Level 3 AAQ Cambridge Advanced National in Computing: Application Development - A Level equivalent
The AAQ Cambridge Advanced National in Computing: Application Development and the qualification you will achieve is equivalent to one A Level and it has been designed to be part of a typical two-year study programme, alongside A Levels.
Why choose this course?
Choosing the AAQ in Computer Application Development is a brilliant option if you want a course that’s practical, creative, and strongly linked to real careers in the tech industry. You’ll learn how professional developers take an idea from concept to a finished product - scoping requirements, designing intuitive features, building software for different platforms, moving and protecting data securely, and deploying and maintaining applications over time. Alongside core development skills, you’ll explore UX/UI design so you can create apps that look great and are easy to use, and you’ll build confidence communicating ideas and prototypes to clients. The course also gives you exciting opportunities to develop games and experiment with immersive technologies like VR and AR, helping you discover what area of digital creation suits you best. With a mix of exams and coursework, you’ll build a strong portfolio and the transferable skills employers value - problem solving, teamwork, planning, and time management - setting you up for further study and future roles such as software or web developer, UX/UI designer, applications designer, games developer, or systems analyst.
What will I learn?
Throughout your studies, you’ll explore a wide range of topics through both exams and coursework.
Units include:
Fundamentals of application development- you will learn about the about the different stages that developers go through to produce a working software application, how developers scope application requirements, and the design features which make applications intuitive for users.
Developing application software- you will learn about implementation methodology and the areas that need to be considered when applications are being developed for different platforms. You will also learn about how data moves in applications and beyond, and how to make sure applications are safe to use and the data they hold is secure. You will also learn how developers deploy finished applications to users, how they’re installed on devices, and maintained in the future.
Designing and communicating UX/UI solutions - you will learn the principles of UX/UI design and what makes an interface easy to use. You will learn tools and techniques to plan UX/UI solutions and how to design high-fidelity prototypes of UX/UI solutions. You will also learn how to communicate effectively with clients.
Game development - you will learn how types and genres of digital games and their characteristics affect game design. You will then learn how to plan, design, create, and test how your own programmed game.
Website development - you will learn about website principles and the components of web pages. You will then learn how to plan, design, create, and test website prototypes that can be viewed on a range of devices.
You’ll be assessed through a combination of external exams and internally marked coursework. Each unit is graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction, and your overall qualification grade is calculated from these results.
What will I need?
You will need 4 GCSEs at grade 4 including English.
An interest in IT and programming will help you get the most out of the course.
Where will it take me?
With further study, potential careers include:
UX/UI Designer
Software Developer
Web Developer
Applications Designer
Games Developer
Systems Analyst
The course also builds transferable skills, communication, problem solving, project planning, time management, that are valued across all industries.
Additional Information
Awarding body: OCR