification has been designed to: Prepare students who wish to go on to higher education courses or employment where a knowledge of Computing would be beneficial. Allow students to demonstrate their knowledge of the fundamental principles of the subject, with an emphasis on Computer Science and Computation. This course encourages the student to think computationally. Computational thinking is a kind of reasoning used by both humans and machines. Thinking computationally is an important life skill. Thinking computationally means using abstraction and decomposition. The study of computation is about what can be computed and how to compute it. Computer Science involves questions that have the potential to change how we view the world.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
A minimum of 4 GCSEs at grade C or above are required as minimum entry qualifications. These must include Maths at grade B and English at grade C. Logical thinking is important to deal with algorithms and programming.

LENGTH OF COURSE
AS level is a one year course, followed by a second year for those progressing to A2 level. The full A-Level is a two year course.

AS Computing
(1 Year)

Unit 1 COMP1 Problem Solving, Programming, Data Representation and Practical Exercise
Unit 2 COMP2 Computer Components, The Stored Program Concept and the Internet
3.1.1 Fundamentals of Problem Solving 3.1.2 Fundamentals of Programming 3.1.3 Fundamentals of Data Representation 3.1.4 Systems Development Life Cycle

3.2.1 Fundamentals of Computer Systems 3.2.2 Fundamental Hardware Elements of Computers 3.2.3 Machine Level Architecture 3.2.4 Hardware Devices 3.2.5 The Structure of the Internet 3.2.6 Web page design 3.2.7 Consequences of Uses of Computing

A2 Computing
(1 Year)

3.3 Unit 3 COMP3 Problem Solving, Programming, Operating Systems, Databases and Networking
3.4 Unit 4 COMP4 The Computing Practical Project
3.3.1 Problem Solving 3.3.2 Programming Concepts 3.3.3 Real Numbers 3.3.4 Operating Systems 3.3.5 Databases 3.3.6 Communication and Networking
The project topic could involve a computer solution to: a data-processing problem of an organisation a scientific or mathematical problem a simulation of a real-life situation a computer-aided learning system a control system / robotics.

ALTERNATIVES
For those to whom Computational Thinking or Computer Science does not appeal, Applied ICT could be another alternative. Students applying for Applied ICT do not need to have a Grade B or higher in Maths.

WHERE NEXT?
It is expected that many students will progress to an A2 course in the second year and university afterwards to take up an IT / Computing related course. One can also study Computing and go on to a career in medicine, law, business, politics or any type of science.