Computer Science
GCSE

Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery.

It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes and development of both hardware and software.

It has scientific, engineering, mathematical, technological and social aspects. Wikipedia

Good reasons to do Computer Science?

• Interest in computing

• Like problem solving

• Thinking of studying computing/programming after GCSE

• Like playing computer games

• Not interested in how computers work

• Think it is an easy option

Poor reasons to do Computer Science?

Course Content

Computational thinking

Data

Computers

Networks

Issues and impacts

Problem solving with programming

Computational thinking

• understanding of what algorithms are, what they are used for and how they work

• ability to follow, amend and write algorithms; ability to construct truth tables

Data

• understanding of binary, data representation, data storage and compression.

Computers

• understanding of hardware and software components of computer systems and characteristics of programming languages.

Networks

• understanding of computer networks and network security

Issues and impact

• awareness of emerging trends in computing technologies,

• the impact of computing on individuals, society and the environment, including ethical, legal and  ownership issues

Problem solving with programming.

• understanding what algorithms are, what they are used for and how they work in relation to creating programs

• understanding how to decompose and analyse problems

• ability to read, write, refine and evaluate programs

Assessment

Paper 1: Principles of Computer Science
Written examination: 1 hour and 30 minutes
50% of the qualification
75 marks

Paper 2: Application of Computational Thinking
Onscreen examination: 2 hours
50% of the qualification
75 marks

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