What is the course about?

Applied ICT A level is about using standard software to deal with realistic business tasks and problems and you build your expertise with software in common use both at home and in the workplace. There is a lot of scope for you to tailor the work to your specific interests and ambitions and the course adopts a strongly “real-world” approach to the use of IT.

For the Single AS level you will study:

In the AS year you focus on using the internet to research information and on using spreadsheets to analyse data and problems. You make use of software from the Microsoft Office suite of programmes to solve problems in communicating and analysing information in business environments.

For the Single A2 level you will study:

In the A2 year there is a focus on project management software alongside the development of an IT based solution to a given practical problem. You also develop your expertise with spreadsheets further, using them to handle numerical data, and you learn and use software for working with websites.

For the Double Applied A Level you will study:

Half of the course is the same as the Single A level course. In addition you take units on Software Development and An Introduction to Programming in the AS year, and in the A2 year you study units on ICT for the disabled and on designing databases.

How is the course assessed?

The AS Single is assessed through 2 portfolios and 1 assessment where you prepare notes on a case study then answer questions using those notes in a written exam.

The A2 Single is assessed through 3 portfolios

The AS Double is assessed through 5 portfolios and 1 assessment where you prepare notes on a case study then answer questions using those notes in a written exam.

The A2 Double is assessed through 5 portfolios and an exam on a case study.

What skills will I need and develop in this course?

Prior study of ICT at GCSE level is useful but not essential. Through the course you will acquire the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to create, develop and present high-quality work.

Subject combination advice:

ICT complements a wide range of subjects. The course is useful and interesting in its own right but also combines particularly well with Business Studies if your longer-term interests are in that direction.

What can the course lead to in terms of higher education and future careers?

This course provides a broad introduction to ICT and prepares you for study in a variety of courses in further or higher education.

What are the formal entry requirements for this course?

Aside from the general entry criteria that the College requires, you will also need to achieve at least Grade C in GCSE Maths. A sound standard of written English is also important.

What extra support / enrichment activities are on offer?

The department visits a place of interest to use as a theme throughout the first year portfolios. This is often a theme park. We have strong links with Surrey University Computing Department, who often arrange an annual IT workshop for our students, and we are associated with the British Computer Society.