AS & A2 COMPUTING SCIENCE

‘Relax. It’s only ones and zeros’.
(Anon.)

Ashbourne’s Computing and ICT Department

This department is headed by Irwin Chin. Irwin holds a Bachelor of Engineering & Electronics from Imperial College, London.

Examination Board

Ashbourne Follows the AQA specification for Computing. The specification has been approved by the QCA for teaching from September 2008.

Unit 1 COMP1 Problem Solving, Programming, Data Representation and Practical Exercise

1.1 Fundamentals of Problem Solving
1.2 Fundamentals of Programming
1.3 Fundamentals of Data Representation
1.4 Systems Development Life Cycle

Unit 2 COMP2 Computer Components, The Stored Program Concept and the Internet

2.1 Fundamentals of Computer Systems
2.2 Fundamental Hardware Elements of Computers
2.3 Machine Level Architecture
2.4 Hardware Devices
2.5 The Structure of the Internet
2.6 Web page design
2.7 Consequences of Uses of Computing

Unit 3 COMP3 Problem Solving, Programming, Operating Systems, Databases and Networking

3.1 Problem Solving
3.2 Programming Concepts
3.3 Real Numbers
3.4 Operating Systems
3.5 Databases
3.6 Communication and Networking

Unit 4 COMP4 The Computing Practical Project

The Project provides an opportunity to test the candidates’ understanding of the connections between the different areas of computing. It allows candidates to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the systems development life cycle.

The skills to be demonstrated include analysis, design, construction/implementation, testing and evaluation of a substantial computer-based task undertaken over an extended period. The report should summarise the work carried out by the
candidate. Projects should be selected which allow candidates to demonstrate practical and problem-solving skills, as well as the techniques of documentation and
system testing.

The project topic could involve a computer solution to:

• a data-processing problem of an organisation
• a scientific or mathematical problem
• a simulation of a real-life situation
• a computer-aided learning system
• a control system / robotics.

Possible University Degree Programmes Suited to A-level Computing

Computing A level can be a useful qualification opening up the pathway to a number of possible undergraduate and graduate areas of study, including Computing and IT, Computer Science, IT & Business, Mathematics and Computing, Aeronautical Engineering and Engineering amongst others.