Institute of Education

Computer Science (H): A Reasonable Paper, With Some Oddly Worded Challenges

Computer Science 2023 Analysis

Reaction to Leaving Cert 2023 Computer Science (Higher Level) by Daire Ó Muirgheasa, Computer Science teacher at The Institute of Education.

The Leaving Certificate exams kicked off this year with Computer Science. The paper which has only been broadly available outside of trial schools since 2020 takes place before the traditional June exam period.

This year’s paper returned to some of the original elements of the exam prior to Covid adjustments, most notably in the marks awarded to questions. Daire Ó Muirgheasa, Computer Science teacher with the Institute of Education, states that this combined with the adjustments that naturally come with a new subject result in it being “hard to get a read on what is be expected from the students”. That being said, Ó Muirgheasa notes that overall it was “a reasonable paper with a few oddly worded challenges”.

The exam opens with a section of short questions, many of which neatly conform to curricular expectations. “There was a Number Systems question and they should 100% expect a Number Systems question” Ó Muirgheasa notes. Some questions might have been initially challenging but rely on well established material. Of Question 5 in particular Ó Muirgheasa observes that “the question was formulated strangely but the question itself was on Boolean Logic – which was quite straight forward and expected”. Questions 8 and 9 which focus on problem-solving continued this trend, which Question 8 in particular being noteworthy; “a very strange question – the actual question is not that hard, but I imagine some students on first reading will think ‘what’s this?’, but the actual question was rather straight forward”.

While many questions conformed to expectation others posed more pointed challenges. Students were asked to draw upon more niche elements of the course which were given more emphasis or placed centre stage in larger questions. “One or two bits that didn’t seem as important in the course but there has been a question on them” notes Ó Muirgheasa. Question 5 asked on layers in protocol while Question 10 a specific approach to Quick Sort. This question in particular may have challenged some students as it depends on the teacher’s approach. Ó Muirgheasa describes it as “a little bit awkward but most students should be able to deal with it OK depending on how you learned Quick Sort”.

Section B’s long questions opened with a straightforward question on accessibility. However, Q14 would pose a challenge for students as it again emphasised particularly niche elements of the course, most of which may only be mentioned in passing or not at all. The specific application of “Accumulator” and “Virtual Memory” will mean that students will likely have to make educated guesses in how best to answer. “Every year there has been a question that makes you think ‘hmmm, that’s not one I’d like to do’, but this was part of a larger question so many students might still choose to take it” says Ó Muirgheasa, following that “I suspect they will mark it easily”. Question 15 returned to more established ground with Algorithms. “[There was] a lot about binary and linear search but if you have done your study well on it is a particularly reasonable question” remarked Ó Muirgheasa.

For some this paper will be noteworthy more for what did not appear rather than what did. Expected but absent topics include Turing Machines, Logic Gates, Databases, and an engagement with contemporary issues. Previous papers have dealt with news items, like Ransomware in response to the HSE attack, and many students will have prepared for in-depth discussions on AI and ChatGPT which so dominate headlines. However, such a question never emerged, replaced with only a vaguely AI related question.

Section C is the practical part of the exam with students given a series of programming tasks to perform. Like with previous questions, the phrasing of the question presented a more daunting challenge than the material. Ó Muirgheasa notes that “they’re given a large amount of code at the start of the exam – their given a function and a while loop and little bit more to process from the very start. But once they got settled, everything should have been fine.” Part B was a new addition for this year: an open-ended question in which the students are only given the instructions and no actual code. “Because of the newness of the question, what they were asked was somewhat similar to Part A” say Ó Muirgheasa adding that “they have had a fair bit of practice with the project this year, but I imagine for some being given a blank page was a little bit worrying”.

With such a new course and varied exam some students will be wondering what they will see on results day but Ó Muirgheasa reflects that “if you did your best, you will probably come out with more marks than you thought you did”.

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Computers in Education Society of Ireland

Leaving Certificate Computer Science – an A-Z Guide for Phase 2 Schools

Presented by: Frank Kehoe and Tony McGennis

Leaving Certificate Computer Science was introduced to schools in a phased approach – Phase 1 commenced in September 2018 in a initial set of 40 schools. Phase 2 will be open to all interested schools from 2020.

