Specification points
WJEC A-level Computer Science A500QS
112 points in 3 topics, with WJEC's codes and titles.
Grade boundaries·WJEC command words
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.
C1 Component 1: Programming and System Development
- C1.1 Data structures
- C1.2 Logical operations
- C1.3 Algorithms and programs
- C1.3.1 Variables and constants
- C1.3.2 Identifiers
- C1.3.3 Scope of variables
- C1.3.4 Parameters
- C1.3.5 Recursion
- C1.3.6 Mathematical operations
- C1.3.7 Validation and verification
- C1.3.8 Sorting
- C1.3.9 Searching
- C1.3.10 Programming constructs
- C1.3.11 Modular programming
- C1.3.12 Logical operations in algorithms and programs
- C1.3.13 Traversal of data structures
- C1.3.14 Compression
- C1.3.15 Testing
- C1.3.16 Comparing algorithms
- C1.4 Principles of programming
- C1.4.1 Levels of computer language
- C1.4.2 Types of computer language
- C1.5 Systems analysis
- C1.5.1 Approaches
- C1.5.2 Feasibility
- C1.5.3 Investigation
- C1.5.4 Analysis
- C1.5.5 Changeover
- C1.5.6 Program testing
- C1.5.7 Maintenance
- C1.5.8 Backup and recovery
- C1.5.9 Documentation
- C1.6 System design
- C1.6.1 Human-computer interaction
- C1.6.2 Design validation
- C1.6.3 Design evaluation
- C1.7 Software engineering
- C1.7.1 Software tools
- C1.8 Program construction
- C1.8.1 Compilers, interpreters and assemblers
- C1.9 Economic, moral, legal, ethical and cultural issues relating to computer science
- C1.9.1 Professional behaviour
- C1.9.2 Effect on employment
- C1.9.3 Legislation
C2 Component 2: Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications
- C2.1 Hardware and communication
- C2.1.1 Architecture
- C2.1.2 Fetch-execute cycle
- C2.1.3 Assembly language programming
- C2.1.4 Input / output
- C2.1.5 Secondary storage
- C2.1.6 Data storage on disc
- C2.1.7 Networking
- C2.2 Data transmission
- C2.2.1 Communication networks
- C2.3 Data representation and data types
- C2.3.1 Representation of data as bit patterns
- C2.3.2 Storage of Characters
- C2.3.3 Data types
- C2.3.4 Representation of numbers as bit patterns
- C2.4 Organisation and structure of data
- C2.4.1 File design
- C2.4.2 File organisation
- C2.5 Databases and distributed systems
- C2.5.1 Data validation and verification
- C2.5.2 Searching data
- C2.5.3 Database management systems
- C2.5.4 Big Data
- C2.5.5 Distributed systems
- C2.6 The operating system
- C2.6.1 Managing resources
- C2.6.2 Providing an interface
- C2.6.3 Managing backing store
- C2.6.4 Utility software
- C2.6.5 Modes of operation
- C2.6.6 Types of operating system
- C2.6.7 Consideration of human-computer interaction
- C2.6.8 Interrupts
- C2.6.9 Memory management and buffering
- C2.6.10 Scheduling
- C2.7 The need for different types of software systems and their attributes
- C2.7.1 Types of software
- C2.7.2 Safety related systems
- C2.7.3 Industrial, technical and scientific
- C2.7.4 Control systems
- C2.7.5 Expert systems
- C2.7.6 Internet and Intranet
- C2.8 Data security and integrity processes
- C2.8.1 Protecting data integrity
- C2.8.2 Privacy and security
- C2.8.3 Cryptography
- C2.8.4 Biometrics
- C2.8.5 Disaster planning
- C2.8.6 Malicious and accidental damage
- C2.8.7 Malicious software and mechanisms of attack and defence
C3 Component 3: Programmed Solution to a Problem
- C3.1 Discussion
- C3.2 Investigation
- C3.3 Design
- C3.3.1 Input and output
- C3.3.2 Data structures and methods of access
- C3.3.3 Processing stages
- C3.4 Prototype
- C3.5 Post-prototype refinement of design
- C3.6 Software development
- C3.7 Testing
- C3.7.1 Developmental testing
- C3.7.2 Testing the final system
- C3.7.3 Actual test runs
- C3.8 Evaluation
- C3.8.1 Evaluate the system