Standard Level:

• Four topics
  • system fundamentals (20)
  • computer organization (6)
  • networks (9)
  • computational thinking, problem-solving and programming (45 hours)
• One option chosen from:
  • databases
  • modelling and simulation
  • web science
  • object-oriented programming
• One piece of internally assessed work, which includes a computational solution.
• Paper 1 (45%)
• Paper 2 (25%)
• Internal Assessment (30%)

Higher Level:

• Three further topics:
  • abstract data structures (23 hours)
  • resource management (8 hours)
  • control (14 hours)
• Additional and more demanding content for the option selected.
• An additional externally assessed component based on a pre-seen case study of an organization or scenario; this requires students to research various aspects of the subject—which may include new technical concepts and additional subject content—in greater depth.
• Paper 1 (40%)
• Paper 2 (20%)
• Paper 3 (20%)
• Internal Assessment (20%)

Options

• Option A: Databases
• Option B: Modelling and simulation
• Option C: Web science
• Option D: Object-oriented programming (OOP)

Databases

Students are expected to use database software to support the theoretical concepts within the syllabus.

There is no prescribed database development environment. Appropriate database development environments may include Access, Open Office Base, MySQL and FileMaker.

Modelling and simulation

Students are expected to develop models and/or simulations that support the concepts in the syllabus.

There is no prescribed development environment. Appropriate resources may include Scratch, Alice, Java, Python, Visual Basic (.Net), spreadsheet software and JavaScript.

Web science

Students are expected to use web authoring and other appropriate software to support the theoretical concepts within the syllabus.

There is no prescribed software. Appropriate resources may include WYSIWYG web page editors, HTML editors, CMS, PHP, JavaScript, Web 2.0 and CGI scripting.

OOP

For the external assessment of this option Java is the prescribed language. However, any appropriate object oriented language may be used for teaching this option.

Link to teacher support material 2014