Computer Science — Cambridge A-Level

Write pseudocode for 1D and 2D arrays

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Show understanding of the purpose of state-transition diagrams to document an algorithm

12.2 Program Design – State‑Transition Diagrams

Show understanding that an ADT is a collection of data and a set of operations on those data

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Understand how different ports provide connection to peripheral devices

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Explain the key management tasks carried out by the Operating System

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Locate and identify the different types of errors

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Explain the benefits and drawbacks of using either a compiler or interpreter and justify the use of each

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Show understanding of and be able to represent character data in its internal binary form, depending on the character set used

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Define and use a function

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Show understanding of how data are transferred between various components of the computer system using the address bus, data bus and control bus

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Use pseudocode to write: a 'CASE' structure

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Show understanding of the need for input, output, primary memory and secondary (including removable) storage

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Show understanding of different number systems

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Describe practical applications where Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) and Hexadecimal are used

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Describe security methods designed to protect the security of data

6.1 Data Security

Perform binary addition and subtraction

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Correct identified errors

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Construct the truth table for each of the logic gates above

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Show understanding of packet switching

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Define and use composite data types

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Explain the differences between Static RAM (SRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

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Explain where in the construction of an algorithm it is appropriate to use a function

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Show understanding of the need to act ethically and the impact of acting ethically or unethically for a given situation

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Show understanding of Karnaugh maps (K-map)

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Show awareness that high-level language programs may be partially compiled and partially interpreted, such as Java (console mode)

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Show understanding of process management

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Show understanding of how artificial neural networks have helped with machine learning

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Describe features found in a typical Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

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Show understanding of the bus, star, mesh and hybrid topologies

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Normalise floating-point numbers

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Show understanding of the features provided by a Database Management System (DBMS) that address the issues of a file-based approach

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Show understanding of how data for a bitmapped image are encoded

Cambridge A‑Level Computer Science 9618 – 1.2 Multimedia

Write pseudocode statements for: expressions involving any of the arithmetic or logical operators input from the keyboard and output to the console

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Show understanding of the concept of a virtual machine

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Show understanding of the need for: a compiler for the translation of a high-level language program

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Write pseudocode from a flowchart

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Implement and write pseudocode from a given design presented as either a program flowchart or structured English

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Perform calculations to estimate the file size for a bitmap image

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Show understanding of the consequences of a binary representation only being an approximation to the real number it represents (in certain cases)

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Draw a flowchart from a structured English description

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Show understanding of how protocol implementation can be viewed as a stack, where each layer has its own functionality

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Show understanding of lossy and lossless compression and justify the use of a method in a given situation

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Show understanding of the characteristics of a number of programming paradigms: Low-level

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Describe and use methods of data verification during data entry and data transfer

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Show understanding of Deep Learning, Machine Learning and Reinforcement Learning and the reasons for using these methods

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Show understanding of virtual memory, paging and segmentation for memory management

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Show understanding of how sound is represented and encoded

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Convert binary floating-point real numbers into denary and vice versa

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Show understanding of protocols (HTTP, FTP, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, BitTorrent) and their purposes

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Show understanding that a stack, queue and linked list are examples of ADTs

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Show understanding of the characteristics of a number of programming paradigms: Declarative

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Show an understanding of abstraction

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Explain why a given set of database tables are, or are not, in 3NF

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Describe the format of binary floating-point real numbers

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Use the following logic gate symbols: NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR

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Describe the features of a relational database that address the limitations of a file-based approach

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Show understanding of the threats to computer and data security posed by networks and the internet

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Trace a given simple assembly language program

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Show understanding of and be able to use different modes of addressing

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Show understanding of the need for typical utility software provided with an Operating System

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Show understanding of the purpose and role of registers, including the difference between general purpose and special purpose registers

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Show understanding of the effects of changing elements of a bitmap image on the image quality and file size

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Show understanding of program libraries

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Show understanding of linear and binary searching methods

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Draw a flowchart from pseudocode

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Show understanding of how software tools found within a DBMS are used in practice

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Use built-in functions and library routines

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Describe and use methods of data validation

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Show understanding of the need for a test strategy and test plan and their likely contents

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Show understanding of the need for continuing maintenance of a system and the differences between each type of maintenance

