Computing: Application Development - Cambridge Advanced National Extended Certificate (AAQ)

Students should submit applications by 19 December 2025.

Applications will remain open throughout the year and late applications will be considered; however, students should be aware that they may not receive their preferred choices if a late application is received.

Once applications have been received, all applicants will be invited for an interview to discuss their application and ensure that their subject choices are suitable.

We look forward to welcoming you into our sixth form and to you playing an active part in the life of our Academy.

Through a combination of theoretical study and hands-on experience, you will develop the necessary knowledge and skills that can support progression to higher education computing study which are relevant to the ICT practitioners sector. In the examined units, you will study key knowledge and understanding relevant to application development. In the non examined assessment (NEA) units, you will demonstrate knowledge and skills you learn by completing applied or practical assignments.

You might be interested in this qualification if you want to apply what you learn to practical, real-life contexts, such as:

• Interpreting client requirements and documenting ideas.
• Planning and designing UX/UI solutions.
• Communicating UX/UI solutions to clients.
• Planning, designing and creating two different applications.
• Testing and reviewing created applications.

The qualification will also help you develop independence and confidence in using skills that are relevant to the sector and that prepare you for progressing to university courses where independent study skills are needed. You will develop skills that can be used in both higher education and other life and work situations.

The qualification has three mandatory units and two optional units.

Mandatory units

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.

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.

Designing and communicating UX /UI solutions

In this unit you will learn the principles of UX/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.

Optional units - you must take two of these units

• Game development
• Website development
• Immersive technology solution development
• Software development

• Fundamentals of application development - external exam
• Developing application software - external exam
• Designing and communicating UX/UI solutions - assessed by an assignment

The optional units are assessed by assignment.

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and maths.

Both the subject-specific knowledge, understanding and skills, and broader transferable skills developed through these units, will help you progress to further study in related areas such as:

• Computer Science
• Computer Games Development
• Computing
• Creative Computing
• Web and Mobile Development
• Web and User Experience Design