A Level Computer Science

Please refer to EN's Entry Requirements Guide for specific advice on our Admissions Policy. This guide is supplied at interview to prospective students and is also available to Schools & Careers Advisers.

You do not need to have prior knowledge of Computing but this is an academically demanding course.

You will learn through practical application, research and interactive activities how to solve problems using programming.

You should be prepared to spend time learning how to program and developing skills which will be of use in the workplace.

Computer Science is the fastest growing subject at both GCSE and A level and is a key area for job prospects in an increasingly digital age.

AS:

The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices

Software and software development

Exchanging data

Data types, data structures and algorithms

Legal, moral, ethical and cultural issues

Elements of computational thinking

Problem solving and programming

Algorithms

Floating Point Binary Arithmetic

A2: As above plus

Fundamentals of databases

Big Data

Tree navigation

Fundamentals of functional programming

Systematic approach to problem solving

Non-exam assessment – the computing practical project (NEA)

Exam - 100%

An average GCSE score of 5.80 or above. Grade 6 or better in GCSE Maths.

Assessment

Two exams at AS level both with 50% weighting. One is on-screen with access to previously released skeleton code. One is a written exam. At A2 there are two exams again (40% weighting each) plus a project (20%). The AS exams do not count towards the A2 grade as this is the new type of A-level.

A qualification in Computer Science is highly desirable to all employers/universities as Computer Scientists are in demand in this ever increasingly technological age.