A-Levels for Computer Science
Watch this thread
Announcements
Page 1 of 1
Skip to page:
FTSE420
Badges:
11
Rep:
?
You'll earn badges for being active around the site. Rep gems come when your posts are rated by other community members.
#1
Which A-Levels would be best for either a BSc/BA (Ox and Cam)/MEng Computer Science degree at a top 5 CompSci university (e.g. Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, Edinburgh etc.)?
Currently I am choosing these A-Levels:
- Maths
- Physics
- Spanish
- Either economics/geography
- School has let me do a 2 year AS Further Maths course
Computing A-Level isn't offered at my school. Would my choices suffice a CompSci degree at a top uni?
Currently I am choosing these A-Levels:
- Maths
- Physics
- Spanish
- Either economics/geography
- School has let me do a 2 year AS Further Maths course
Computing A-Level isn't offered at my school. Would my choices suffice a CompSci degree at a top uni?
0
reply
VannR
Badges:
21
Rep:
?
You'll earn badges for being active around the site. Rep gems come when your posts are rated by other community members.
#2
Report
#2
(Original post by FTSE420)
Which A-Levels would be best for either a BSc/BA (Ox and Cam)/MEng Computer Science degree at a top 5 CompSci university (e.g. Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, Edinburgh etc.)?
Currently I am choosing these A-Levels:
- Maths
- Physics
- Spanish
- Either economics/geography
- School has let me do a 2 year AS Further Maths course
Computing A-Level isn't offered at my school. Would my choices suffice a CompSci degree at a top uni?
Which A-Levels would be best for either a BSc/BA (Ox and Cam)/MEng Computer Science degree at a top 5 CompSci university (e.g. Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, Edinburgh etc.)?
Currently I am choosing these A-Levels:
- Maths
- Physics
- Spanish
- Either economics/geography
- School has let me do a 2 year AS Further Maths course
Computing A-Level isn't offered at my school. Would my choices suffice a CompSci degree at a top uni?
Computing A-Level is not required to do Computer Science at university.
0
reply
FTSE420
Badges:
11
Rep:
?
You'll earn badges for being active around the site. Rep gems come when your posts are rated by other community members.
#3
(Original post by VannR)
Computer Science at a top-5 university requires that you have both Maths and Further Maths at A-Level with top grades (A/A*). The third subject can essentially be whatever you want, provided that it has significant academic content; it could be a natural or social science, a language, humanities etc. Just make sure that you get a least an A in the third subject, and at least one A* for Maths and Further Maths.
Computing A-Level is not required to do Computer Science at university.
Computer Science at a top-5 university requires that you have both Maths and Further Maths at A-Level with top grades (A/A*). The third subject can essentially be whatever you want, provided that it has significant academic content; it could be a natural or social science, a language, humanities etc. Just make sure that you get a least an A in the third subject, and at least one A* for Maths and Further Maths.
Computing A-Level is not required to do Computer Science at university.
If you don't mind saying do you study CompSci at uni?
0
reply
VannR
Badges:
21
Rep:
?
You'll earn badges for being active around the site. Rep gems come when your posts are rated by other community members.
#4
Report
#4
(Original post by FTSE420)
So Further Maths AS is not sufficient and Further Maths to A2 is required? What kind of GCSEs are required for CompSci at a top uni?
If you don't mind saying do you study CompSci at uni?
So Further Maths AS is not sufficient and Further Maths to A2 is required? What kind of GCSEs are required for CompSci at a top uni?
If you don't mind saying do you study CompSci at uni?
As for myself, I'm starting Computer Science in September and currently have AA in Maths and Further Maths; my third A-Level is Philosophy with exams in the next few weeks.
EDIT: What is important for GCSE's is grades, since most people's GCSE's cover a wide range of subjects, with grades being the best indication of suitability for the course at that level. For A-Levels, subject choice is vital, along with grades.
