Computer Science

Year 10

Boolean logic, data capacity and programming fundamentals

Logic gates, logic diagrams and truth tables

Combining and applying Boolean operators

Units of data storage, binary data and data-size calculations

Program input and output, data types, casting and arithmetic

Year 11

Systems software, data representation and iteration

Operating systems and their key functions

Utility software, including backup, compression and antivirus tools

Sequence and condition-controlled iteration

Sound representation, binary addition and hexadecimal

Year 10

Computational thinking, selection and primary storage

Abstraction, decomposition and algorithmic thinking

Selection using if, elif and else

The need for primary storage

RAM, ROM and virtual memory

Year 11

The internet, algorithms and programming

The internet, the World Wide Web, servers and clients

Network standards, protocols and communication layers

Count-controlled loops and arrays

Linear and binary searching; bubble, insertion and merge sorting

Year 10

Data representation and secondary storage

Binary numbers, binary shifts and character representation

Bitmap images, resolution, colour depth and file-size calculations

Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage

Selecting storage based on capacity, speed, portability, durability and cost

Year 11

Defensive design, subprograms and testing

Validation, authentication, error handling and anticipating misuse

Maintainable code, procedures and functions

Parameters, arguments and return values

Testing, debugging, test data and program robustness

Year 10

Systems architecture and algorithm representation

The CPU and the fetch–decode–execute cycle

Von Neumann architecture and the stored-program concept

CPU performance and embedded systems

Inputs, processes and outputs; pseudocode, flowcharts and trace tables

Year 11

Programming languages, files and databases

High-level and low-level programming languages

Translators, compilers and interpreters

Opening, reading and writing files

Records and SQL queries using SELECT and WHERE

Year 10

Computer networks

Local area networks, wide area networks, bandwidth and latency

Client-server and peer-to-peer network models

Star and mesh network topologies

Network hardware, wired and wireless connections, and IP and MAC addresses

Year 11

Network security, CPU components and development tools

Wireless encryption and common forms of cyberattack

Internal and external threats to networks

Firewalls, encryption, secure passwords and anti-malware software

CPU components and the features of an Integrated Development Environment

Year 10

Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of technology

Environmental, social and economic impacts of digital technology

Stakeholders, privacy, surveillance and consent

Accessibility, the digital divide and cultural impacts

Legislation, copyright, and open-source and proprietary software

String manipulation

String length, indexing and slicing

Searching within strings

Converting text to upper and lower case

Year 11

Exam revision and preparation

Computer systems revision

Algorithms and programming revision

Examination practice and technique