A-Level Choices: Computing?

Hi, I'm in year 11 at the moment and thinking about doing my A-Levels (got to apply after Christmas).

I've narrowed it down to French, German and English Literature, but I really want to do computing - it's either that, Spanish or Drama - but I really want to know what it involves and whether you need experience in computer code or making programmes?

I love ICT at GCSE, but I know that it's totally different to that, so I'd be going in blind. I know my friend at school said you have to know a computer language like C++ or Java and that there's never any girls in computing.

I really need to figure this out.

Hi, I'm in year 11 at the moment and thinking about doing my A-Levels (got to apply after Christmas).

I've narrowed it down to French, German and English Literature, but I really want to do computing - it's either that, Spanish or Drama - but I really want to know what it involves and whether you need experience in computer code or making programmes?

I love ICT at GCSE, but I know that it's totally different to that, so I'd be going in blind. I know my friend at school said you have to know a computer language like C++ or Java and that there's never any girls in computing.

I really need to figure this out.

Don't let the fact that mostly boys study it if you want to do it. I did a Computing A level and I really loved it. There were only a couple of girls, but it didn't matter and we weren't treated any differently by classmates or teachers, apart from by one rather sexist teacher who thought he was in a 1950s grammar school

It's certainly not too difficult as long as you have the ability to think logically/analytically, which I expect you do as you're doing well in maths . When I did it, they didn't assume you knew anything apart from basic computer usage, but do check with your school/college

An added bonus is that if you go on to learn programming well it's really easy to get a job, and salaries are really good.

I do Computing as a GCSE and it's so boring, it's simply general knowledge (what features a phone have etc.) I have not learnt anything about coding or software like Java. (Edexcel Exam Board)

I do Computing as a GCSE and it's so boring, it's simply general knowledge (what features a phone have etc.) I have not learnt anything about coding or software like Java. (Edexcel Exam Board)

Computing at A-level is nothing like this.. So this isn't really all that helpful. The idea of GCSE is that it's basic, so you pick the subjects you want to know more about in A-levels.
Computing at A-level, with AQA, anyway, teaches you how to programme, teaches you about binary, hexadecimal, hamming code, Gray coding, analogue and digital matters, networking, all sorts. It does have maths, but it is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.
You do need an analytical brain because it often involves looking at a programme and troubleshooting as well as analysing programmes and explain their outcome. It is a REALLY good A-level if you're interested in that area of IT, and one I'd highly recommend.
I'm a girl too, and one of two in the class. You don't even notice after a while, really.

Computing at A-level is nothing like this.. So this isn't really all that helpful. The idea of GCSE is that it's basic, so you pick the subjects you want to know more about in A-levels.
Computing at A-level, with AQA, anyway, teaches you how to programme, teaches you about binary, hexadecimal, hamming code, Gray coding, analogue and digital matters, networking, all sorts. It does have maths, but it is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.
You do need an analytical brain because it often involves looking at a programme and troubleshooting as well as analysing programmes and explain their outcome. It is a REALLY good A-level if you're interested in that area of IT, and one I'd highly recommend.
I'm a girl too, and one of two in the class. You don't even notice after a while, really.


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