INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY A COMPULSORY SUBJECT AND A SUBJECT CHOICE

 

Information Technology is a core subject and every student in Years 10 and 11 will study the GCSE Information Technology short course. You may also choose to take the full GCSE course as an option.

GCSE Information Technology builds upon the skills that you have already acquired during Years 7 to 9 and helps you to develop the more advanced skills that enable you to set up Information Technology solutions to real life problems. Most aspects of daily life have been affected by the introduction of computers and these skills will be very useful to you in the future, whichever career you eventually take up.

GCSE Information Technology has a large practical component, worth 60% of the total mark. The course work takes you through a range of different tasks and software, from spreadsheets to web design. During the course you will be able to learn new practical skills and to build on those learnt before.

The remainder of the mark, 40%, is allocated for the written paper that you will sit at the end of the second year. The theory for these examinations covers a number of topics, some of which are shown here.

• Input and output devices and their applications
• Different types of processing needed for various applications
• Computers in control
• Software – spreadsheets, database, presentation and web design
• Inside the box – how do computers work?
• Computers in everyday applications
• Computers and their effect on people’s lives

Students following the full GCSE course will do a project in the second year on a topic of their own choice. They will also take a second examination paper.

For further information, please speak to Mrs Edwards or any Information Technology teacher.