GCSE Computer Science OCR, J276
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The GCSE course encourages students to develop their understanding and application of the core concepts in computer science. Students will analyse problems in computational terms and devise creative solutions by designing, writing, testing and evaluating programs. The course focuses on three main areas: Computer Systems; Computational thinking, algorithms and programming; and a programming project.
Units
– Systems Architecture
– Memory
– Storage
– Wired and wireless networks
– Network topologies, protocols and layers
– System security
– System software
– Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns
– Algorithms
– Programming techniques
– Producing robust programs
– Computational logic
– Translators and facilities of languages
– Data representation
– Programming project: programming techniques, analysis, design, development, testing and evaluation and conclusions
Assessment Breakdown
Computer systems (01)
80 marks, 1 hour and 30 minutes, Written paper (no calculators allowed) 50% of total GCSE
Computational thinking, algorithms and programming (02)
80 marks, 1 hour and 30 minutes, Written paper (no calculators allowed) 50% of total GCSE
Programming project (03)
Totalling 20 hours Non-Exam Assessment (NEA)
A Level Computer Science OCR, H446
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The Computer Science A Level is a practical subject where students apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. The aims of this qualification are to enable learners to develop an understanding and ability to apply the fundamental principles of computer science, including: abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation. It teaches the ability to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience (including writing programs) and the capacity to think creatively, logically and critically.
Units
– The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
– Software and software development
– Exchanging data
– Data types, data structures and algorithms
– Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues
– Elements of computational thinking
– Problem solving and programming
– Algorithms to solve problems and standard algorithms
– Programming project: The learner will choose a computing problem to work through according to the guidance in the specification, analysis of the problem, design of the solution, developing the solution, evaluation
Assessment Breakdown
Computer systems (01)
140 marks, 2 hours and 30 minutes, Written paper (no calculators allowed) 40% of total A Level
Algorithms and programming (02)
140 marks, 2 hours and 30 minutes, Written paper (no calculators allowed) 40% of total A Level
Programming project (03/04)
70 marks, Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) 20% of total A Level
Past Paper Questions and Mark Schemes