The aim of the Cambridge International AS and A Level Computer Science syllabus is to encourage learners to develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of computer science and how computer programs work.
Computer science is the study of the foundational principles and practices of computation and computational thinking and their application in the design and development of computer system.
This syllabus aims to encourage the development of computational thinking, that is thinking about what can be computed and how by the use of abstraction and decomposition. It includes consideration of the data required. Learning computational thinking involves learning to program, by writing computer code, because this is the means by which computational thinking is expressed.
Subjects covered by the course:
- information representation
- communication and Internet technologies
- hardware
- software development
- relational database modelling.
From the 2022 examination series, this syllabus will be replaced by Cambridge International AS and A Level Computer Science (syllabus code 9618). There will be a cross over year in 2021 when the last series of 9608 ends and the new syllabus 9618 starts.
Subject Specifications:
- Examination Body: Cambridge International Examinations
- Subject Code: 9608
- Components:
- Section 1: Theory Funfamentals – AS year
- Section 2: Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills (Pascal/Delphi, Visual Basic or Python) – AS year
- Section 3: Advanced Theory – A2 year
- Section 4: Further Problem Solving and Programming Skills – A2 year
- Examinations: Twice a year on May/June and October/November examination periods.