GCE A Level Computer Science
The A-level Computer Science qualification is relevant to the modern and changing world of computing and the higher education community. Like the GCSE, the course is practical; students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It is a creative subject that combines invention and excitement and the qualifications will value computational thinking, help students to develop the skills to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of human and machine intelligence.
This course also consists of three components:
Paper 1, Programming Theory and Skills, 2 hours 30 mins. Worth 40%.
- Fundamentals of programming
- Fundamentals of data structures
- Fundamentals of algorithms
- Theory of computation
Paper 2, Computing Theory, 2 hours 30 mins. Worth 40%.
- Fundamentals of data representation
- Fundamentals of computer systems
- Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture
- Consequences of uses of computing
- Fundamentals of communication and networking
- Fundamentals of databases
- Big Data
- Fundamentals of functional programming
In addition to these units, students will be required to complete a programming project which is worth 20% of the final mark. In this practical unit, students will need to analyse a problem and then design, develop and evaluate a solution.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in IT
Today’s BTEC Nationals are demanding, as you would expect of any applied learning qualification in the UK. You will have to complete a range of units, be organised, take assessments that the exam board will set and mark, and keep a portfolio of your assignments. Level 3 BTEC is not an easy option!
This qualification is designed for learners who are interested in an introduction into the study of creating IT systems to manage and share information alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in IT.
Learners will develop a common core of IT knowledge and study areas such as the relationship between hardware and software that form an IT system, managing and processing data to support business and using IT to communicate and share information. They will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in IT systems, systems management and social media in business. This will enable learners to progress to further study in the IT sector or other sectors.
Learners will study four units:
Unit 1: Information Technology Systems
- External exam, written Paper (not on-line), worth 1/3 of the entire course
- Digital Devices
- Data Transmission
- Operating Online
- Protecting Data
- Impact of IT Systems
Unit 2: Creating Systems to Manage Information
- Controlled assessment, worth ¼ of the entire course
- Focusses on the creation of a Database System using Microsoft Access
Unit 3: Using Social Media in Business
- Internally assessed coursework, worth 1/4 of the entire course
- Explore the impact of social media on the ways in which businesses promote their products and services
- Develop a plan to use social media in a business to meet requirements
- Implement the use of social media in a business.
Unit 6: Website Development
- Internally assessed coursework, worth 1/6 of the entire course
- Selection of written coursework tasks as well as designing and building a website for a client.
- Use of Adobe Dreamweaver and Photoshop to build, as well as developing coding skills in HTML and CSS.