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Explain the difference between Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM) and Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM)

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Show appreciation of the need for both the security of data and the security of the computer system

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Describe how a queue, stack and linked list can be implemented using arrays

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Write pseudocode to handle text files that consist of one or more lines

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Show understanding of the characteristics of a LAN (local area network) and a WAN (wide area network)

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Show understanding of the different types of software licensing and justify the use of a licence for a given situation

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Describe and use the process of stepwise refinement to express an algorithm to a level of detail from which the task may be programmed

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Show understanding of how a text file, bitmap image, vector graphic and sound file can be compressed

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Write an SQL script to query or modify data (DML) which are stored in (at most two) database tables

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Show understanding of the normalisation process

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Show understanding of the purpose of a record structure to hold a set of data of different data types under one identifier

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Show understanding of the characteristics of a number of programming paradigms: Imperative (Procedural)

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Show understanding that the industry standard for both DDL and DML is Structured Query Language (SQL)

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Construct a truth table

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Understanding what is meant by a programming paradigm

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Show understanding of the importance/use of pipelining and registers in RISC processors

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Show understanding of the need for and purpose of ethics as a computing professional

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Show understanding of and use the terminology associated with a relational database model

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Describe and use decomposition

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Use a stack, queue and linked list to store data

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Describe the stages of the Fetch-Execute (F-E) cycle

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Show understanding of the need for copyright legislation

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Show understanding of the limitations of using a file-based approach for the storage and retrieval of data

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Show understanding of and use Abstract Data Types (ADT)

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Describe security measures designed to protect computer systems, ranging from the stand-alone PC to a network of computers

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Explain where in the construction of an algorithm it would be appropriate to use a procedure

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Produce a normalised database design for a description of a database, a given set of data, or a given set of tables

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Show understanding of how the grammar of a language can be expressed using syntax diagrams or Backus-Naur Form (BNF) notation

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Show understanding of the analysis, design, coding, testing and maintenance stages in the program development life cycle

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Show understanding of insertion sort and bubble sort methods

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Show understanding of the need for: an interpreter for translation and execution of a high-level language program

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Show an understanding of monitoring and control systems

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Document a simple algorithm using a structured English description, a flowchart or pseudocode

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Show understanding of digital certification

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Show understanding of the various stages in the compilation of a program

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Show understanding of the need for: assembler software for the translation of an assembly language program

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Show understanding that binary representations can give rise to rounding errors

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Show understanding of why files are needed

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Show understanding of ways of exposing and avoiding faults in programs

Program Testing and Maintenance

Explain how a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is used to locate a resource on the World Wide Web (WWW) and the role of the Domain Name Service (DNS)

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Show understanding of the purpose of a development life cycle

Program Development Life Cycle (PDLC)

Select and use appropriate data types for a problem solution

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Describe the role and function of a router in a network

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Show understanding that different algorithms which perform the same task can be compared by using criteria (e.g. time taken to complete the task and memory used)

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Write pseudocode to process array data

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Show understanding of a flip-flop (SR, JK)

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Describe the principal operations of hardware devices

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Show understanding of the methods of testing available and select appropriate data for a given method

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Use the terminology associated with procedures and functions

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Write code to perform file-processing operations

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Choose and design an appropriate user-defined data type for a given problem

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Show understanding that a set of instructions are grouped

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Choose appropriate test data for a test plan

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Describe the hardware that is used to support a LAN

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Describe methods that can be used to restrict the risks posed by threats

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Explain the client-server and peer-to-peer models of networked computers

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Show understanding that the DBMS carries out all queries and maintenance of data using its DML

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Justify why one loop structure may be better suited to solve a problem than the others

Cambridge A-Level Computer Science 9618 – Topic 11.2 Constructs

Use an entity-relationship (E-R) diagram to document a database design

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Show understanding of Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC) and Complex Instruction Set Computers (CISC) processors

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Show understanding of bit streaming

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Describe the different stages of the assembly process for a two-pass assembler

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Show understanding of the TCP/IP protocol suite

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Show understanding of the four basic computer architectures

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Show understanding of the differences between the World Wide Web (WWW) and the internet

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Use the technical terms associated with arrays

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Show how it is possible for ADTs to be implemented from another ADT

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pseudocode using the three basic constructs of sequence, decision, and iteration

