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Computer Science Revision

Algorithms, data structures, theory of computation, and computer systems.

A-Level Computer Science revision covers a lot of ground, and these lessons are mapped to the AQA 7517 specification so you can revise exactly what Paper 1 and Paper 2 test. The course ranges from programming, data structures and algorithms to Boolean algebra, processor architecture, networking, databases and the theory of computation, alongside the consequences of computing.

Each lesson takes one demanding topic, such as the Dijkstra shortest-path algorithm, hash tables or the fetch-execute cycle, and explains it in clear steps with worked examples. Generate a quiz or flashcards from any lesson to drill recall, and ask the built-in tutor to walk through a tricky algorithm or trace through code with you when a concept will not stick.

Lessons

Fundamentals of programming

3
  • 7 min

    Lesson

    Programming Fundamentals

    4.1.1 Data types; arithmetic, relational and Boolean operations; string handling; random numbers; exception handling

    1 month ago

  • 6 min

    Lesson

    Subroutines and Recursion

    4.1.2 Programming concepts: subroutines, parameters, local/global variables, stack frames, recursion

    1 month ago

  • 6 min

    Lesson

    Object-Oriented Programming

    4.1.3 Programming paradigms: OOP — classes, objects, encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, class diagrams

    1 month ago

Fundamentals of data structures

6
  • 5 min

    Lesson

    Arrays and Abstract Data Types

    4.2.1 Data structures and abstract data types: arrays, files, ADTs

    1 month ago

  • 9 min

    Lesson

    Stacks and Queues

    4.2.3 Stacks; 4.2.2 Queues

    2 months ago

  • 5 min

    Lesson

    Graphs

    4.2.4 Graphs: directed, undirected, weighted; adjacency matrix; adjacency list

    1 month ago

  • 8 min

    Lesson

    Binary Search Trees

    4.2.5.1 Trees (including binary trees); 4.3.4.3 Binary tree search; 4.3.2.1 Simple tree-traversal algorithms

    1 month ago

  • 6 min

    Lesson

    Hash Tables and Dictionaries

    4.2.6 Hash tables; 4.2.7 Dictionaries

    1 month ago

  • 5 min

    Lesson

    Vectors

    4.2.8 Vectors

    1 month ago

Fundamentals of algorithms

5

Theory of computation

8

Fundamentals of data representation

7

Fundamentals of computer systems

4

Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture

5

Consequences of uses of computing

1

Fundamentals of communication and networking

7

Fundamentals of databases

3

Big Data

1
  • 6 min

    Lesson

    Big Data

    4.11.1 Big Data

    1 month ago

Fundamentals of functional programming

2

Systematic approach to problem solving

1

Frequently asked questions

It is assessed by two exams and a project. Paper 1 is an on-screen programming exam and Paper 2 is a written theory exam, each worth 40%, and the non-exam assessment coding project is worth 20%.

Paper 1 focuses on programming and computational thinking, including data structures, algorithms, recursion, object-oriented and functional programming, and problem solving, assessed by writing and tracing code on screen.

Most students find programming fluency, recursion and the more abstract theory of computation the hardest, because they reward practice rather than memorisation. Breaking each into small worked examples and testing yourself often is the most reliable way to improve.

It is the non-exam assessment, worth 20% of the A-level. You choose a problem, then analyse, design, build, test and evaluate a working program, writing it up in a report. Your school marks it and AQA moderates it.

Yes. Every public lesson is free to read, and a free account lets you generate quizzes and flashcards from them. Upgrading only removes the monthly creation limit.

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