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Free A-Level Computer Science guide
Computing decisions affect different people in different ways. Build an argument that explains a mechanism, considers a counterargument and reaches a justified judgement.
Content owner: Michael Print · Written for A-Level learners · Checked against official specifications
An ethical evaluation asks who benefits, who carries the cost, what evidence supports the claim and how the design could reduce harm. Legal compliance and ethical acceptability are related questions, but they are not interchangeable.
A strong paragraph follows decision → mechanism → effect → qualification. For example, an automated booking system can reduce clerical work, but people without reliable internet may need a telephone alternative.
OCR H446 · 1.5.2 (all nine listed issue areas)
Useful foundations
By the end, you should be able to
Automation may remove repetitive tasks, change roles and create demand for maintenance or technical skills. The benefits depend on training, transition time and who receives the productivity gains. Avoid claiming that every automated task removes an entire job.
AI-supported decisions can process large datasets consistently, yet errors, biased training data or unsuitable assumptions may affect groups differently. For high-impact decisions, ask whether people can understand the relevant reasons, challenge an error and reach a responsible human.
A human review is only useful if the reviewer has time and authority to act.
Repairability, useful life, electricity consumption and recycling all matter. A remote meeting may save travel, but its equipment and network still consume resources.
Compare alternatives using the same workload and time period. Replacing working laptops with lower-power models is not automatically the best environmental decision: the manufacturing cost and remaining useful life must also be weighed. Explain what evidence would be needed rather than inventing an emissions figure.
Manufacture
Resources are used before the device begins work.
Transport
Getting devices to their users adds impacts.
Operation
Compare electricity consumption over the same workload and period.
Disposal or reuse
Account for remaining useful life, repairability, recycling and waste.
Content moderation may reduce harassment or illegal material while mistaken filtering can suppress legitimate speech. A rule needs an understandable boundary and a way to review errors. Discuss the effect on participants rather than simply labelling all filtering good or bad.
Monitoring may support safety or detect misuse; continuous collection can also reveal private habits and discourage legitimate behaviour. Collecting a location for one journey does not justify storing a person's movements indefinitely. Consider purpose, proportionality, access, retention and the ability to challenge decisions.
Unauthorised copying can deprive creators of licensing income and distribute versions without security support. Access and affordability may explain a user's motivation, but do not by themselves settle legality or ethical responsibility. Compare licensed alternatives, open resources and sustainable payment models.
Offensive online communications can cause harm at scale and persist through reposting. Reporting tools, moderation and user controls may help, though false reports and overbroad removal also affect users.
Explain an actual harm or trade-off in the given context; avoid substituting a personal dislike for an argument.
An interface should match users' needs: readable type, clear grouping, meaningful labels and consistent navigation reduce errors. Colour alone may exclude someone who cannot distinguish the chosen colours; labels or symbols provide another cue.
A character set and encoding affect which languages and symbols can be stored and displayed. ASCII alone cannot represent the range of names required by a multilingual service.
Unicode provides a much larger repertoire, while the chosen encoding and fonts must support correct storage and display. A cultural assumption in date formats or name fields can be as important as visual styling.
Choose the most important effects for the situation. A recommendation such as “use the system with an appeal process and an offline route” follows from evidence when it addresses identified errors and exclusion.
Decision
Identify what the proposed system will do.
Mechanism
Explain how that choice causes a benefit or harm.
Effect
Connect the consequence to a specific stakeholder.
Qualification
Compare an alternative, propose a safeguard and identify uncertainty.
Judgement
Reach a supported recommendation with practical conditions. Generic “advantages and disadvantages” do not establish it.
Worked example
Worked example
Worked example
6 original questions total 32 marks. Attempt each before opening the independently written indicative marking guidance.
A warehouse automates item picking. Explain one benefit and one workforce concern, developing both in context. [4]
Indicative answer
A booking form displays errors only in red and accepts names only from ASCII. Explain two inclusion problems and suitable improvements. [4]
Indicative answer
Give two reasons why replacing every working computer with a lower-power model may not reduce total environmental impact. [4]
Indicative answer
Evaluate a school proposal to use an AI system to flag students for sanctions from message histories. Reach a justified conclusion. [6]
Indicative answer
A discussion service automatically removes messages containing listed words and profiles users from every click. Evaluate censorship and personal-data concerns, giving a justified design recommendation. [8]
Indicative answer
Evaluate a club member's proposal to distribute an unauthorised game copy and to repost humiliating messages about another player. Give a reasoned alternative. [6]
Indicative answer
This guide addresses OCR H446 1.5.2 (all nine listed issue areas). Check your examination year and the complete specification for the assessment scope.
These are independently written explanations and practice questions. CompSciTutoring.co.uk is not affiliated with or endorsed by an examination board. The marking guidance is indicative; always check the syllabus for your examination year.
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Use the free examples first, then explore one-to-one tuition if guided practice would help.