A Level Textbooks: A Level Computing - P.M. Heathcote

Advantages: Nice layout
Disadvantages: Sometimes waffles on a bit

Being a student I probably use this book more frequently than teachers do and so I believe I am more able to write a 'real' review. This 370-page book aims to cover all aspects of the A-level IT course. The book is presented well with short paragraphs and bullet point used to outline key points. The book consists of five sections, in total 71 chapters. The aim of using so many chapters is to allow each chapter to be covered in one or two lessons, ...
...larger chapter. The book has a large number of case studies that are very useful to learn for exams. These case studies also contain many facts that are useful to remember. At the end of each chapter there are a selection of questions, the questions are good, however not all them may be applicable to the syllabus you are studying. The appendices show what the book covers as far as the syllabuses go. There is also a rough guide to the mark scheme, ... Read review

Advantages: Explains things simply
Disadvantages: Not everything in the book is on the course

...completed my first year of A level computing i could not have done it without this book. This is not sayin that the course can not be completed without this book just that my teacher was totally dependant on it. I completed my course (and got an A) by looking at slide shows repeating this book word for word. This was definitly not the best method of using the book but if used along with other resources (as my second year teacher is using it) it ...
...for about £13 and at this price it is a must buy. It will last you two years and will help explain something your struggling with. If in class you don't understand something a quick look at this book will go a long way to clearing it up. ... Read review

Advantages: Gets you through the course
Disadvantages: A lot of information you dont need.

I am currently studying A level computing and using this book to study from. It is a well structured book with all the different topics in well ordered chapters and sections. It comprises the whole AQA course from AS to A-level. The language used is very easy to understand for anybody who will be doing A-levels and so its a useful addition to the course. There are helpful diagrams and graphics in this book which help you visualise the concepts. However ... Read review