Why Study?
Computer Science is a practical subject where students can apply the academic principles learned in the classroom to real-world systems. It’s an intensely creative subject that combines invention and excitement and can look at the natural world through a digital prism.
What can I do with it?
Learners will develop an ability to critically analyse, evaluate and make decisions. The project approach is a vital component of ‘post-school’ life and is of particular relevance to Further Education, Higher Education and the workplace.
Subject combinations
A-level Computer Science works well alongside subjects that have some degree of mathematical content such as mathematics, the Sciences, Economics and Engineering.
Extras
The OCR A Level in Computer Science will encourage learners to be inspired, motivated and challenged by following a broad, coherent, practical, satisfying and worthwhile course of study. It will provide insight into and experience of how computer science works, stimulate learners’ curiosity and encourage them to engage with computer science in their everyday lives.
What will I study?
Component – 01: 40%
This component will introduce learners to the internal workings of the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the exchange of data and will also look at software development, data types and legal and ethical issues.
Component – 02: 40%
This component will incorporate and build on the knowledge and understanding gained in the Computer systems component and in addition will cover:
- Computational thinking
- The benefits of applying computational thinking to solving a wide variety of problems
- The principles of solving problems by computational methods
- The ability to use algorithms to describe problems and to be able to analyse a problem by identifying its component parts.
