ICT
EXAM BOARD: CAMBRIDGE IGCSE OR SQA
HEAD OF ICT: Mrs Dean
STAFF: Mr Parr, Mrs Babb, Mrs Sherrington, Mr Alty
The ability to work with and use ICT correctly is an invaluable, transferrable skill in our society, no matter which pathway a student follows in the future. IGCSE ICT is an in-depth IT qualification that is assessed at the end of Year 11 by 100% exam. The content and assessment method for the IGCSE ICT course does not meet the needs of all our students. As such, we also offer the SQA PC Passport, which is a vocational work-based qualification. It is a level 5 qualification and is equivalent to a C grade at GCSE. Please note, the decision about which course a student will take is taken by the Head of ICT and based on End of Year forecast grades, including ICT.
IGCSE ICT:
IGCSE ICT covers a large range of transferable ICT skills that allow students to develop further as autonomous users of ICT. Practical topics include document production, databases, spreadsheets, multimedia presentations and website development. This course also covers areas such as the components of a computer system, computer networks and how computer systems are used in work-related situations. It aims to develop awareness of new and emerging technologies, the impact that these have on society and the way we work.
TWO PRACTICAL TESTS
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes each. Students sit two externally set practical tests, carried out on a computer.
60%
WRITTEN EXAMINATION
40%
Duration: 2 hours.
SQA PC Passport:
SQA PC Passport focuses on commonly used software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. The ability to use these applications is vital both for study and work. The pass rate at Ballakermeen High School in this qualification is 100%.
Assessment:
The assessment for this course involves creating a coursework portfolio showing the documents that students produce, along with a record of the skills they have demonstrated. Additionally, there are two online multiple choice tests and students are given two chances to complete each of these.