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  • Computer Science - H046, H446 (from 2015)

AS and A Level Computer Science - H046, H446 Teaching from 2015

Computer Science - H046, H446 (from 2015)

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Specification at a glance

  • A Level

  • AS Level

Assessment overview

Students must take all three components to be awarded the OCR A Level in Computer Science.

ComponentMarksDurationWeightinginsert text

Computer systems (01)

1402 hours 30 mins40%The internal workings of the (CPU), data exchange, software development, data types and legal and ethical issues.
Calculators not allowed.

Algorithms and programming (02)*

1402 hours 30 mins40%Using computational thinking to solve problems.
Calculators not allowed.

Programming project (03)*

70-20%Non-exam assessment.
Students will be expected to analyse a problem (10 marks), and design (15 marks), develop and test (25 marks), and evaluate and document (20 marks) a program. The program must be to solve it written in a suitable programming language.

* Indicates the inclusion of synoptic assessment.

Content overview

Component 01: Computer systems

Students are introduced to the internal workings of the (CPU), data exchange, software development, data types and legal and ethical issues. The resulting knowledge and understanding will underpin their work in component 03.

It covers:

  • The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
  • Types of software and the different methodologies used to develop software
  • Data exchange between different systems
  • Data types, data structures and algorithms
  • Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues.

Component 02: Algorithms and programming

This builds on component 01 to include computational thinking and problem-solving.

It covers:

  • What is meant by computational thinking (thinking abstractly, thinking ahead, thinking procedurally etc.)
  • Problem solving and programming – how computers and programs can be used to solve problems
  • Algorithms and how they can be used to describe and solve problems.

Component 03: Programming project

Students are expected to apply the principles of computational thinking to a practical coding programming project. They will analyse, design, develop, test, evaluate and document a program written in a suitable programming language. The project is designed to be independently chosen by the student and provides them with the flexibility to investigate projects within the diverse field of computer science. We support a wide and diverse range of languages.

Download A Level specification

Assessment overview

Students must take both components to be awarded the OCR AS Level in Computer Science.

ComponentMarksDurationWeightinginsert text

Computing principles (01)

701 hour 15 mins50%A written paper assessing the majority of the content of the specification.
Calculators not allowed.

Algorithms and problem solving (02)*

701 hour 15 mins50%A written paper assessing the application of the knowledge and understanding developed in component 01.
Calculators not allowed.

* Indicates the inclusion of synoptic assessment

Content overview

Component 01: Computing principles

Students are introduced to the fundamental technical principles of computing.

This component covers:

  • The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices
  • Types of software and the different methodologies used to develop software
  • Data exchange between different systems
  • Data types, data structures and algorithms
  • Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues.

Component 02: Algorithms and programming

This builds on component 01 to include computational thinking and problem-solving.

It covers:

  • What is meant by computational thinking (thinking abstractly, thinking ahead, thinking procedurally etc.)
  • Problem solving and programming – how computers and programs can be used to solve problems
  • Algorithms and how they can be used to describe and solve problems.
Download AS Level specification
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