Leaving Certificate Computer Science aims to develop and foster the learner’s creativity and problem solving, along with their ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Students will apply the fundamental practices and concepts of Computer Science and develop an appreciation of the diverse role of computing technology in society and the environment in which they live. Studying Computer Science will nurture students’ interests and passions and empower them to engage confidently and actively with the world.

This session will be aimed at the wider CS community but will also focus on schools who are planning to apply for Phase 2 rollout in 2020. It will give participants a broad overview of Leaving Certificate Computer Science from A-Z.

Presenter Biography:

Frank Kehoe, Joe English and Tony McGennis are all currently seconded as Advisors for Leaving Certificate Computer Science to the PDST.

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  • 2019: "Creativity, Collaboration, and Computers: Practitioner Perspectives"

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Leaving Cert Notes

Notes and anki decks for the leaving cert, computer science.

  • Exam Structure

Python Reference Guide - Backup Link This will given to you to use during the computer science exam, kinda like the log tables books

  • Flashcards (From Studyclix)
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Components
  • Data Feminism - Full Book
  • Logic Gates - Video
  • Von Neumann Architecture
  • Electronics
  • The Central Processing Unit (CPU) - Handout
  • Video Playlist of Previous Exam Paper Solutions
  • Sorting Algorithms - Video - Sorting Algorithms Animations (Website)

Python Programming

  • Numerical Python
  • volumesphere.py
  • Binary - Video
  • Hexadecimal - Video

Other Resources

  • The LCCS Guide - Website with Notes
  • Computer Science Exam Paper Question Solutions Playlist
  • Computer Science Lessons Playlist
  • Python Lessons Playlist

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This is a repo of my programs, work, projects and other stuff for my Leaving Cert Computer Science class that I got a H1 in in 2023

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  5. How to get a H1 in Leaving Cert Computer Science

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  1. 12th computer science

  2. Computer Science Project

  3. Leaving Cert Reaction 2023: Business (H)

  4. Computer Science and Engineering Department @ S.P.I.T

  5. Computer Science Project!

  6. LCCS Coursework 2023/24: Basic Requirements

COMMENTS

  1. Leaving Certificate Computer Science

    This video outlines one approach you could take to meeting the requirements outlined in the courseowkr project brief for 2024.

  2. How to get a H1 in Leaving Cert Computer Science

    Keep in mind the following dates for Leaving Cert Computer Science: Coursework Project Exam The coursework project is to be completed over a ten-week period (usually between January and March of 6th year).

  3. Everything you need to study Leaving Cert Computer Science

    Computer Science is a new Leaving Cert subject that will broaden your knowledge of technology and boost your skills as a computer programmer. Here is everything you need to know about the exam and how Studyclix can help make studying easier. Jump to: What's involved? How to study computer science Practice past exam questions Read our H1 guide

  4. leaving-cert-computer-science · GitHub Topics · GitHub

    Updated on Sep 1, 2023 Python cutthroat78 / Leaving-Cert-Computer-Science-Coursework-Project Star 2 Code Issues Pull requests This is my Leaving Cert Computer Science Coursework Project for 2023

  5. harL06/Final_Leaving_Cert_CompSci_Project

    Wordle Model, a Python project developed for my Leaving Certificate Computer Science Project. It features three engaging game modes, including a Machine Learning-based bot in Simulation Mode. Users can also create custom graphs. This project gives insights into my proficiency in Python, Machine Learning Creation, GUI development, and data analysis.

  6. How to get a H1 in Leaving Cert Computer Science

    Computer Science is a new Leaving Cert subject that will teach you useful skills, broaden your knowledge of technology and boost your skills as a computer programmer. Aoife, who achieved a H1 in Leaving Cert Computer Science, has devised a guide full of tips and advice drawn from her own experience to help you succeed in this subject.

  7. Computer Science (H): A Reasonable Paper, But Some Challenges

    Leaving Cert Reaction 2023: Computer Science (H) Watch on Section B's long questions opened with a straightforward question on accessibility. However, Q14 would pose a challenge for students as it again emphasised particularly niche elements of the course, most of which may only be mentioned in passing or not at all.

  8. PDF Computer Science

    The project is worth 90 marks, which is 30% of the overall marks for Leaving Certificate Computer Science. The remaining 210 marks (70%) are for the final examination. You will carry out the project over a period of eight school weeks, beginning when schools reopen in January 2020 after the holidays.

