SecondaryCode 2210
Computer Science
24 topics and 117 objectives, each one something you should be able to do.
Written by Kindred in its own plain words. Your syllabus is still the official list, so check it for anything exact.
What this subject asks you to be able to do
1.1Number systems8 objectives
- Understand why computers represent every kind of data in binary, and how they do so
- Understand the number systems known as denary, binary and hexadecimal
- Convert values between (i) positive binary and positive denary, (ii) positive hexadecimal and positive denary, and (iii) positive binary and positive hexadecimal
- Understand how hexadecimal is used to represent data and why it is a helpful way to do so
- Add together a pair of positive 8-bit binary integers
- Understand what overflow means and the reason it arises during binary addition
- Apply a logical binary shift to a positive 8-bit binary integer, and understand what the shift does to that integer
- Apply the two’s complement system to represent 8-bit binary integers that are negative as well as positive
1.2Text, sound and images3 objectives
- Understand why and how text is represented in a computer, and the part played by character sets, including Unicode and American standard code for information interchange (ASCII)
- Understand why sound is represented in a computer and how this is done, including what difference sample rate and sample resolution make
- Understand the method and purpose behind a computer's representation of an image, including how resolution and colour depth affect the outcome
1.3Data storage and compression4 objectives
- understand how the amount of data storage is quantified
- work out the size of an image file and of a sound file from the details supplied
- appreciate why data compression exists and why it is required
- Understand how lossy and lossless methods are used to compress files
2.1Types and methods of data transmission6 objectives
- Understand that the data is cut up into packets ready for transmission
- Describe the parts that make up a packet and how they are arranged
- describe the process by which packet switching works
- Describe the various methods of data transmission and how each one transmits data between two devices
- Explain how well each data transmission method would suit the scenario given
- Understand what a universal serial bus (USB) interface is, and explain how data is transmitted through one
2.2Methods of error detection4 objectives
- Understand why data needs checking for errors once it has been transmitted, and the ways in which such errors can arise
- Describe the steps followed in each of these error detection methods, which find errors in data once it has been transmitted: parity check (odd and even), checksum and echo check
- Describe the way a check digit detects errors made during data entry, and identify situations in which check digits are used, including bar codes and international standard book numbers (ISBN)
- Describe the way an automatic repeat query (ARQ) is put to work to confirm data has arrived without error
2.3Encryption2 objectives
- Understand why encryption is needed when data is transmitted, and what it sets out to achieve
- Understand the way symmetric and asymmetric encryption are each used to encrypt data
3.1Computer architecture7 objectives
- appreciate the function that the central processing unit (CPU) performs within a computer
- appreciate what the term microprocessor refers to
- appreciate the job of each component inside a CPU, in a computer built on the Von Neumann architecture
- Describe how the fetch–decode–execute (FDE) cycle works, including what part every component plays
- Understand what the terms core, cache and clock mean for a CPU, and explain the ways each one can affect how well the CPU performs
- Appreciate the function and application of an instruction set within a CPU.
- outline the purpose of an embedded system and its characteristics, and identify the devices in which such systems are frequently employed
3.2Input and output devices4 objectives
- Understand the meaning of an input device and the reason why one is needed
- Understand the definition of an output device, along with the need for one
- Understand the meaning of the term sensor and what sensors are used for
- Identify the type of data each sensor captures, and grasp the conditions under which each sensor is put to use, including picking the sensor best suited to a given context
3.3Data storage6 objectives
- appreciate what the term primary storage refers to
- Understand what the term secondary storage refers to
- Describe how solid-state (flash memory), optical and magnetic storage work, giving examples of each
- describe the meaning of virtual memory, the way it is formed and put to use, and the reason it is needed
- appreciate what the term cloud storage refers to
- Explain the benefits and drawbacks of keeping data in the cloud rather than on local storage
3.4Network hardware5 objectives
- know that a computer must have a network interface card (NIC) in order to be able to reach a network
- Understand what a media access control (MAC) address is and what it is for, including how it is structured
- appreciate what an internet protocol (IP) address is and what purpose it serves
- appreciate that more than one kind of IP address exists
- outline the job a router carries out within a network
4.1Types of software and interrupts4 objectives
- Describe what sets system software apart from application software, giving examples of both
- Describe what an operating system is for, along with its basic functions
- Understand the way in which applications software relies on hardware, firmware and an operating system in order to run.
