KEY STAGE 4 COURSE INFORMATION 2014 - 2016
GCSE Computing
Examination Board OCR
Qualification title and ref no. GCSE ~ 4133
How is the pupil assessed?
Unit 1 (A451) Computer Systems & Programming Written Paper (1 hour 30 minutes) 40%
Unit 2 (A452) Practical Investigation Internal Controlled Assessment – set by OCR 30%
Unit 3 (A453) Programming Project Internal Controlled Assessment – set by OCR 30%
Key Dates - Theory content is continuous throughout the two year course.
Unit 2 (A452) Practical Investigation (Controlled Assessment) Year 10 Autumn part 2 &Spring Term
Unit 3 (A453) Programming Project (Controlled Assessment) Year 10 Autumn Term
Helpful websites
www.ocr.com
www.penair.cornwall.sch.uk – Moodle GCSE Computing
Wider Reading / Study Guides
OCR Computing text book (issued)
Summary of course
Unit 1 (A451) Computer Systems & Programming
This unit covers the body of knowledge about computer systems on which the examination will be
based. This includes; fundamentals of a computer system, hardware, software, representations of
data, databases, communications and networking and programming.
Unit 2 (A452) Practical Investigation
This unit is designed to provide candidates with an opportunity to carry out a practical investigation
into a computing issue and engage them with computing in the real world. Candidates study one from
a range of topics which will be supplied by OCR. Candidates will be expected to carry out practical
investigations of the topic(s) and any supplementary research necessary to complete these
investigations. Candidates will be expected to produce a report which will then be assessed under
the four headings:
• Practical activity
• Effectiveness and efficiency of the solution
• Technical understanding
• Testing, evaluation, judgements and conclusions
Unit 3 (A453) Programming Project
Candidates will create suitable algorithms which will provide a solution to a stated problem and then
code their solutions in a suitable programming language. The solutions must be tested at each stage
to ensure they solve the stated problem using a suitable test plan with appropriate test data. The
code must be suitably annotated to describe the process. Test results should be annotated to show
how these relate to the code, the test plan and the original problem. Candidates will need to provide
an evaluation of their solution based on the test evidence.
How can parents help?
Encouraging supportive self-study
Newspapers/news broadcasts/bbc iplayer
Contact us: Mrs C Trevennen etrevennen@penair.cornwall.sch.uk
Mr B Wilson bwilson@penair.cornwall.sch.uk
Mr M Holmes mholmes@penair.cornwall.sch.uk