Computer Science

Appendix 2: Flowchart symbols

• Flowchart symbols

Topic 1: Computational thinking

• Abstraction
• AND in truth tables
• Arithmetic operators
• Benefits of subprograms
• Binary search
• Bubble sort
• Condition-controlled repetition
• Constants
• Count-controlled repetition
• Decomposition
• Determining algorithm output
• Evaluating algorithm efficiency
• Flowcharts
• Input, processing and output
• Iteration over a data structure
• Linear search
• Logic errors
• Logical operator AND
• Logical operator NOT
• Logical operator OR
• Merge sort
• NOT in truth tables
• One-dimensional arrays
• OR in truth tables
• Pseudocode
• Records
• Relational operators
• Runtime errors
• Selection
• Sequence
• Strings
• Syntax errors
• Three-input truth tables
• Trace tables
• Two-dimensional arrays
• Variables

Topic 2: Data

• 7-bit ASCII
• Arithmetic binary shifts
• Binary addition
• Binary as data representation
• Bitmap images
• Denary↔binary conversion
• File size and capacity calculations
• Hexadecimal
• Limitations of binary representation
• Logical binary shifts
• Lossless compression
• Lossy compression
• Maximum states from a binary pattern
• Need for data compression
• Overflow
• Sound representation
• Two's complement signed integers
• Units of data storage
• Unsigned integers

Topic 3: Computers

• Address bus
• Arithmetic logic unit
• Clock
• Control bus
• Control unit
• Data bus
• Embedded systems
• Fetch-decode-execute cycle
• Interpreters vs compilers
• Low-level vs high-level languages
• Magnetic secondary storage
• Optical secondary storage
• OS file management
• OS peripheral management
• OS process management
• OS user management
• RAM (main memory)
• Registers
• Robust software development
• Solid-state secondary storage
• Utility software – anti-malware
• Utility software – backup
• Utility software – data compression
• Utility software – disk defragmentation
• Utility software – file repair
• Von Neumann architecture

Topic 4: Networks

• 4-layer TCP/IP model
• Access control
• Bus topology
• Ethernet protocol
• Ethical hacking
• Firewalls
• FTP protocol
• HTTP protocol
• HTTPS protocol
• IMAP email protocol
• Internet structure
• LAN
• Mesh topology
• Network speeds and transmission calculations
• Penetration testing
• Physical security
• POP3 email protocol
• Purpose of computer networks
• SMTP email protocol
• Star topology
• TCP/IP protocol
• WAN
• Wi-Fi protocol
• Wired vs wireless connectivity

Topic 5: Issues and impact

• Acceptable use policies
• AI, machine learning and robotics ethics
• Anti-malware (protection)
• Backup and recovery procedures
• Encryption
• Environmental issues of digital devices
• Intellectual property protection
• Malware – key loggers
• Malware – ransomware
• Malware – Trojans
• Malware – viruses
• Malware – worms
• Personal data – privacy and protection
• Social engineering
• Technical vulnerabilities exploited by hackers

Topic 6: Problem solving with programming

• Authentication
• Built-in and user-devised subprograms
• Code readability techniques
• Converting algorithms to programs
• CSV file I/O
• Decomposition and abstraction in programming
• Evaluating program fitness and efficiency
• Functions vs procedures
• Global vs local variables
• Identifying and correcting program errors
• Primitive data types
• Programming – condition-controlled repetition
• Programming – count-controlled repetition
• Programming – iteration over data structures
• Programming – selection
• Programming – sequencing
• Programming arithmetic operators
• Programming logical operators
• Programming relational operators
• Reading, writing, analysing and refining programs
• Single entry/exit code blocks
• String manipulation
• Structural components of programs
• Structured data types
• User input handling
• Validation – length check
• Validation – pattern check
• Validation – presence check
• Validation – range check
• Variables and constants in programs