Assessment overview
OCR H446 has Computer Systems (01) and Algorithms and Programming (02), each worth 40%, plus the Programming Project (03) worth 20%. The two written examinations are each 2 hours 30 minutes and 140 marks.
Computer Systems (01): what to practise
- Processor architecture, registers, pipelining and contemporary system features.
- Types of software, programming languages and development methods.
- Data exchange, databases, networks and security.
- Data structures, data types and representations.
- Legal, moral, cultural and ethical implications, applying ideas to a scenario.
Try without notes: Explain why cache can improve processor performance compared with repeatedly retrieving the same data from main memory. 3 marks
Check an example answer and feedback
Cache stores frequently used data/instructions closer to the processor and generally has lower access latency; fewer slower main-memory accesses are needed. The actual benefit depends on locality and cache hits.
Algorithms and Programming (02): what to practise
- Decomposition, abstraction and algorithm design.
- Searching, sorting and analysis of time complexity.
- Recursion and its stack behaviour.
- Data structure operations on stacks, queues, trees and linked structures.
- Tracing pseudocode, testing and explaining correctness.
Use the A-level Python course to write real programs rather than memorising examples. Then attempt a new question without opening your previous solution.
NEA preparation
The programming project is not revised like a written examination. Keep your analysis, design, testing and evaluation evidence organised; ensure it represents your own work and follows your centre’s rules on assistance and authenticity.
Related resources: OCR A-level topic order, Big O and data structures.
Official specification
OCR H446 specification at a glance. Always verify the examination-year specification with your school.