Specification points

WJEC A-level Computer Science 1500QS

153 points in 4 topics, with WJEC's codes and titles.

Codes and titles are read by a script from WJEC's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: WJEC’s specification.

AS AS content (Units 1 and 2)

AS.1 Hardware and communication
AS.1.1 Architecture
AS.1.2 Fetch-execute cycle
AS.1.3 Input / output
AS.1.4 Secondary storage
AS.1.5 Data storage on disc
AS.1.6 Networking
AS.1.7 Internet
AS.2 Logical operations
AS.3 Data transmission
AS.3.1 Communication networks
AS.4 Data representation and data types
AS.4.1 Representation of data as bit patterns
AS.4.2 Storage of characters
AS.4.3 Data types
AS.4.4 Representation of numbers as bit patterns
AS.5 Data structures
AS.6 Organisation of data
AS.6.1 File design
AS.6.2 File organisation
AS.6.3 Data validation and verification
AS.7 Database systems
AS.8 The operating system
AS.8.1 Managing resources
AS.8.2 Providing an interface
AS.8.3 Managing backing store
AS.8.4 Utility software
AS.8.5 Modes of operation
AS.8.6 Consideration of human-computer interaction
AS.9 Algorithms and programs
AS.9.1 Variables and constants
AS.9.2 Identifiers
AS.9.3 Scope of variables
AS.9.4 Parameters
AS.9.5 Mathematical operations
AS.9.6 Sorting
AS.9.7 Searching
AS.9.8 Problem analysis
AS.9.9 Programming constructs
AS.9.10 Modular programming
AS.9.11 Logical operations in algorithms and programs
AS.9.12 Compression
AS.9.13 Testing
AS.10 Principles of programming
AS.10.1 Levels of computer language
AS.10.2 Types of computer language
AS.11 Systems analysis
AS.11.1 Feasibility
AS.11.2 Investigation and analysis
AS.11.3 Design
AS.11.4 Changeover
AS.11.5 Program testing
AS.11.6 Maintenance
AS.11.7 Backup and recovery
AS.11.8 Documentation
AS.12 Software engineering
AS.12.1 Software tools
AS.13 Program construction
AS.13.1 Compilers, interpreters and assemblers
AS.14 The need for different types of software systems and their attributes
AS.14.1 Types of software
AS.14.2 Industrial, technical and scientific
AS.14.3 Expert systems
AS.15 Practical programming
AS.15.1 Designing programs
AS.15.2 Develop programs
AS.15.3 Evaluate programs
AS.16 Data security and integrity processes
AS.16.1 Privacy and security
AS.16.2 Disaster planning
AS.16.3 Malicious and accidental damage
AS.17 Economic, moral, legal, ethical and cultural issues relating to computer science
AS.17.1 Effect on employment
AS.17.2 Legislation

4 Unit 4: Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications

4.1 Hardware and communication
4.1.1 Architecture
4.1.2 Assembly language programming
4.1.3 Input / output
4.1.4 Networking
4.2 Data transmission
4.2.1 Communication networks
4.3 Data representation and data types
4.3.1 Representation of numbers as bit patterns
4.4 Organisation and structure of data
4.4.1 File design
4.4.2 File organisation
4.5 Databases and distributed systems
4.5.1 Data validation and verification
4.5.2 Searching data
4.5.3 Database management systems
4.5.4 Big Data
4.5.5 Distributed systems
4.6 The operating system
4.6.1 Types of operating system
4.6.2 Interrupts
4.6.3 Memory management and buffering
4.6.4 Scheduling
4.7 The need for different types of software systems and their attributes
4.7.1 Types of software
4.7.2 Safety related systems
4.7.3 Control systems
4.7.4 Expert systems
4.7.5 Internet and Intranet
4.8 Data security and integrity processes
4.8.1 Protecting data integrity
4.8.2 Cryptography
4.8.3 Biometrics
4.8.4 Malicious software and mechanisms of attack and defence

5 Unit 5: Programmed Solution to a Problem

5.1 Discussion
5.2 Investigation
5.3 Design
5.3.1 Input and output
5.3.2 Data structures and methods of access
5.3.3 Processing stages
5.4 Prototype
5.5 Post-prototype refinement of design
5.6 Software development
5.7 Testing
5.7.1 Developmental testing
5.7.2 Testing the final system
5.7.3 Actual test runs
5.8 Evaluation
5.8.1 Evaluate the system

WJEC A-level Computer Science 1500QS

AS AS content (Units 1 and 2)

3 Unit 3: Programming and System Development

4 Unit 4: Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications

5 Unit 5: Programmed Solution to a Problem