AS/A Level Computing
Level 3 - Full A Level equivalent
This A Level has a strong emphasis on problem solving and mathematical reasoning. It is recommended that students have at least a grade B in GCSE Maths. Those with a grade C will be required to take AS Use of Maths.
Students will learn how to program using visual basic.net and explore problem solving using a variety of software. They will study theoretical aspects of computing which include data representation, the system life cycle, machine level architecture, hardware and software, the structure of the internet and web page design. In the second year you go into the subject in more detail and produce a substantial project to solve a real life problem using your programming skills. There is also a demanding written exam at the end of the two years. Further information about this course can be found on the AQA website: www.aqa.org.uk
Assessment is in the form of two exams. One is PC based where you will write and adapt programs in visual basic.net, the other is a written exam.