  9. Leaving Certificate Computer Science

    Presented by: Frank Kehoe and Tony McGennis Leaving Certificate Computer Science was introduced to schools in a phased approach - Phase 1 commenced in September 2018 in a initial set of 40 schools. Phase 2 will be open to all interested schools from 2020.

  10. PDF Computer Science

    Time: 12 weeks 90 marks Information for candidates The project is worth 90 marks, which is 30% of the overall marks for Leaving Certificate Computer Science. The remaining 210 marks (70%) are for the final examination.

  11. Computer Science

    Computer Science. Exam Structure. Python Reference Guide - Backup Link This will given to you to use during the computer science exam, kinda like the log tables books. Flashcards (From Studyclix) Artificial Intelligence. Computer Components. Data Feminism - Full Book. Algorithms. Logic Gates - Video.

  12. Leaving Cert 2023: Computer Science gets exams off to early start with

    Leaving Certificate 2023 kicked off today with the Computer Science exam, "with a blank page that some students may have found a little bit worrying," according to one teacher. Computer...

  13. GitHub

    This is my project I created for my Leaving Cert Computer Science Project 2020. I had to follow this brief: The Task Design a computational artefact under the theme of Climate Change. The purpose of this artefact is to use existing data to educate people about the impact of climate change. The artefact should make use of existing datasets and ...

  14. Higher Computer Science

    Higher Computer Science | Leaving Certificate | Studyclix Home Higher Computer Science Computer Science - Higher Switch to Ordinary Topics Abstraction Agent-Based Modelling Algorithms ASCII/UniCode Communication Protocols Computers and Society Data Data Analysis Databases Decomposition Digital and Analogue Input Embedded Systems Ethics Hardware

  15. Computer Science Project Brief 2024 : r/leavingcert2023

    Computer Science Project Brief 2024 leaving cert 2024 Thoughts on the brief guys? 6 Sort by: Add a Comment WhistlingBanshee • 2 mo. ago Has it been released? Can you send a link? pixelproblem • 2 mo. ago My teacher skipped ALT 3 so idk what the fuck I'm gonna do LMAO Elite_Fusion_ • 2 mo. ago I actually like the brief, very good. poppyfieldds

  16. gov

    The Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) Support Framework has been established to support the national rollout of Computer Science to post-primary schools. The framework brings together a unique collaboration of representatives from all of the key stakeholders with the intention of developing and implementing a range of measures designed to allow the subject to develop and prosper.

  17. gov

    The Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) Support Framework has been established to support the national rollout of Computer Science to post-primary schools. The framework brings together a unique collaboration of representatives from all of the key stakeholders with the intention of developing and implementing a range of measures ...

  18. cutthroat78/Leaving-Cert-Computer-Science

    main Code README Leaving Cert Computer Science Work This is a repo of my programs, work, projects and other stuff for my Leaving Cert Computer Science class that I got a H1 in in 2023

  19. Computer Science

    Find Computer Science notes, course summaries, essays, projects and more submitted by Leaving Certificate past students. Sign up free.

  20. Computer Science in the Leaving Cert : r/DevelEire

    Leaving Cert computing is rubbish. I know of one school which offered students a choice for the LC years: higher-level Maths or computing, but not both. It was a trap: if you took the computing course, you would not study higher Maths, and you would fail to reach the minimum requirement of an honours C in maths to get into a university computer ...

  21. Sample Project Folder

    Suggest a website. Lots of useful exam questions, resources and downloads for the Leaving Cert Technology course. Use Studyclix tools to help build exams and improve your Technology grade in the Leaving Cert.

  22. PDF Computer Science

    The Coursework component of the Computer Science Leaving Certificate exam is worth 30% of your overall grade (90 marks). You will complete this project in 6th year, usually during a 10 week period from January to March. It is beneficial to take a deeper look into the 4 ALTs (Applied Learning Tasks) which are a part of the Computer Science Course.

  23. DCG Project Brief 2024 : r/leavingcert2024

    DCG Project Brief 2024. Does anyone have a link for a PDF file of the assignment for the project, spent a solid 30 minutes looking with no results. Sort by: goopfeels. OP • 3 mo. ago. Found it soon after making the post, but why is it so buried in examinations.ie, that site needs an overhaul in design.