Computer Science
Why study Computer Science?
Computer Science is the foundation of the future and offers the chance to develop knowledge, skills and think creatively about a subject which is a core building block of any career.
Michael Newton, Head of Computer Science
About the Course
Computer Science is the study of computer principles and their application.
Although programming is a significant practical component of the course, so too is the modelling and analysing of problems to find solutions that will be implemented using computer systems. We live in the information age, where computers touch every aspect of our lives – from the games we play and social networks we use to the way businesses and government deal with us. Computers are ubiquitous, and computer scientists can be found in every industry. Popular career paths include Game Designer, Program Developer, System Analyst, Database Administrator and Network Manager. There is no shortage of opportunities for those with computer science skills. The A-level course aims to get you thinking creatively about problems solving, understanding computer systems and developing the ability to program. There are two written exam papers at the end of year 13 each worth 40% of the course and a practical coding project coursework worth 20%.
Examination Board
OCR (H046)
Course Structure
- Practical skills Programming, data structures, algorithms, theory of computation, problem-solving skills
- Theory Data representation, computer systems, computer organisation and architecture, uses of computing, communication and networking, databases, Big Data, functional programming
- Non-exam assessment Computing practical project