A-Level Computer Science

What will I be learning? 

Students will study 3 components within the course. These are:  

  • Computer Systems
  • Algorithms and programming
  • Programming Project

How will I be assessed?

Students will take two exams at the end of Year 12 – these are worth 40% of the total A-Level each. Students will also complete an independent programming project which is worth 20%.

Independent study opportunities

Students will be required to work on their programming skills outside of the lessons to enhance their knowledge of coding.  They will also be set programming projects, research tasks, blended learning tasks and home learning tasks to complete in their independent study periods and at home.

What resources do I need? 

No specific resources are required, although students may find that access to a computer or laptop at home might be beneficial when completing independent programming tasks and working on their projects.

Will I go on any trips?

We are looking into organising trips, including a possible visit to Bletchley Park which hosts the national computing museum.   

What careers could this lead on to? 

An A-Level in computer science could lead into the following careers:

  • Applications developer
  • Software engineer
  • Cyber security analyst
  • Game designer / developer
  • Systems analyst
  • Web designer / developer

What grades do I need for this course? 

An Average Point Score of a 4 is needed. Prior programming experience is a must, preferably as a result of taking computer science at GCSE level.