- Describe what interrupts are for and how they function
4.2Types of programming language, translators and integrated development environments (IDEs)5 objectives
- Explain what high-level and low-level languages are, including the strengths and weaknesses that each one has
- understand that assembly language belongs to the low-level family and makes use of mnemonics, and that turning an assembly language program into machine code calls for an assembler
- Describe how compilers and interpreters work, including the way each translates high-level language and how each one reports errors
- account for the benefits and drawbacks of a compiler and of an interpreter
- explain what part an IDE plays when writing program code, and which functions IDEs commonly offer
5.1The internet and the world wide web6 objectives
- Understand how the internet differs from the world wide web
- Understand what the term uniform resource locator (URL) refers to
- Describe what hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) is for and how it runs, and the same for hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS)
- Explain what a web browser is for and which functions it performs
- Describe how a web page is found, fetched and shown on a device after the user types in a URL
- Explain what cookies are and the ways they are put to use, including persistent cookies and session cookies
5.2Digital currency2 objectives
- appreciate what a digital currency is and the ways in which digital currencies are put to use
- Understand how the blockchain process works and how it lets digital currency transactions be tracked
5.3Cyber security2 objectives
- Outline the steps taken during, and the purpose behind, a variety of cyber security threats
- Explain the way in which a variety of solutions are deployed so that data stays safe from security threats
6.1Automated systems2 objectives
- Describe the ways in which microprocessors, sensors and actuators can work together to build automated systems
- Describe the benefits and drawbacks that an automated system brings when it is used in a given scenario
6.2Robotics3 objectives
- Understand what the term robotics refers to
- Describe the characteristics that robots have
- Understand what roles robots are able to take on, and describe the benefits and drawbacks of using them
6.3Artificial intelligence3 objectives
- Understand the meaning of artificial intelligence (AI)
- Describe the main features of AI: gathering data together with rules for using it, being able to reason and, in some cases, being able to learn and adapt
- Explain how AI systems work at a basic level, and the parts they use, to simulate intelligent behaviour
7Algorithm design and problem-solving12 objectives
- Understand the stages a program passes through as it is developed, known as the program development life cycle, limited to: analysis, design, coding and testing
- know that every computer system is built from sub-systems, and that these sub-systems are in turn built from further sub-systems
- Understand how a problem may be decomposed by splitting it into the parts it is built from
- apply a variety of approaches when designing and constructing a solution to a problem
- explain what a given algorithm is intended to achieve
- Understand the standard methods used to solve problems
- Understand why input data has to be validated, and what kinds of validation check can be made on it
- Understand why input data has to be verified, and what kinds of verification check can be made on it
- suggest and make use of suitable test data
- Complete a trace table as a written record of an algorithm's dry-run
- Identify the errors in algorithms that are provided and suggest how each one could be put right
- Write algorithms, and amend existing ones, to solve the problems or scenarios given, using: pseudocode, program code and flowcharts
8.1Programming concepts15 objectives
- Declare variables and constants and put them to use
- Understand the basic data types and make use of them
- Understand input and output, and make use of both
- Understand and apply the idea of sequence
- Understand and apply the idea of selection
- Understand and apply the idea of iteration
- Understand and apply the ideas behind totalling and counting
- Understand and apply the idea of string handling
- Understand arithmetic, relational and logical operators, and put them to use
- Understand and apply statements nested within other statements
- Understand the meaning of procedures, functions and parameters
- Define procedures and functions, with or without parameters, and put them to use
- Understand local and global variables, and make use of each
- Understand and work with library routines
- Understand the ways to write a program so that it is maintainable
8.2Arrays3 objectives
- Declare two-dimensional (2D) and one-dimensional (1D) arrays and use them
- Understand what arrays are used for
- Write values into an array, and read values back out of it, by means of iteration
8.3File handling2 objectives
- understand the purpose behind saving data to a file that a program will then work with
- Open and close a file, and use it for both reading and writing
9Databases4 objectives
- Define a database with a single table to meet the data storage requirements given
- Suggest which basic data types would be a good fit.
- Understand what a primary key is intended to achieve, and identify an appropriate primary key within a supplied database table.
- Read, understand and finish off structured query language (SQL) scripts which run queries on data held in a single database table
10Boolean logic5 objectives
- Identify the standard symbols used for logic gates and make use of them
- Define, and understand, what each type of logic gate does
- Apply logic gates to build specified logic circuits, working from: (i) a problem statement (ii) a logic expression (iii) a truth table
- Complete a truth table where the starting point is (i) a problem statement, (ii) a logic expression or (iii) a logic circuit
- Write a logic expression when the starting point is (i) a problem statement, (ii) a logic circuit or (iii) a truth table
Kindred builds your map from these, so you can see what you've covered and what's still to do.