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OCR 9-1 (J276) GCSE Computer Science

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GCSE 9-1 (J276) Computer Science

1.1

 

 

Architecture

 

 

What is a computer system?
  • Computer system
  • Input, process, output, storage
  • Data bus
  • Embedded computer
The purpose and components of the CPU
  • Control unit
  • ALU
  • Registers
  • Cache
  • Clock
Von Neumann architecture
  • Von Neumann architecture
  • MAR & MDR
  • Program Counter
  • Accumulator
  • Harvard architecture
Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle
  • Registers involved
  • Fetch, decode, execute cycle
CPU performance factors
  • Clock speed
  • Multi-core processors
  • Cache
  • RAM
  • Graphics GPU

1.2

Memory

Memory types
  • Main memory
  • Volatile memory - what is it?
  • RAM
  • DRAM
  • SRAM
  • ROM
  • Virtual memory

1.3

Storage

Secondary storage
  • Storage media & devices
  • Magnetic storage
  • Optical storage
  • Solid state media
  • Data capacity
  • Calculating storage

1.4

 

 

 

WiFi and Wired networks

 

 

 

Types of networks
  • What is a network?
  • Home networks
  • Business networks
  • LANs
  • WANs
Performance of networks
  • Bandwidth
  • Wired performance
  • Bands and channels
  • Wi-Fi performance
  • Error rate
  • Latency
Client/Server and Peer-to-Peer
  • Client server networks
  • Peer-to-peer networks
Hardware needed
  • NIC
  • Hub
  • Switch
  • Router
  • Cables
  • WAP and Wi-Fi
DNS, IP addressing, web hosting and the cloud
  • ISP
  • URL
  • IP address
  • DNS
  • Web sites
  • Local hosting
  • External hosting
  • The Cloud
Virtual Networks
  • Standard networks
  • Virtual networks

 

1.5

 

 

 

Networks

 

 

Network topologies
  • Star network
  • Mesh network
Protocols
  • Protocols
  • TCP/IP
  • HTTP / HTTPs
  • FTP
  • POP, IMAP, SMTP
  • Ethernet
  • The four layer model
Packet Switching
  • Circuit switching
  • Packet switching

1.6

Network security

Introduction to network security
  • Network security
  • Why is it important?
Network threats
  • Malware
  • Social engineering
  • Phishing
  • Brute force
  • Denial of service
  • Data interception
  • SQL injection
  • Poor network policy
Malware
  • Malware
  • Viruses
  • Worms
  • Browser malware
Preventing vulnerabilities
  • User access rights
  • Passwords
  • Network policy
  • Acceptable use policy
  • Backups
  • Disaster recovery
  • Network forensics
  • Anti-malware
  • Firewall
  • Penetration testing
  • Encryption

1.7

Systems Software

Operating System
  • Kernel
  • User interface
  • Memory management
  • Multi-tasking OS
  • Device drivers
  • User management
Utility software
  • Encryption utilities
  • Defragmentation utilities
  • Compression
  • Backup
  • Information & diagnostics

 

 

1.8

 

 

 

 

 

Ethical and legal

 

 

 

Legislation
  • Data Protection Act
  • General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR)
  • Computer Misuse Act
  • Copyright, Designs & Patents Act
  • Freedom of Information Act
Environment
  • Ewaste
  • Sustainability
  • Recycling
  • Energy
  • Monitoring
  • Stakeholders
Privacy & technology
  • DNA profiling
  • National Identity cards
  • CCTV
  • Electronic tracking
  • Personal data
  • Stakeholders
Ethics & technology
  • Digital divide
  • Genetic screening
  • Whistleblowers
  • Self driving cars
  • Drone warfare
Culture & technology
  • Anonymity
  • Social media
  • Health
  • Citizen journalism
  • Viral videos
Open source and closed source
  • Open source
  • Closed source
  • Creative Commons

2.1

 

 

 

 

 

Algorithms

 

 

 

 

 

Computational thinking
  • Decomposition
  • Top-down diagrams
  • Pattern recognition
  • Abstraction
  • Algorithms
Pseudocode
  • Algorithms
  • Pseudocode
  • Precision
  • Keywords
  • Operators & variables
  • Conditionals
  • Loops
Flowchart
  • Algorithms
  • Flowcharts
  • Flowchart shapes
Sorting algorithms
  • Bubble sort
  • Insertion sort
  • Merge sort
Searching algorithms
  • Searching
  • Data sets and criteria
  • Linear search
  • Binary search

2.2

 

 

 

 

 

Programming Techniques

 

 

 

 

 

Variables etc
  • Variables
  • Constants
  • Arithmetic operators
  • Boolean operators
  • Assignment operators
  • Compound operators
Arrays
  • One dimensional arrays
  • Static arrays
  • Dynamic arrays
  • Iterations
  • Two dimensional arrays
  • Array functions
Sequence, Selection, Iteration
  • Sequence
  • Selection
  • Conditionals -IF
  • Conditionals - CASE
  • Iteration
  • WHILE
  • DO
  • FOR
String Manipulation
  • Assignment & storage
  • Copy & concatenate
  • Traversal
  • Search
  • Casting
File Handling
  • Open
  • Close
  • Write
  • Write loop
  • Read
  • Read loop
Databases & SQL
  • Database parts
  • SQL
  • SELECT
  • WHERE
  • WHERE ... AND
  • WHERE ... FOR
  • LIKE
Data Types
  • Character & string
  • Integer
  • Real
  • Boolean
Subprocedure and Functions
  • Repeating code
  • Subprocedures
  • Functions
  • Code Library

2.3

Producing robust programs

Defensive Design
  • User interfaces
  • Screen widgets
  • Repeat entry
  • Input boxes
  • Validation
  • Whitelist & blacklist
  • Sanitising
  • Authentication
Maintainability
  • Comments
  • Headers
  • Whitespace
  • Indentation
Errors and correcting algorithms
  • Logic errors
  • Arithmetic order
  • Syntax errors
  • Debugging tools
  • Run-Time errors
Testing
  • Test plan
  • Test data
  • Black box strategy
  • White box strategy
  • Iterative testing
  • Final testing

2.4

Computational Logic

Logic and Truth Tables
  • What is logic
  • Binary logic
  • Truth tables
  • Logic gates

Applying maths is in section 2.2

2.5

Translators and facilities of languages

Levels of language, Translators and IDE
  • Machine code
  • Assembly code
  • High level language
  • Translators
  • Assemblers
  • Compilers
  • Interpreters
  • IDE

2.6

Data Represenation

Units
  • Bit, nibble, byte
  • Kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte
  • Terabye, petabyte
Binary Numbers
  • Number systems
  • Digit position
  • Denary to binary
  • Binary to denary
  • Adding binary
  • Binary shift
  • Binary overflow
Hexadecimal Numbers
  • Hexadecimal symbols
  • Denary to Hexadecimal
  • Hexadecimal to denary
  • Binary to hexadecimal
  • Hexadecimal to binary
  • Check digits
Characters
  • ASCII
  • Extended ASCII
  • Character sets
  • Unicode
Images
  • Input devices
  • Pixels
  • Greyscale
  • Colour
  • Colour depth
  • Resolution
  • Metadata
Sound
  • Sampling
  • Storing
  • Sampling frequency
  • Sampling bit depth
  • Channels
  • Bit rate
  • Metadata
Compression
  • Lossy compression
  • Lossless compression
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