# A-level Computing/AQA/The Computing Practical Project

***Please note, that the AQA Computing practical has since been updated,
the proportion of marks allocated to the technical solution has been
significantly increased to 42/75 (56%), compared to the 20/75 (27%) on
the old specification.***

As such anyone on the current specification will **not** need to do the
following documentation:

-   i\. System Maintenance
-   ii\. User Guide

The following subsections are also **no** longer required:

-   i\. Analysis: Realistic appraisal of the feasibility of potential
    solutions
-   ii\. Analysis: Justification of chosen solution
-   iii\. Design: Identification of storage media
-   iv\. Design: Description of measures planned for security and
    integrity of data
-   v\. Design: Description of measures planned for system security
-   vi\. Design: Overall test strategy

This chapter aims to give you the skills to complete your A2 Computing
project. Unlike the rest of the course this unit is entirely based on
coursework submitted in May. This is great because if you work hard
enough then you can make sure you get some really good marks, you have
access to the mark scheme after all!!The classic waterfall
model Your project
involves making a **complex programming project** that will likely
involve **data processing**, and then writing a report about it. You
have to make a program for a **real user**, this is very important, you
can\'t just make them up. It doesn\'t have to be incredibly complicated,
but you need a degree of complexity in order to write a good report. You
can write a computer game but they can be an awful lot of work (2--3
years with a team of 40+ people for the latest console games) and it\'s
often difficult to find a real life user and a real need.

Over the course of the project you will be creating a report. This is
really important and lots of people spend so much time coding that they
forget to complete the write up. The **write up is worth nearly 70% of
the mark** and will take you through a waterfall
model of system development. There are
many other forms of system
development out there and you might find yourself completing sections of
the course not necessarily in the order given, the important thing is
that you make it a cohesive whole and **complete everything**.

Please use the links below to get you started and note where all the
marks are awarded, you might create a brilliant bit of code but if you
don\'t complete your writeup your grade will suffer.

+-------------------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Chapter                             | Marks           | Percentage |
+=====================================+=================+============+
| 