Computer Science

Conventions followed in specification

• DIV (integer division) operator
• Flowchart symbols and conventions
• MOD (modulo division) operator
• Pseudo-code conventions for selection and iteration
• Pseudo-code conventions for variables and assignment
• Pseudo-code string handling functions
• Relational operators

1. Hardware

• Accumulator (ACC)
• Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
• Cache memory
• Cloud storage
• Control unit (CU)
• CPU cache
• CPU performance: cache size and levels
• CPU performance: clock speed
• CPU performance: number of cores
• CPU registers
• Current instruction register (CIR)
• Embedded systems
• Fetch-decode-execute cycle
• Flash memory
• Input and output devices
• Integrated and dedicated GPUs
• Magnetic secondary storage
• Main memory in CPU architecture
• Memory address register (MAR)
• Memory data register (MDR)
• Motherboards
• Optical secondary storage
• Primary storage overview
• Program counter (PC)
• Purpose of the CPU
• Random access memory (RAM)
• Read only memory (ROM)
• Solid state secondary storage
• Sound cards
• Suitability of secondary storage media
• Virtual memory
• Von Neumann CPU architecture

2. Logical operations

• Boolean algebra symbols
• Boolean logic simplification
• Boolean rule: Absorption
• Boolean rule: Annulment
• Boolean rule: Association
• Boolean rule: Commutative
• Boolean rule: Complement
• Boolean rule: Distribution
• Boolean rule: Idempotent
• Boolean rule: Identity
• Logical operator AND
• Logical operator NOT
• Logical operator OR
• Logical operator XOR
• Truth tables

3. Networking and cybersecurity

• 7-layer OSI model
• Anti-malware software
• Bridges
• Brute force attacks
• Characteristics of networks
• Data interception and theft
• Denial of service attacks
• Domain Name System (DNS)
• Double authentication
• Encryption
• Ethernet
• Firewalls
• FTP protocol
• HTTP protocol
• HTTPS protocol
• Hubs
• Importance of networking standards
• IP protocol
• Malware
• Mesh topology
• Network forensics
• Network interface cards (NICs)
• Passwords
• Penetration testing
• Phishing
• Ring vs bus topology comparison
• Routers
• Routing and routing costs
• SMTP protocol
• Social engineering
• SQL injection
• Star topology
• Switches
• TCP protocol
• TCP/IP packet contents and packet switching
• URL structure
• User access levels
• Web browser role and function
• WiFi (802.11)
• Wireless access points (WAPs)

4. Data representation and storage

• Arithmetic shift functions
• ASCII
• Binary addition
• Binary subtraction
• Bit
• Boolean data type
• Byte
• Calculating data capacity
• Calculating image storage
• Calculating sound storage
• Character data type
• Compression ratios
• Denary, binary and hexadecimal counting
• Digital storage of characters
• Digital storage of graphics
• Digital storage of sound
• Gigabyte
• Integer data type
• Kilobyte
• Lossless compression
• Lossy compression
• Megabyte
• Nibble
• Overflow and underflow
• Petabyte
• Principles of data compression
• Real data type
• Resolution and colour depth
• Sampling rates and sound quality
• Sign and magnitude representation
• String data type
• Terabyte
• Two's complement representation
• Unicode

5. Data organisation

• File design
• One-dimensional arrays
• Records
• Selecting appropriate data structures
• Two-dimensional arrays

6. Operating systems

• Anti-virus utility
• Archivers
• Backup software
• Clipboard manager
• Cryptographic utilities
• Data recovery utilities
• Disk checkers
• Disk compression
• Disk defragmenters
• Disk formatters
• Disk partition editors
• File managers
• OS backing store management
• OS CPU management
• OS interrupt management
• OS memory management
• OS multi-tasking management
• OS peripheral management
• OS security management
• OS user interface management
• Purpose of the operating system
• Revision control
• System profiles

7. Principles of programming

• Choosing high-level vs low-level
• High-level vs low-level languages

8. Algorithms and constructs

• Algorithms that validate and verify
• Binary search
• Bubble sort
• Counts and rogue values
• Data validation
• Data verification
• Flowchart definition of algorithms
• Input in algorithms
• Iteration
• Linear search
• Local and global variables
• Mathematical and logical operations in algorithms
• Merge sort
• Output in algorithms
• Pseudo-code definition of algorithms
• Selection
• Self-documenting identifiers
• Sequence
• String handling in algorithms
• Subroutines in algorithms
• Writing, correcting and testing algorithms

9. Software development

• Automatic colour coding
• Automatic formatting
• Automatic line numbering
• Break point
• Code optimisation (IDE)
• Compilation and interpretation of code
• Debugger
• Error diagnostics
• IDE editor
• Libraries
• Linker
• Loader
• Memory inspector
• Routines / subroutines (IDE)
• Standard functions
• Statement completion
• Syntax error detection
• Trace
• Variable watch

10. Program construction

• Appropriate use of translators
• Assemblers
• Code generation
• Code optimisation (compilation stage)
• Compilers
• Interpreters
• Lexical analysis
• Linking errors
• Logical errors
• Rounding errors
• Run-time / execution errors
• Semantic analysis
• Syntactical errors
• Syntax analysis
• Truncation errors

11. Impacts of digital technology on wider society

• Computer Misuse Act 1990
• Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988
• Creative Commons Licensing
• Cultural issues of computer systems
• Environmental issues of computer systems
• Ethical issues of computer systems
• Freedom of Information Act 2000
• GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• Legal issues of computer systems
• Privacy issues of computer systems
• Professional standards and codes of conduct
• Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
• Telecommunications Regulations Act 2000

Systems Analysis

• Abstraction
• Analyse a set of requirements
• Authentication management routines
• Code annotation for third parties
• Comparing approaches to requirements
• Consistent programming style
• Creating and editing Python 3 objects
• Creating and extending Python 3 functions/methods
• Creating and extending Python 3 libraries
• Decomposition
• Designing a testing strategy
• Designing data structures
• Designing user interface input/output
• Evaluating outcomes of additional changes
• Evaluating outcomes of original code
• Evidencing developmental changes
• Explaining solutions and changes
• Explaining test outcomes
• File handling: close a file
• File handling: open a file
• File handling: read into a variable
• File handling: read into an array
• File handling: write from an array
• File handling: write to a file
• Fixed-length records
• GUIs in Python (text boxes, buttons, forms)
• Implementing a test plan
• Iteration: condition and counter controlled loops
• Lists, tuples and dictionaries
• Mathematical and logical operations in code
• Modular structuring with abstraction
• Presenting test outcomes with commentary
• Program a solution to requirements
• Pseudo-code design of authentication routines
• Pseudo-code design of data handling routines
• Pseudo-code design of validation/verification routines
• Refining code during development
• Refining code for efficiency
• Selection in programs
• Self-documenting code with meaningful identifiers
• Sequence in programs
• Slicing
• String manipulation in code
• Subroutines with well-defined interfaces
• Technical terminology in software development
• Typical, extreme and erroneous test data
• Understanding revised requirements
• Using a variety of data types
• Using testing outcomes to inform development
• Validation and verification routines in code
• Variables, operators, inputs, outputs and assignment