Why study Computing Science?
Computing science is vital to everyday life – on social, technological and economic levels. It shapes the world in which we live and its future. Computing is embedded in the world around us, from systems and devices in our homes to our places of work. It has also changed the way we learn, relax, travel and communicate.
Learning computing science will give you many benefits apart from learning about technology. You will learn valuable transferable work and life skills, such as being able to solve problems in a logical way, think creatively and handle information.
The skills you learn in this course are useful in lots of different job areas. These include science, communications, entertainment, education, business and industry.
Career Pathways
To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:
Computing and ICT
Engineering
Science and Maths
Transport and Distribution
Uniformed and Security Services
What do I need to get in?
The school or college will decide on the entry requirements for the course. You would normally have achieved:
What will I study?
- The course consists of four areas of study.
Software design and development
You will:
- develop knowledge and understanding of advanced concepts and practical problem-solving skills in software design and development
- develop modular programming and computational-thinking skills by analysing, designing, implementing, testing, and evaluating practical solutions and explaining how these programs work
- use your knowledge of data types and constructs to create efficient programs to solve advanced problems.
Computer systems
You will:
- develop their understanding of how data and instructions are stored in binary form and factors affecting system performance
- gain an awareness of the environmental impact of intelligent systems, as well as the security risks, precautions and laws that can protect computer systems.
Database design and development
You will:
- develop knowledge, understanding and advanced practical problem-solving skills in database design and development through a range of practical tasks, using a minimum of three linked tables and implemented in SQL
- apply computational-thinking skills to analyse, design, implement, test, and evaluate practical solutions, using a range of development tools
- apply interpretation skills to tasks involving some complex features in both familiar and new contexts.
Web design and development
You will:
- develop knowledge, understanding and advanced practical problem-solving skills in web design and development through a range of practical and investigative tasks
- apply computational-thinking skills to analyse, design, implement, test, and evaluate practical solutions to web-based problems, using a range of development tools including HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript
- apply interpretation skills to tasks involving some complex features in both familiar and new contexts.
How will I be assessed?
The course assessment has two components totalling 120 marks:
- Component 1: question paper – worth 80 marks
- Component 2: assignment – worth 40 marks.
The question paper has 3 sections. Section 1 is mandatory and you have the option of completing either Section 2 or Section 3:
- Section 1: Software design and development, and Computer systems - 55 marks
- Section 2: Database design and development - 25 marks
- Section 3: Web design and development - 25 marks.
For the assignment component there are 3 tasks. Task 1 is mandatory and you have the option of competing either Task 2 or Task 3:
- Task 1: Software design and development - 25 marks
- Task 2: Database design and development - 15 marks
- Task 3: Web design and development - 15 marks.
Both the question paper and the assignment are set and externally marked by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.
The course assessment is graded A-D.
Study Materials
What can I go on to next?
If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Which jobs are related to this subject?
Where can my parents find out more?
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):
Nationals in a Nutshell - Computing Science (Higher)
