Course Overview

 GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE (9-1) 8525 

Exam Board: AQA 

Course Content and Skill Development

This course is engaging and practical, with plenty of opportunity for creativity and problem-solving. It encourages students to develop their understanding and application of the core concepts in computer science.

Learning focuses around the following strands:

3.1  Fundamentals of algorithms

3.2  Programming

3.3  Fundamentals of data representation

3.4  Computer systems

3.5  Fundamentals of computer networks

3.6  Cyber security 

3.7  Relational databases and structured query language

3.8  Ethical, legal & environmental impacts of digital technology on wider society

The course requires logical thinking to be able to problem-solve. Whilst this is a skill you will continually develop, if you feel confident solving puzzles or thinking ‘outside of the box’ to design a solution, you should enjoy the practical nature of this course. 

Method of Study

Class practical work, group work, problem-solving activities, class discussion and presentations.

A key part of the qualification is developing programming skills, and you will learn how to design, write, test and evaluate programs written in a text-based programming language (Python).

Assessment Structure

Paper 1: Computational Thinking and Programming Skills – 50%
Written exam, 2 hours, assessing topics 3.1 and 3.2 above

Paper 2:  Computing Concepts – 50%
Written exam, 1¾ hours, assessing topics 3.3 to 3.8 above

Opportunities Beyond Year 11

We live in a world that is shaped by the use of digital devices – being able to program them is a skill shortage in the UK. However, Computer Science is not just for people who want a career in the IT and computer industry – the skills and techniques you learn can be useful in any workplace. The creative and technical skills you learn are relevant to a host of careers in a range of sectors, from arts and graphics-based roles through to engineering, finance and business. Future pathways could include  A level Computing, vocational IT qualifications, industry-standard IT qualifications, or degree courses in Computing, Engineering and Science.