Computer Science

Specification: EDEXCEL

Why study Computer Science?

Computer Science is relevant to the modern and changing world of computing. The new specification will allow you to:

• Focus on programming, building on GCSE Computing and emphasise the importance of computational thinking as a discipline.
• Have an expanded maths focus, much of which will be embedded within the course.
• Put computational thinking at its core, helping you to develop skills to solve problems, design systems and understand human and machine intelligence.
• Allow you to apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real world systems in an exciting and engaging manner.
• Give you a clear progression into higher education, as the course was designed after consultation with members of BCS, CAS and top universities.

What will I study?

Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It’s an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement, and can look at the natural world through a digital prism. The aims of this qualification are to enable learners to develop:

• An understanding and ability to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including: abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation.
• The ability to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including writing programs to do so
• The capacity to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
• The capacity to see relationships between different aspects of computer science
• Mathematical skills.

The key features of this specification encourage:

• Emphasis on problem solving using computers
• Emphasis on computer programming and algorithms
• Emphasis on the mathematical skills used to express computational laws and processes, e.g. Boolean algebra/logic and comparison of the complexity of algorithms
• Less emphasis on ICT.

Assessment overview

Full A’ level

• Computer systems (01) 140 marks 2 hours and 30 minutes written paper 40% of total A’level
• Algorithms and programming (02*) 140 marks 2 hours and 30 minutes written paper 40% of total A’level
• Programming project (03* or 04**) 70 marks Non-exam assessment 20% of total A’level

or

For AS level

• Computing principles (01) 70 marks 1 hour and 15 minutes written paper 50% of AS level
• Algorithms and problem solving (02*) 70 marks 1 hour and 15 minutes written paper 50% of AS level

Entry requirements

• Grade C ICT GCSE or equivalent.
• Grade B Mathematics

Course expenses

There are no additional costs

Further information

http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-computer-science-h046-h446-from-2015/