Computer Science Syllabus, Units & Marks
Studying this subject? See the Computer Science course, or read the units below first.
What is the Computer Science syllabus?
Computer Science is organised into 6 units. The full unit list, the topics inside each one and the exam pattern are below, taken from the syllabus we teach to.
Computer Science unit list
| Unit | Topic |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Unit 1: Topic 1: Computational thinking |
| Unit 2 | Unit 2: Topic 2: Data |
| Unit 3 | Unit 3: Topic 3: Computers |
| Unit 4 | Unit 4: Topic 4: Networks |
| Unit 5 | Unit 5: Topic 5: Issues and impact |
| Unit 6 | Unit 6: Topic 6: Problem solving with programming |
| Total | 6 units |
What each unit covers
Unit 1: Topic 1: Computational thinking
- What algorithms are, what they are used for and how they work
- Following, amending and writing algorithms
- Constructing and completing truth tables
- Decomposition and abstraction applied to real problems
Unit 2: Topic 2: Data
- Binary and denary conversion, and binary arithmetic
- Representing text, images and sound as data
- Units of data storage and how storage is calculated
- Lossy and lossless compression, and why compression is used
Unit 3: Topic 3: Computers
- Hardware components of a computer system and what each does
- System software, application software and the role of the operating system
- The characteristics of high-level and low-level programming languages
- Translators: compilers and interpreters
Unit 4: Topic 4: Networks
- Types of network, topologies and the hardware a network needs
- Protocols and the layered model of network communication
- Network security threats and how they are identified
- Methods of protecting a network, including encryption and authentication
Unit 5: Topic 5: Issues and impact
- Emerging trends in computing technology
- Impact of computing on individuals, society and the environment
- Ethical, legal and ownership issues, including data protection
- Environmental impact and responsible disposal of technology
Unit 6: Topic 6: Problem solving with programming
- Decomposing and analysing a problem before writing any code
- Reading, writing, refining and evaluating programs
- Variables, selection, iteration, arrays, functions and file handling in Python 3
- Designing, writing, testing and refining programs onscreen, as Paper 2 is examined
Exam pattern
Two externally examined papers, 50% each. Paper 1, Principles of Computer Science (1CP2/01): written, 1 hour 30 minutes, 75 marks, assessing Topics 1 to 5 in five compulsory questions. Paper 2, Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02): onscreen, 2 hours, 75 marks, assessing Topic 6 in six compulsory questions.
Practical and project work
Paper 2 is a practical assessment. Students design, write, test and refine programs onscreen in the IDE of their choice and answer in Python 3, working from supplied coding files and a printed question paper. Programming is practised every week, not revised from notes.