A-Level Computer Studies

Level

A-Level Computer Studies

The College of West Anglia
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Description

AS level (year 1)

Unit 1: Problem solving, programming, data representation and practical exercise

Fundamentals of problem solving:
- Stages of problem solving.
- Understanding and defining the problem.
- Planning solutions including top-down and modular design.
- Refining the solution.
- Expressing the solution to a simple problem as an algorithm using flowcharts, pseudo-code or structured English and the standard constructs: sequence, assignment, selection and repetition.
- Understanding the standard algorithms: bubble sort, linear search.

Fundamentals of programming:
- Using a third-generation level language.
- Using data types appropriately, including: integer, byte, real, boolean, character, s…

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AS level (year 1)

Unit 1: Problem solving, programming, data representation and practical exercise

Fundamentals of problem solving:
- Stages of problem solving.
- Understanding and defining the problem.
- Planning solutions including top-down and modular design.
- Refining the solution.
- Expressing the solution to a simple problem as an algorithm using flowcharts, pseudo-code or structured English and the standard constructs: sequence, assignment, selection and repetition.
- Understanding the standard algorithms: bubble sort, linear search.

Fundamentals of programming:
- Using a third-generation level language.
- Using data types appropriately, including: integer, byte, real, boolean, character, string, date/time.
- The role and use of variables and arrays.

Fundamentals of data representation:
- Understanding different interpretations that may be associated with a pattern of bits.
- Number systems: binary, denary, hexadecimal.
- Differentiating between the character codes ASCII and Unicode.
- Bitmapped and vector graphics: resolution, colour depth, objects and their properties.
- Sound files and audio streaming: the need for compression and basic techniques.
- Sampled sound and sampling resolution.
- Sampling rate.
- Analogue and digital data: differentiating between analogue and digital data and analogue signals.

Systems development life cycle:
- Describing the stages of development of a hardware/software system.
- Design and program the solution as per the design.
- Implement and test the programmed solution.

Unit 2: Computer components, the stored program concept and the Internet

Fundamentals of computer systems:
- Understanding the relationship between hardware and software and be able to define both.
- How software is classified and the difference between system software (operating system, utility programs) and application software.

Fundamental hardware elements of computers:
- Logic gates and truth tables.
- Manipulatating and simplifying simple boolean expressions.

Machine level architecture:
- The basic internal components of a computer system.
- The need for and means of connection between components including processor, main memory, address bus, data bus, control bus, I/O controllers and I/O ports.
- The Fetch-Execute cycle and the role of the processor.

Hardware devices:
- Input and output devices and their main characteristics and principles of operation.
- Comparing the capacity, speed and suitability of various media for different applications.

The structure of the Internet:
- The Internet, World Wide Web (WWW) and routing.
- Understanding the difference between the Internet, the Web and an intranet.
- How domain names are organised
- The role of an Internet Service provider (ISP) and Domain Name Server (DNS).
- The client-server model and the protocols TCP/IP, FTP, HTTP, POP3 and SMTP.

Web page design:
- Creating simple web pages containing hyperlinks using HTML and style sheets.

Consequences of computing use
- Issues of ownership of information and programs, and the protection of data and current legal controls which specifically refer to computerised data and programs.
- Hacking.
- Robotics: What are machines good and bad at? What can we learn from machines? What are the limitations of using machines as tools?

A2 level (year 2)

Unit 3: Problem solving, programming, operating systems, databases and networking

Problem solving:
- Modelling of a complex system.
- Understanding that some algorithms are more space or time efficient than others.
- Software and hardware limitations.

Programming concepts:
- Programming using objects to model a simple problem.
- Manipulating structured data.
- The link between choice of algorithms and volume of data to be processed.

End Qualification:

Year 1: AS Level Computer Studies
Year 2: A2 Level Computer Studies

Entry Requirements:

Interview required

5 GCSEs at grade C or above including grade B maths. A practical assessment will be given in the first week.

Assessment:

AS Unit 1 - 60% of AS - 30% of A2
2 hour on-screen examination - 100 marks. Skeleton program and test data released on 1 April. Candidates use this to answer short questions and to write a program.

AS Unit 2 - 40% of AS - 20% of A2
1 hour written examination - 60 marks. Compulsory short answer questions.

A2 Unit 3 - 30% of A2
2 hour 30 minutes written examination - 100 marks. Compulsory short and extended answer questions.

A2 Unit 4 - 20% of A2
Coursework, internally assessed, and moderated by AQA - 75 marks. Report documenting a programmed solution to a real problem.

Progression from this course:

BSc Computer Science or HND and degree programmes at university or employment.

Location:

King's Lynn Campus - PE30 2QW

Duration:

2 Years

Start times:

September 2013

How to Apply:

Please apply online using the general college application form

Course Costs:

All students on full-time courses will need to pay a materials/resources fee. Details will be provided before enrolment. If you are under 19 on 31st August in the year you begin your programme, you will not have to pay tuition or registration fees for your course. For students aged 19 or over, there will be a tuition fee (depends on the course) for each year of the course as well as a registration fee (which includes exam fees). However, many students will be eligible for reduced fees and / or financial support towards the costs. Click here for detailed information. Please contact Student Services if you have further queries.

Students are required to purchase their own text books.

Additional Information:

Contact Student Services: King's Lynn - 01553 761144 Isle (Wisbech) - 01945 582561 A level courses in Wisbech are run and delivered in partnership with Thomas Clarkson Community College.

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