Sixth Form Subject Guide 2019-2021 REDRAFTED Sixth Form Choices Guide | Page 59
IB Computer Science (Higher and Standard Level)
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: Mr W Robinson ([email protected])
Entry Requirements Higher Level: GCSE Computer Science or equivalent is expected.
Standard Level: No previous knowledge is assumed.
Where next? Computer Science is not only an intellectual discipline in its own right but also one that has direct
practical application within many other fields. Computational methods underpin a wide range
of scientific, academic and commercial activities, and studying Computer Science develops both
the student's knowledge and understanding of such methods and an appreciation of when and
how they may be best applied. The logical and analytical skills, which are developed as a result,
are highly sought after in careers at the cutting edge of financial technology, artificial
intelligence, robotics, engineering, "big data", the rapidly developing field of virtual reality and
across numerous fields of business. Both challenging and intellectually rewarding, Computer
Science offers its students what Seymour Paper, former Professor of Education at MIT and a
leading figure in the development of both artificial intelligence and the beginners' programming
language Scratch, described as "hard fun".
WHAT WILL I STUDY?
A considerable part the IB course is focused on algorithms and data structures, and how these can be expressed in, and
manipulated by, computer programs. Consequently, there is large programming element, particularly Java. Computer
graphics and functional and object-oriented programming are explored as well as networking and databases.
Standard Level:
System Fundamentals
Computer organisation
Networks
Computational thinking, problem-solving and programming
Object-Oriented Programming
Development of a Computational Solution
Higher Level:
As above, plus
Abstract Data Structures
Resource Management
Control
Object-Oriented Programming
Analysis of case study
Development of a Computational Solution
HOW IS THE COURSE ASSESSED?
Standard Level: Two written Exams sat at the end of the second year, and Internal Assessment.
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