Computer Science

A-Level

Course Content

Welcome to the OCR A-Level Computer Science Course!

This course follows 2 textbooks-

Heathcote & Heathcote OCR A-Level Computer Science.

This engaging book covers the basics of the course, with diagrams, pictures and online content. PDF Amazon Link

Hamilton OCR A-Level Computer Science

This book is written by a former A-level ComSci graduate. What it lacks in graphics and aesthetics it makes up for by covering topics in greater depth- an excellent accompaniment to Heathcote & Heathcote. Amazon Link

OCR Course Resources:

H446 Specification | Spec At A Glance | Papers and Coursework

Where Should I Be?

Click to see what piece of work you should be working on now: LVI Form | UVI Form

H446/01: Computer Systems (40%)

Chapter 1: Structure and Function of the Processor

This chapter follows on from GCSE ComSci Ch 11, where we gained an overview of the Processor. At A-level, we go into much more detail.

Ch1 Prologue: Ch1 Refresher | Walkthrough * *

Ch1 Booklet

Ch1Pt1: Intro1 | Ch1Pt1 *

Ch1Pt2: Intro1 | Ch1Pt2 *

Ch1Pt3: Intro1 | Ch1Pt3 *

Ch1Pt4: Intro1 Intro2 | Ch1Pt4 *

Chapter 2: Inputs, Outputs & Storage

Ch2 Prologue: Ch2 Refresher | Walkthrough **

Ch2 Booklet

Ch2Pt1: Intro1 Intro2 Intro3 | Ch2Pt1 *

Ch2Pt2: Intro1 Intro2 Intro3| Ch2Pt2 *

Ch2 Solutions: Ch2 Completed | Ch2Ex1Ans * | Ch2Ex2Ans *

Chapter 3: The Operating System & Working With the Cloud

Ch3 Prologue: Ch3 Refresher | Walkthrough * *

Ch3Booklet

Ch3Pt1: Intro1 | Ch3Pt1 *

Ch3Pt2: Intro1 Intro2 Intro3 | Ch3Pt2 *

Ch3Pt3: Ch3Pt3 *

Ch3Pt4: Intro1 Advanced Watching Ch3Pt4 *

Ch3 Solutions: Ch3 Completed | Ch3Ex1Ans * | Ch3Ex2Ans * | Ch3Ex3Ans * | Ch3Pt4Ans *

Chapter 4: Software Development Models, Flavours of Programming, OOP, Assembly & LMC

Ch4 Prologue: Ch4 Refresher | Walkthrough * *

Ch4 Booklet

Ch4Pt1: Intro1 | Intro2 | Intro3 | Ch4Pt1 *

Ch4Pt2: Ch4Pt2 *

Ch4Pt3: Intro | Ch4Pt3 *

Ch4Pt4: Intro1 | Intro2 | Intro3 | Intro4 | Ch4Pt4 *

Ch4Pt5: Ch4Pt5 *

Ch4Pt6: Ch4Pt6 *

Chapter 5: Compression, Encryption, Hashing, Databases & SQL

Ch5 Prologue: Ch5 Refresher | Walkthrough * *

Ch5 Booklet

Ch5Pt1: Intro1 | Intro2 | Ch5Pt1 *

Ch5Pt2: Intro1 | Intro2 | Ch5Pt2 *

Ch5Pt3: Intro1 | Intro 2a, Intro 2b | Ch5Pt3 *

Ch5Pt4: Intro | Ch5Pt4 *

Ch5Pt5: Intro | Ch5Pt5 *

Ch5Pt6: Ch5Pt6 * | Ch5Step45Folder

Ch5Pt7: Ch5Pt7 * | Ch5Ws7Folder

Ch5Pt8: Ch5Pt8 *

Chapter 6: LANs, WANs, The Internet & Network Security

Ch6 Prologue: Ch6 Refresher | Walkthrough *

Ch6 Booklet

Ch6Pt1: Intro1 Intro2 | Ch6Pt1 *

Ch6Pt2: Intro1 | Ch6Pt2 *

Ch6Pt3: Intro1 | Intro2 Ch6Pt3 *

Ch6Pt4: Ch6Pt4 *

Ch6 Solutions: Ch6 Completed | Ch6Ex1Ans | Ch6Ex2Ans | Ch6Ex3Ans | Ch6Ex4Ans

Chapter 7: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Search Engines, Client-Server & Peer-To-Peer

Ch7 Booklet

Ch7Pt1: Intro1 | Intro2 | Ch7Pt1 *

Ch7Pt2: Intro | Ch7Pt2 *

Ch7Pt3: Intro | Ch7Pt3 * | Ch7Ws3Q5

Ch7Pt4: Intro1 | Intro2 | Ch7Pt4 * | Ch7Step28

Ch7Pt5: Intro | Ch7Pt5 *

Chapter 8 : Binary, Hex, Binary Algebra, Floating Point Numbers

Ch8 Booklet

Ch8Pt1: Ch8Pt1 *

Ch8Pt2: Intro1 | Intro2 | Ch8Pt2 * | Ch8Ex2Q5.py *

Ch8Pt3: Intro1 | Intro2 | Ch8Pt3 * | Ch8Ex3Q10

Ch8Pt4: Intro | Ch8Pt4 * | Ch8Ex4Q17

ChPt5: Ch8Pt5 *

Chapter 9: Data Types: Arrays, Records, Queues, Stacks, Linked Lists

Ch9 Booklet

Ch9Pt1: Intro | Ch9Pt1 *

Ch9Pt2: Intro1 | Intro2 | Intro3 | Ch9Pt2 * | Ch9Step14.py

Ch9Pt3: Intro | Intro | Ch9Pt3 * | Ch9Step23.py

Ch9Pt4: Intro | Ch9Pt4 * | Ch9Step36.py

Ch9Pt5: Intro | Ch9Pt5 *

Chapter 10: Data Types: Graphs and Trees

Ch10 Booklet

Ch10Pt1: Intro1 | Intro2 | Intro3 | Ch10Pt1 *

Ch10Pt2: Ch10Pt2 * | Ch10Step16.py | Ch10Step17.py

Ch10Pt3: Intro1 | Intro2 | Ch10Pt3 *

Ch10Pt4: Intro1 | Ch10Pt4 * | Ch10Step35.py | Ch10Step41.py | Ch10Step44.py

H446/02: Computational Thinking (40%)

TO BE CONTINUED...

H446/03: Programming Project (20%)

The coursework element involves:

Proposing a task that is unique to you, suitably complicated, with enough suitable content.
Define the scope of the project. What do you want to achieve? Success criteria.
Research the task- a feasibility study and analysis
Interview stakeholders. Survey, get feedback, analyse feedback.
Design the program: GUI, mechanics, aesthetics, sound, storyboard.
Illustrate modular design of program with diagrams etc
In-House Testing: Design a testing plan. Normal, Boundary, Erroneous inputs. White box, Black box testing.
Alpha testing: Get stakeholders to test the program and collect feedback.
Testing analysis and improvements: Analyse test results. Define bugs, logic errors and elements to improve. Plan the next phase of development.
Repeat: Iterate the Design - Build - Test cycle until completion.
Appendix: All content referenced in the earlier sections is contained in the appendix. Research, surveys, designs, program code, testing plans, testing results and testing analysis all goes in the appendix.