AQA A-level Computer Science

What is included

What this course covers

• Topic 1 — Fundamentals of programming

  • 1.1 – Programming
  • 1.2 – Programming paradigms

• Topic 2 — Fundamentals of data structures

  • 2.1 – Data structures and abstract data types
  • 2.2 – Queues
  • 2.3 – Stacks
  • 2.4 – Graphs
  • 2.5 – Trees (including binary trees)
  • 2.6 – Hash tables
  • 2.7 – Dictionaries
  • 2.8 – Vectors

• Topic 3 — Fundamentals of algorithms

  • 3.1 – Graph traversal: breadth-first and depth-first
  • 3.2 – Tree traversal: pre-order, in-order and post-order
  • 3.3 – Reverse Polish – infix transformations
  • 3.4 – Searching algorithms
  • 3.5 – Sorting algorithms
  • 3.6 – Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm

• Topic 4 — Theory of computation

  • 4.1 – Abstraction and automation
  • 4.2 – Regular languages
  • 4.3 – Backus-Naur Form (BNF)
  • 4.4 – Classification of algorithms
  • 4.5 – Turing machine

• Topic 5 — Fundamentals of data representation

  • 5.1 – Number systems
  • 5.2 – Number bases
  • 5.3 – Units of information
  • 5.4 – Binary number system
  • 5.5 – Information coding systems
  • 5.6 – Representing images, sound and other data

• Topic 6 — Fundamentals of computer systems

  • 6.1 – Hardware and software
  • 6.2 – Classification of programming languages
  • 6.3 – Types of program translator
  • 6.4 – Logic gates
  • 6.5 – Boolean algebra

• Topic 7 — Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture

  • 7.1 – Internal hardware components of a computer
  • 7.2 – The stored program concept
  • 7.3 – Structure and role of the processor and its components
  • 7.4 – External hardware devices

• Topic 8 — Consequences of uses of computing

  • 8.1 – Individual (moral), social (ethical), legal and cultural issues and opportunities

• Topic 9 — Fundamentals of communication and networking

  • 9.1 – Communication
  • 9.2 – Networking
  • 9.3 – The Internet
  • 9.4 – The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol

• Topic 10 — Fundamentals of databases

  • 10.1 – Data models and entity relationship diagrams
  • 10.2 – Relational databases
  • 10.3 – Database design and normalisation techniques
  • 10.4 – Structured Query Language (SQL)
  • 10.5 – Client server databases

• Topic 11 — Big Data

  • 11.1 – Volume, velocity and variety
  • 11.2 – Processing and modelling Big Data

• Topic 12 — Fundamentals of functional programming

  • 12.1 – Functional programming paradigm
  • 12.2 – Writing functional programs
  • 12.3 – Lists in functional programming

• Topic 13 — Systematic approach to problem solving

  • 13.1 – Aspects of software development

• Topic 14 — Programming project (NEA)

  • 14.1 – Guide to the programming project
  • 14.2 – Examples of high-scoring projects

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