a level computer science tips from a straight a* student

Summary

This video is the third in a four-part series offering advice for A-level Computer Science students. The speaker shares five essential tips for theory-based exams and three tips for coursework. Key tips include focusing on memorization, mastering algorithms, developing a solid exam strategy, practicing focused programming, and staying on top of content. For coursework, the advice emphasizes simplicity, prioritizing documentation over coding, and acknowledging the limited impact of coursework on the final grade. The speaker encourages viewers to prepare thoroughly and offers practical insights for achieving top marks.

Takeaways

• 💡 Focus on memorization for A-level Computer Science, as it's essential to remember the large volume of content and essay-style questions.
• 📝 Practice long-response questions, especially those on ethical topics and major topics like storage and Big O complexity, as they have limited scope.
• 🔄 Familiarize yourself with past exam questions, as some may repeat in similar forms, giving you a better chance to score.
• 💻 Learn key algorithms and pseudocode such as linked lists, queues, stacks, sorting, and binary trees. Memorizing and writing these accurately in the exam is crucial.
• ⏳ Develop an exam strategy: practice taking full-length papers to build stamina and learn time management during the 2.5-hour exams.
• 📚 Object-oriented programming (OOP) is an important focus at A-level, along with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Consider learning these before the exam.
• 💡 For coursework, keep your project simple. Complex projects make the process harder without adding marks.
• 🖥️ Prioritize documentation over programming in coursework. Most marks come from documentation, so explaining issues in your code is key.
• 📉 Coursework only contributes 20% to the final grade, so while it's important, your exam performance is critical to achieving a top grade.
• ⚡ Use flashcards to aid memorization and consider tools like Smart Revise to save time when creating revision materials.

Q & A

What is the most important tip for A-level computer science theory, according to the speaker?

The most important tip is to focus on memorization. A-levels are heavily content-based, and success depends on your ability to memorize and recall the material.

How can students maximize their chances of scoring well on long-response questions in A-level computer science?

Students should focus on the limited number of topics that can be tested in long-response questions, such as ethics, storage, and Big O complexity. By practicing essays and making reasonable deductions about likely topics, students can prepare effectively.

Why is it important to remember past exam questions in computer science?

Since A-level computer science is recall-based, questions often reappear in similar forms across different exams. By remembering the correct answers from past papers, students can improve their chances of success in future exams.

What should students prioritize when learning algorithms and pseudocode for the A-level computer science exam?

Students should learn how to manipulate linked lists, queues, stacks, and traversal methods for binary trees and graphs. Being able to write code for these algorithms efficiently can earn them high marks in the exam.

What advice is given to help students build stamina for the long A-level computer science exams?

Students should practice sitting for the full 2.5-hour exam duration during past paper sessions. Additionally, incorporating 2.5-hour revision blocks into their study schedule can help them build stamina and manage their energy levels during the exam.

How should students approach programming preparation for A-level computer science?

Students should focus on object-oriented programming (OOP), as it is new and different from their previous coding experience. Additionally, learning HTML, JavaScript, and CSS will be more beneficial than focusing on Python, as these are key topics at A-level.

What is the recommended strategy for keeping on top of A-level computer science content?

Students should take concise notes during class and regularly use flashcards to reinforce their memory. Using resources like Smart Revise can save time by providing pre-made flashcards for review.

What is the speaker’s first tip for A-level computer science coursework?

The first tip is to keep the coursework simple. Adding unnecessary complexity increases the workload, especially in terms of documentation, which is not required for achieving high marks.

Why should students focus more on documentation rather than programming for their coursework?

Most of the coursework marks come from the documentation rather than the code itself. It's better to submit an incomplete program with thorough documentation than a perfect program with little or no documentation.

How much does the coursework count towards the final grade in A-level computer science?

Coursework counts for only 20% of the final grade. Although the effort put into coursework is significant, it’s essential to complete it because doing poorly can cap the final grade at a B or C.