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Show understanding of binary magnitudes and the difference between binary prefixes and decimal prefixes

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Use parameters

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Show awareness of what a compiler has to do to translate recursive programming code

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Show understanding of why a protocol is essential for communication between computers

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Show understanding of how factors contribute to the performance of the computer system

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Show understanding of an exception and the importance of exception handling

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Show understanding that the DBMS carries out all creation/modification of the database structure using its Data Definition Language (DDL)

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Write pseudocode statements for: the declaration of variables

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Show understanding of the need for different development life cycles depending on the program being developed

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Show understanding of how Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) can be used to carry out the evaluation of expressions

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Show understanding of why user-defined types are necessary

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Justify the use of a bitmap image or a vector graphic for a given task

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Describe how data validation and data verification help protect the integrity of data

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Select a suitable data structure (1D or 2D array) to use for a given task

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Produce truth tables for logic circuits including half adders and full adders

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Show understanding of Boolean algebra

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Show understanding of the differences between and implications of the use of wireless and wired networks

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Describe the hardware that is used to support the internet

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Use pseudocode to write: a 'post-condition' loop

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Construct a logic circuit

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Use pseudocode to write: a 'pre-condition' loop

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Show understanding of cloud computing

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Explain the difference between the terms security, privacy and integrity of data

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Describe the ways in which the user interface hides the complexities of the hardware from the user

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Write efficient pseudocode

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Understand and define the functions of: NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR and XOR (EOR) gates

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Explain why a computer system requires an Operating System (OS)

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Write pseudocode statements for: the declaration and initialisation of constants

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Use pseudocode to write: an 'IF' statement including the 'ELSE' clause and nested IF statements

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Write pseudocode statements for: the assignment of values to variables

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Describe the principles, benefits and drawbacks of each type of life cycle

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Show understanding of and perform binary shifts

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Understand given SQL (DDL) statements and be able to write simple SQL (DDL) statements using a sub-set of statements

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Explain the use of IP addresses in the transmission of data over the internet

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Show understanding of how encryption works

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Show understanding of the characteristics of massively parallel computers

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Write pseudocode that contains input, process and output

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Use suitable identifier names for the representation of data used by a problem and represent these using an identifier table

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Show understanding that an algorithm is a solution to a problem expressed as a sequence of defined steps

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Show understanding of the use of buffers

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Use pseudocode to write: a 'count-controlled' loop

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Show understanding of the purpose and benefits of networking devices

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Show understanding of thin-client and thick-client and the differences between them

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Show understanding of how data for a vector graphic are encoded

Topic 1.2 Multimedia – Vector Graphic Encoding

Show understanding of back propagation of errors and regression methods in machine learning

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Show understanding of the purpose of interrupts

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Show understanding of the methods of file organisation and select an appropriate method of file organisation and file access for a given problem

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Show understanding of Ethernet and how collisions are detected and avoided

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Use logic statements to define parts of an algorithm solution

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Define and use non-composite types

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Show awareness of the Secure Socket Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS)

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Define and use a procedure

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Show understanding of the characteristics of a number of programming paradigms: Object Oriented

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Show understanding of the relationship between assembly language and machine code

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Use a structure chart to decompose a problem into sub-tasks and express the parameters passed between the various modules/procedures/functions which are part of the algorithm design

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Show understanding of the purpose and roles of the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit (CU) and system clock, Immediate Access Store (IAS)

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Show understanding of the need for and examples of the use of compression

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Write pseudocode from a structured English description

Topic 9.2 – Algorithms

Show understanding of the basic Von Neumann model for a computer system and the stored program concept

Central Processing Unit (CPU) Architecture

Show understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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Show understanding of methods of file access

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Show understanding of how an OS can maximise the use of resources

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Analyse an existing program and make amendments to enhance functionality

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Show understanding of recursion

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Show understanding of how bit manipulation can be used to monitor/control a device

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Show understanding of hashing algorithms

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Show understanding of the impact of changing the sampling rate and resolution

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Explain the differences between Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM)

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Show understanding of embedded systems

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Show understanding of how graphs can be used to aid Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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Show understanding of how an interpreter can execute programs without producing a translated version

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Show understanding of circuit switching

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Construct a logic expression

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