Cambridge Advanced Nationals in Computing: Application Development
Awarding Body: Cambridge OCR
Step into the future of technology with the Cambridge Advanced National in Computing: Application Development. This dynamic Level 3 qualification is designed for students aged 16–19 who want to develop real-world skills that are highly valued by universities and employers alike. This course brings together some of the most exciting and creative parts of Computer Science and ICT. It gives students an excellent base of knowledge and skills to work in a variety of digital industries, which is a growth sector in the North East of England. Students will gain an understanding of application design and development, game and website development, and user interface design.
Course Content
Year 12
F160: Fundamentals of application development- In this unit 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.
F163: Game development- In this unit 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 game prototypes using software such as Game Maker.
F164: Website development- In this unit 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. This unit teaches you how to use a variety of languages, frameworks and libraries in website development.
Year 13
F161: Developing application software- In this unit 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.
F162: Designing and communicating UX /UI solutions- For an application to be successful, it has to be easy to use and visually appealing. In this unit you will learn the principles of User Experience(UX) and User Interface (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.
Assessment Information
External Exams (40%)
- F160: Fundamentals of application development
- F161: Developing application software
NEA (60%)
- F162: Designing and communicating UX /UI solutions
- F163: Game development
- F164: Website development
Why choose this course?
- Hands-on learning: You’ll tackle real-life projects, from interpreting client requirements to designing and presenting your own UX/UI solutions.
- Practical skills for the digital age: Learn how to plan, design, and build intuitive software applications, mastering the latest tools and techniques used by industry professionals.
- Transferable skills: Boost your creativity, critical thinking, communication, and time management—skills that will set you apart in any career or university course.
- Relevant and up-to-date: All content is tailored to the needs of today’s ICT sector, ensuring you’re ready for the next step, whether that’s higher education or the workplace.
- Exciting career prospects: This course could lead to a range of exciting careers including systems analyst, games developer, app developer, cyber security analyst, IT project manager, technology consultant, UX/UI designer and website developer.