Topic outline

  • General

  • Topic 1

    Fundamentals of Computer Systems

    Hardware and Software

    Understand the relationship between hardware and software and be able to define both.

  • Topic 2

    Classification of Software

    Be aware of how software is classified.

    Be able to explain what is meant by system software and application software.

    Understand the need for and attributes of different types of software.

    • Topic 3

      System Software

      Understand the need for, and functions of, system software:

      • Operating system software
      • Utility programs
      • Library programs
      • Translator software (Compiler, assembler, interpreter).

      • Topic 4

        Application Software

        Describe the different types of application software and the criteria for selecting appropriate software for particular purposes.

        General purpose application software.

        Special purpose application software.

        Bespoke application software.

        • Topic 6

          Types of Program Translator

          • Assembler
          • Compiler
          • Interpreter

          Define each type of language translator and describe situations where each would be appropriate.

          • Topic 7

            Fundamental Hardware Elements of Computers

            Logic Gates

            Construct truth tables for the following gates: NOT, AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR.

            Be familiar with drawing logic diagrams involving one or more of the above gates.

            Boolean Algebra

            Be familiar with the use of De Morgan’s laws to manipulate and simplify simple Boolean expressions.

            • Topic 8

              Machine Level Architecture

              Internal and External Hardware Components of a Computer

              Outline the basic internal components of a computer system. (Although questions about specific machines will not be asked it might be useful to base this section on the machines used at the centre.)

              Understand the need for and means of connection between components.

              Processor, main memory, address bus, data bus, control bus, I/O controllers and I/O ports, secondary storage, their purpose and how they relate.

              Know that external components are called peripherals and an example is secondary storage.

              • Topic 9

                Functional Characteristics of a Processor

                Understand the concept of addressable memory.

                Describe the stored program concept whereby machine code instructions stored in main memory are fetched and executed serially by a processor that performs arithmetic and logical operations.

                • Topic 10

                  Structure and Role of the Processor

                  Understand the characteristics of contemporary processors.

                  • Arithmetic Logic Unit
                  • Control Unit
                  • Clock
                  • General purpose and dedicated registers

                  Explain the role and operation of a processor and its major components.

                  Explain the effect of clock speed, word length and bus width on performance.

                  • Topic 11

                    Machine code and processor instruction set

                    The basic machine code operations of Load, Add, Store.

                    The Fetch–Execute cycle and the role of registers within it

                    Explain how the Fetch–Execute cycle is used to execute machine code programs including the stages in the cycle with details of registers used.

                    Machine code representation in binary and hexadecimal.

                    • Topic 12

                      Hardware Devices

                      Input and Output Devices

                      Know the main characteristics of contemporary devices (see the Teacher Resource Bank) and understand their principles of operation, including methods of error checking (check digit).

                      • Topic 13

                        Secondary Storage Devices

                        Explain the need for secondary storage within a computer system, know the main characteristics and understand the principles of operation of contemporary devices (see the Teacher Resource Bank). Compare the capacity and speed of access of various media and make a judgement about their suitability for different applications.

                        • Topic 14

                          The Structure of the Internet

                          The Internet and its Uses World Wide Web (WWW) Intranet

                          Understand the structure of the Internet, the role of packet switching and routers.

                          Understand the difference between the Internet, the Web and an intranet.

                          • Topic 15

                            Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

                            Describe the term URL in the context of Internet working.

                            Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)

                            Describe the role of URIs in the context of Internet working.

                            Domain Names and IP Addresses

                            Explain the terms domain name and IP address.

                            Describe how domain names are organised.

                            • Topic 16

                              Internet registries and Internet registrars

                              Explain why such services are provided.

                              Internet Service Providers (ISP)

                              Understand the role of an ISP.

                              Domain Name Server (DNS)

                              Understand the purpose of Domain Name Server.

                              The Client–Server Model

                              Be familiar with the client–server model.

                              Common Standard Protocols:

                              • TCP/IP
                              • FTP
                              • HTTP
                              • TELNET
                              • POP3, SMTP
                              • Well-known ports
                              • Ephemeral ports
                              • HTTPS

                              Describe the role of the four layers of the TCP/IP protocol stack, including sockets.

                              Be familiar with

                              • Telnet server for remote management of a server
                              • Web server to retrieve web pages in text form
                              • E-mail server to read and send e-mail
                              • FTP client software and an FTP server to transfer files using an-0-nymous and non-an-0-nymous access.

                              Understand the role of a web browser in retrieving web pages and web page resources and rendering these accordingly.

                              • Topic 17

                                Web page design

                                Web page construction

                                Have practical experience of creating simple web pages containing hyperlinks using the tags listed in the Teacher Resource Bank.

                                HTML & style sheets

                                Know that HTML is used for structure only and that style sheets are used for style and layout of web pages (see the Teacher Resource Bank for list of style sheet selectors, properties and values).

                                • Topic 18

                                  Consequences of Uses of Computing

                                  Legal and Ethical Issues

                                  Discuss issues of ownership of information and programs, and the protection of data.

                                  Consider current legal controls which specifically refer to computerised data and programs, and the implications of current legislation (see the Teacher Resource Bank).

                                  H * cking.

                                  Consider how digital rights can be managed.

                                  Code of Conduct.

                                  • Topic 19

                                    Economic and Social Issues

                                    Discuss the social consequences of current uses of computing.

                                    Be aware of emerging technologies and appreciate their potential impact on society.

                                    Robotics.

                                    What are machines good and bad at, in comparison to humans?

                                    What can this tell us about the way that the human mind works?

                                    What can we learn from machines?

                                    What are the limitations of using machines as tools?

                                    • Topic 20

                                      Specification and past papers

                                      The course started in 2009, here are all the relevant past papers and their mark schemes.