A Level Computing

Computing
Level: AS and A Level

Board: AQA

Method of Assessment
Over the two year course, three of the four modules are assessed by exams. In your first year you will also complete a board set coursework project and then sit an exam based on this practical work. In your second year you will have a major coursework project of your choice to complete.

Why choose this course?
If you already have an interest in all things to do with computing or have studied this subject for GCSE, DiDA or GNVQ IT at school (although this is not a requirement) and are now looking to extend your skills into programming and the more technical aspects of computing including how a computer works, then you will enjoy this course.

What will I study?
You will learn the skill of programming using the Visual Basic.NET programming language, covering all the fundamentals which are present in any programming language. You will also look at all aspects of computers. For your first piece of assessed coursework you will have to solve a problem set by the examining board. You will undertake practical work, then documenting it as a report which you will take into the exam; where you will answer questions about the work you have done and the content of your report.

In your second year you will continue to develop your programming skills including web-based programming. You will build on all that you learned in your first year and we will deliver the theory content in a practical way wherever possible. You will also work on your coursework project throughout year 2.

Huish Extra
The team has a dedicated server for you to work with and this will include practical use of a database server such as Interbase, and MySQL and the IIS web server for the production of web based projects in either the PHP or ASP programming language.

The team runs a web design enrichment activity open to all college students and will be useful for students who have little or no web site production skills.