0
reply
FTSE420
Badges:
11
Rep:
?
You'll earn badges for being active around the site. Rep gems come when your posts are rated by other community members.
#5
(Original post by VannR)
Given that we are talking about Oxbridge and Imperial, Maths and Further Maths must be taken to A2 in order get onto their course; this is stated explicitly on their websites. At other universities, including ones in the top 10 such as Warwick, Further Maths is not required but can get you a contextual offer (AAA instead of A*AA).
As for myself, I'm starting Computer Science in September and currently have AA in Maths and Further Maths; my third A-Level is Philosophy with exams in the next few weeks.
EDIT: What is important for GCSE's is grades, since most people's GCSE's cover a wide range of subjects, with grades being the best indication of suitability for the course at that level. For A-Levels, subject choice is vital, along with grades.
Given that we are talking about Oxbridge and Imperial, Maths and Further Maths must be taken to A2 in order get onto their course; this is stated explicitly on their websites. At other universities, including ones in the top 10 such as Warwick, Further Maths is not required but can get you a contextual offer (AAA instead of A*AA).
As for myself, I'm starting Computer Science in September and currently have AA in Maths and Further Maths; my third A-Level is Philosophy with exams in the next few weeks.
EDIT: What is important for GCSE's is grades, since most people's GCSE's cover a wide range of subjects, with grades being the best indication of suitability for the course at that level. For A-Levels, subject choice is vital, along with grades.
What do you mean by contextual offer?
Well done on those results! Which uni are you going to if you don't mind saying?
0
reply
VannR
Badges:
21
Rep:
?
You'll earn badges for being active around the site. Rep gems come when your posts are rated by other community members.
#6
Report
#6
(Original post by FTSE420)
Thanks. It says on Oxbridge and Imperial's website that it is highly recommended (probably means basically required) that you do Further Maths to at least AS, not A2. However, they say that they may put STEP or AEA on your offer...
What do you mean by contextual offer?
Well done on those results! Which uni are you going to if you don't mind saying?
Thanks. It says on Oxbridge and Imperial's website that it is highly recommended (probably means basically required) that you do Further Maths to at least AS, not A2. However, they say that they may put STEP or AEA on your offer...
What do you mean by contextual offer?
Well done on those results! Which uni are you going to if you don't mind saying?
Yes, I forgot to mention that you are more likely going to require STEP, MAT or AEA scores at the top universities than A2 Further Maths. By the way, a contextual offer is when they offer you a slightly lower offer because of your particular circumstances; for example, at Warwick the offer is A*AA, but if you have A2 Maths and Further Maths they reduce it to AAA (this is stated explicitly on their website).
0
reply
gavinlowe
Badges:
11
Rep:
?
You'll earn badges for being active around the site. Rep gems come when your posts are rated by other community members.
#7
Report
#7
(Original post by VannR)
Given that we are talking about Oxbridge and Imperial, Maths and Further Maths must be taken to A2 in order get onto their course; this is stated explicitly on their websites.
Given that we are talking about Oxbridge and Imperial, Maths and Further Maths must be taken to A2 in order get onto their course; this is stated explicitly on their websites.
http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/ugadmissions/...al_offers.html,
http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.a...mputer-science,
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/computing...p/requirements.
Please avoid posting misleading information.
The following is the Oxford advice; the other two universities are pretty similar. Further Maths is certainly highly recommended, but is not required. OP: can you persuade your school to let you take Further Maths to A2?
Computing is not required, but we like to see that candidates know what computer science involves, and ideally have done a bit of programming; this can be picked up by personal projects.
Physics is a pretty good choice.
EDIT: What is important for GCSE's is grades, since most people's GCSE's cover a wide range of subjects, with grades being the best indication of suitability for the course at that level. For A-Levels, subject choice is vital, along with grades.
Gavin
0
reply
X
Page 1 of 1
Skip to page:
Quick Reply
Back
to top
to top