New GCEs for 2008
GCE Computing (2510)
AS outline
At AS, candidates following this specification do not need to have prior knowledge of Computing or ICT. In the specification there are two units which allow candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of the fundamental principles of Computing.
The AS specification has 2 units:
Unit 1: Problem Solving, Programming, Data Representation and Practical Exercise
The specimen materials for Unit 1 have been prepared using Pascal. AQA does not recommend one specific programming language to centres for this specification and for the live examination the skeleton program will be available in a range of different languages.
Topic list
- Stages of problem solving
- Drawing and interpreting simple state transition diagrams and transition tables
- Introducing the term algorithm, expressing the solution to a simple problem as an algorithm
- Programming in a high level programming language and the fundamentals of structured programming
- The binary number system, number bases and information coding schemes
- The stages of development of a hardware/software system.
Assessment
| On-screen exam: | 2 hours |
| Weighting: | 60% of total AS marks |
| 30% of total A Level marks |
Candidates will submit print outs for external marking by AQA.
Short answer questions.
All questions are compulsory.
Pre-release material (skeleton program and test data) will be published in advance. Candidates will be expected to familiarize themselves with this and to use it to answer questions and write a program during an on-screen timetabled examination.
Unit 2: The Computer Components, The Stored Program Concept and The Internet
Topic list
- Logic gates and boolean algebra
- The internal components of a computer
- Hardware devices
- The fundamentals of computer systems
- The structure of the internet, networking protocols and the consequences of uses of computing.
Assessment
| Written Paper: | 1 hour |
| Weighting: | 40% of total AS marks |
| 20% of total A Level marks |
Question paper/answer booklet examination.
Externally marked by AQA.
Short answer questions.
All questions are compulsory