Science GCE

[Cloud]

Sorry for making yet another A-level science topic edu career etc thread

 

I am revising for my Science GCSE as we speak.

(exactly 2 months till "D-day")

 

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Can someone tell me what the Computer Science GCE (AS/A2) is like.

 

In the previous thread I made someone commented that it was like business studies. Is this true? I hate anything to do with spreadsheets and/or access.

And also writing up ethical essays on computers and society. Boring.

 

I'm more technical orientated. Is the Computing A-level like business ???

 

So far I have picked Biology, Mathematics, Critical thinking.

 

I just can't choose between Psychology or Computer Science.

 

Please reply from personal information or personal information passed on by somebody . . . personal.

 

Thanks in advance.

Much appreciated

[Klaynos]

In the previous thread I made someone commented that it was like business studies. Is this true? I hate anything to do with spreadsheets and/or access.

 

IT (ICT) is similar in alot of ways to business studies.

 

Computing/CompSci a-levels do seem to depend somewhat on teh course you take. If you go the differnt exam boards you will be able to find teh spec for the courses, find out which one your college will use is the best option.

 

Personally I didn't touch a spreadsheet (and know noone who did computing who did) or access, but I know people who used access with VB.

 

You will probably learn some form of basic language, and probably somehting like VB or pascale/delphi. My advice, try to avoid VB like the plague.

 

We did basic programing principles, differnt sort types, logical gates, how processors work and basic stuff about assembly. It was technical, alot of theory. We also did a bit about networks and things like that.

 

My advice look for specifications...

[Dave]

I have had similar experiences. I took the Edexcel A-level Computing course. We studied quite a lot of things, from general GCSE IT-style stuff to computer architecture and design. There's a lot more emphasis on programming and learning how a computer actually works on the inside. A-level ICT is no comparison really.

 

Just to give you an idea of what goes on, for my AS-level coursework I designed a Tic-Tac-Toe game in VB, converted a recursive algorithm to a iterative one and created an Access database. Generally you have to find your own project for the A-level coursework; I created a website for my dad's finance stuff.

[5614]

VB really isn't that bad, it's a really good first language, or I think it is anyway.

 

I'm doing GCE ICT which is damn boring... but then the Sixth Form I'm at does not offer Computer Science or Computing so I didn't have much of a choice. For ICT I can still bring my VB knowledge into making macros and buttons on spreadsheets and databases, and like dave said, for A-Level you need to find your own project and it needs to be a real one.

 

Check out specifications. Maybe look at a past paper for both subjects, you might not understand them now but one day you could, look at them and see which one you would want or like to understand. And try talking to people that have done one or both, so not me!