International AS and A-level Computer Science (9645)

Ignite your students' programming potential through a creative approach to Computer Science

Through a practical approach that balances traditional and modern computing methodologies with programming and creativity, our International AS/A-level Computer Science course develops the skills needed for the future.

  • Places on-screen programming at the core of the curriculum, developing the skills integral to further study of Computer Science in today’s world.
  • Continues the choice of programming languages (Python, Visual Basic or C#) from International GCSE so your students can further their skills in familiar, globally relevant programming languages.
  • Seamless transition from International GCSE through shared assessment objectives and familiar assessment structures.

International AS and A-level Computer Science (9645)

View the switching guide to see the differences between your old International AS/A-level Computer Science specification and the OxfordAQA specification (version updated February 2024).

OxfordAQA International AS/A-level Computer Science covers the following topics:

  • Procedural programming
  • Fundamental data structures
  • Program design
  • Searching and sorting algorithms
  • Representing data
  • Computer systems
  • Computer organisation and architecture
  • Machine code and assembly language
  • Object-oriented and additional programming
  • Advanced data structures
  • Advanced algorithms
  • Functional programming
  • Theory of computation
  • Networking and cyber security
  • Databases
  • Artificial intelligence

OxfordAQA provides all the resources and advice you need to teach the International AS and A-level Computer Science specification effectively.

Visit our resources for teachers area to access:

  • Schemes of work to allow you to plan how to deliver the specification in a way that will best suit you and your students
  • Teaching guidance to outline clearly the scope of teaching and learning
  • Topic tests and mock exam analysers to allow you to track your students’ progress throughout the teaching year

This is a modular qualification, with four papers over the AS and A-level teaching period.

AS Paper 1:

  • Procedural programming
  • Fundamental data structures
  • Program design
  • Searching and sorting algorithms
  • 2 hours
  • 75 marks
  • 50% of AS-level, 20% of A-level
  • On-screen exam available in C#, Python or VB.Net

AS Paper 2:

  • Representing data
  • Computer systems
  • Computer organisation and architecture
  • Machine code and assembly language
  • 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 75 marks
  • 50% of AS-level, 20% of A-level
  • Written exam

A-level Paper 1:

  • Procedural programming
  • Fundamental data structures
  • Program design
  • Object-oriented and additional programming
  • Advanced data structures
  • Advanced algorithms
  • 2 hours 30 minutes
  • 90 marks
  • 30% of A-level
  • On-screen exam available in C#, Python or VB.Net

A-level Paper 2:

  • Functional programming
  • Theory of computation
  • Networking and cyber security
  • Databases
  • Artificial intelligence
  • 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 75 marks
  • 30% of A-level
  • Written exam

Take a look at:

You must be an approved OxfordAQA centre to enter students for our exams. Make sure you become an OxfordAQA centre before you start teaching a course.

Course specification
Download here
(PDF, 2MB)