Description
This A Level Computer Science Online Course is ideal for anyone wishing to gain knowledge and understanding of this subject or for anyone who wishes to study at a higher level at University and gain UCAS points. You will also find this course extremely valuable if you are looking for a progression route for further training whilst employed.
Students use Cambridge International AS & A Levels to gain places at leading universities worldwide including the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
Our courses at International Home Study allow our students to work at their own pace and we work to ensure all our student’s needs are met. Our resources will cover the requirements of the course making sure you stay on track with the subject you choose.
Support
The course will be delivered online including Tutor Support for two years. All assignments are marked by one of our professional Tutors who will offer regular feedback and guide you through your course. Postal assignments cannot be accepted without prior permission from the tutor and you must have access to email in order to contact your Tutor.
Throughout your course, you'll have the support of a Tutor to guide you. Additionally, you can reach out to the Student Support Team for help with any other questions you may have. You can be assured that you will receive unlimited support for your home study course, so there is no need to struggle or feel isolated during your studies.
Assessment
The course contains a number of assignments which your tutor will mark and give you valuable feedback on. You will also have access to a range of online resources.
Students will be required to arrange and pay for their examinations at an approved centre when an examination forms part of the course. We can provide an extensive list of these centres for you.
Whats included?
Students will be provided with logins for the student portal where they will find all the study materials they need to complete their course. They will also be provided with an e-textbook to assist them in completing their assignments.
Students will be provided with a Tutor who will help guide them through their course, and their Tutor will expect them to submit a number of assignments in order that their progress can be monitored. These assignments will be graded for them and feedback provided. You will also be able to ask the Tutor any questions about the course or for more help if needed. Once their course has been completed, they will then be allocated practice exam papers to ensure that they are familiar with the procedure and layout of their exams. Learners will be expected to complete these under exam conditions (i.e.. stick to the time scales allowed and try to find somewhere quiet), their Tutor can then provide them with a grade and feedback. More practice papers can be provided if required.
Fees
Course fees for payment in full include:
- Assessment and feedback on all assignments.
- Access to your personal Tutor via our online portal.
- Access to a range of online resources, student materials, assessments, assignments, eBooks etc
- Practice exam papers to prepare you for the real thing.
- Help with UCAS application if attending University.
- Tutor references and predicted grades once a satisfactory amount of work has been completed.
- Help finding an exam centre for you to sit your exam.
Cambridge Exam Board
Awarding Body: Cambridge
Course Code: 9618
Study Hours: Recommended 300 – 360 hrs
Exams Available: June & November
This A’ Level Computer Science Course will provide you with a general understanding and perspective of the development of computer technology and systems, which will inform your decisions and support your participation in an increasingly technological dependent society.
This course will develop your knowledge and understanding of computer science through entry to higher education and also provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to seek employment in areas that use computer science.
The key concepts for Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science are:
Computational thinking
Computational thinking is a set of fundamental skills that help produce a solution to a problem. Skills such as abstraction, decomposition and algorithmic thinking are used to study a problem and design a solution that can be implemented. This may involve using a range of technologies and programming languages.
Programming paradigms
A programming paradigm is a way of thinking about or approaching problems. There are many different programming styles that can be used, which are suited to unique functions, tools and specific situations. An understanding of programming paradigms is essential to ensure they are used appropriately, when designing and building programs.
Communication
Communication is a core requirement of computer systems. It includes the ability to transfer data from one device or component to another and an understanding of the rules and methods that are used in this data transfer. Communication could range from the internal transfer of data within a computer system, to the transfer of a video across the internet.
Computer architecture and hardware
Computer architecture is the design of the internal operation of a computer system. It includes the rules that dictate how components and data are organised, how data are communicated between components, to allow hardware to function. There is a range of architectures, with different components and rules, that are appropriate for different scenarios.
All computers comprise of a combination of hardware components, ranging from internal components, such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and main memory, to peripherals. To produce effective and efficient programs to run on hardware, it is important to understand how the components work independently and together to produce a system that can be used. Hardware needs software to be able to perform a task. Software allows hardware to become functional. This enables the user to communicate with the hardware to perform tasks.
Data representation and structures
Computers use binary and understanding how a binary number can be interpreted in many different ways is important. Programming requires an understanding of how data can be organised for efficient access and/or transfer.
Modules
Candidates for Cambridge International A Level Computer Science Level study the AS topics and the following topics:
- Information representation
- Data Representation
- Multimedia – Graphics, sounds
- Compression
- Communication
- Networks including the internet
- Hardware
- Computers and their components
- Logic Gates and Logic Circuits
- Processor Fundamentals
- Central Processing Unit (CPU) Architecture
- Assembly Language
- Bit manipulation
- System Software
- Operating System
- Language Translators
- Security, privacy and data integrity
- Data Security
- Data Integrity
- Ethics and Ownership
- Databases
- Database Management System (DBMS)
- Data Definition Language (DDL) and Data Manipulation Language (DML)
- Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving
- Computational Thinking Skills
- Algorithms
- Data Types and structures
- Data types and Records
- Arrays
- Files
- Introduction to Abstract Data Types (ADT)
- Programming
- Programming Basics
- Constructs
- Structured Programming
- Software Development
- Program Development Lifecycle
- Program Design
- Program testing and maintenance
Candidates for Cambridge International A Computer Science Level study the AS topics and the following topics:
- Data Representation
- User-defined data types
- File organisation and access
- Floating-point numbers, representation and manipulation
- Communication and internet technologies
- Protocols
- Circuit switching, packet switching
- Hardware and Virtual Machines
- Processers, Parallel Processing and Virtual Machines
- Boolean Algebra and Logic Circuits
- System Software
- Purposes of an Operating System (OS)
- Translation Software
- Security
- Encryption, Encryption Protocols and Digital certificates
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Computational thinking and problem solving
- Further Programming
- Programming Paradigms
- File Processing and Exception Handling
Exam Papers
Paper 1: Theory Fundamentals
Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: June and November
Assessment Overview: Will assess sections 1 to 8 of the syllabus content.
75 marks
Paper 2: Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills
Time: 2 hours
Availability: June and November
Assessment Overview: will assess sections 9 to 12 of the syllabus content.
Candidates will need to write answers in pseudocode.
75 marks
Paper 3: Advanced Theory
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: June and November
Assessment overview. Paper 3 will assess sections 13 to 20 of the syllabus content.
75 marks
Paper 4: Practical
Practical examination: 2 hours 30 minutes
Availability: June and November
Assessment Overview: Paper 4 will assess sections 19 to 20 of the syllabus content, except for low-level and declarative programming.
Candidates will submit complete program code and evidence of testing.
Candidates will be required to use either Java, VB.NET or Python programming languages.
75 marks
