A Level Computing AQA (7517) In studying Computing we begin to understand the technologies, theory and protocols behind computers and the Internet. Through this students will understand what is behind radical changes in the modern world made through increasingly powerful and available computational power. Digital systems have become a critical component of our entire society; there is a significant shortfall between estimated numbers of graduates with Computer Science knowledge and jobs requiring this understanding. Topics assessed through exam are list below: Fundamentals of programming - students learn to adapt and create programs Fundamentals of data structures – ways of storing and working with connected data Fundamentals of algorithms –understanding some common algorithms to solve specific problems and creating your own algorithms to solve problems Theory of computation Fundamentals of data representation -learning computers can represent different real world information digitally Fundamentals of computer systems- how various computer hardware components work Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture – the role of the internal hardware components in a computer system Consequences of uses of computing - Individual (moral), social (ethical), legal and cultural issues and Opportunities Fundamentals of communication and networking Fundamentals of databases Big Data Fundamentals of functional programming Systematic approach to problem solving There is also a practical project through which you will develop practical skills in the context of solving a realistic problem or carrying out an investigation. Studying Computing teaches a set of rigorous techniques and methods which can be applied outside of the field of computing including; approaching problem solving using modelling, decomposing into solvable parts and generalising to known solutions. With its emphasis on abstract thinking, algorithmic and mathematical reasoning, Computing is a good foundation for further study The Computing Team (2014)