IGCSE · Cambridge Assessment International Education · Grading: 9–1 scale
Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Computer Science
10 topics · 97 learning objectives
This roadmap currently projects the verified 0478 content set. Official 0984 equivalence remains unverified because its current syllabus source has not been supplied.
- 01
Data representation
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1.1.1Explain why computers represent all data in binary1.1.2(a)Understand the denary binary and hexadecimal number systems1.1.2(b)Convert positive integers between denary binary and hexadecimal1.1.3Explain why hexadecimal is useful1.1.4Add two positive 8-bit binary integers and explain overflow1.1.5Perform logical left and right shifts on positive 8-bit values and explain the effect1.1.6Represent positive and negative values using 8-bit two's complement1.2.1Explain binary text representation and compare ASCII with Unicode1.2.2Explain sampled sound and effects of sample rate and resolution1.2.3Explain bitmap images and effects of resolution and colour depth1.3.1Use binary storage units from bit through EiB1.3.2Calculate image and sound file sizes1.3.3Explain the purpose and effects of compression1.3.4Explain lossy and lossless compression
- 02
Data transmission
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2.1.1Describe packets their structure and packet switching2.1.2Describe and select serial parallel simplex half-duplex and full-duplex transmission2.1.3Explain USB data transmission2.2.1Explain why transmission errors occur and must be checked2.2.2Describe the processes used for parity, checksum and echo error detection after transmission2.2.3Explain check digits and identify uses2.2.4Describe automatic repeat query2.3.1Explain why transmitted data is encrypted2.3.2Explain symmetric and asymmetric encryption
- 03
Hardware
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3.1.1Explain the CPU role and define a microprocessor3.1.2Explain Von Neumann CPU components and the fetch-decode-execute cycle3.1.3Explain cores cache and clock effects on performance3.1.4Explain an instruction set3.1.5Describe embedded systems and distinguish them from general-purpose systems3.2.1Understand input devices, why they are required and suitable device selection3.2.2Understand output devices, why they are required and suitable device selection3.2.3Understand sensors, identify captured data and select the most suitable sensor for context3.3.1Explain primary storage and RAM versus ROM3.3.2Explain secondary storage3.3.3Describe magnetic, optical and solid-state storage operation and give examples3.3.4Explain virtual memory3.3.5Explain cloud storage3.3.6Evaluate cloud versus local storage3.4.1Explain why a network interface card is needed3.4.2Explain MAC address purpose and structure3.4.3Explain IP address purpose allocation and IPv4 versus IPv63.4.4Describe router roles
- 04
Software
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4.1.1Distinguish system and application software4.1.2Describe operating-system roles4.1.3Explain the hardware firmware operating-system application stack4.1.4Describe the role and operation of interrupts4.2.1Compare high-level and low-level languages4.2.2Explain assembly language and an assembler4.2.3Describe compiler and interpreter operation and error reporting4.2.4Evaluate compiler versus interpreter4.2.5Explain the role of an IDE in writing program code and the common functions it provides
- 05
The internet and its uses
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5.1.1Distinguish the internet and world wide web5.1.2Explain URLs5.1.3Describe HTTP and HTTPS5.1.4Explain the purpose and functions of a web browser5.1.5Describe how a web page is located, retrieved and displayed after a URL is entered5.1.6Explain session and persistent cookies and how cookies are used5.2.1Explain digital currency5.2.2Understand blockchain and how it tracks digital-currency transactions5.3.1Describe the process and aim of the named cyber-security threats5.3.2Explain how the complete named set of controls helps keep data safe from security threats
- 06
Automated and emerging technologies
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6.1.1Describe how sensors, microprocessors and actuators collaborate in automated systems6.1.2Evaluate automated systems in context6.2.1Define robotics6.2.2Describe the characteristics of a robot6.2.3Understand robot roles and describe advantages and disadvantages6.3.1Define artificial intelligence6.3.2Describe the main characteristics of artificial intelligence6.3.3Explain the basic operation and components of the limited AI system types in scope
- 07
Algorithm design and problem-solving
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7.1Understand the program development life cycle limited to analysis, design, coding and testing7.2Understand systems/sub-systems, decompose problems and use the required design methods7.3Explain the purpose of a given algorithm7.4Use the standard methods of solution in the stated limited set7.5Understand and apply validation and verification checks7.6Suggest and apply normal, abnormal, extreme and boundary test data7.7Complete a trace table to document a dry-run of an algorithm7.8Identify and correct algorithm errors7.9Write and amend precise algorithms
- 08
Programming
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8.1.1Declare and use variables and constants8.1.2Use integer real character string and Boolean data types8.1.3Use input and output8.1.4Understand and use sequence, selection, iteration, totalling, counting, string handling and the limited operators8.1.5Understand and use nested statements8.1.6Understand, define and use procedures and functions, parameters, and local/global variables8.1.7Understand and use the library routines in the subject-content scope8.1.8Understand how to create a maintainable program8.2.1Declare and use one-dimensional and two-dimensional arrays8.2.2Explain why arrays are used8.2.3Write values into and read values from an array using iteration8.3.1Explain persistent file storage8.3.2Open, close and use a file for reading and writing
- 09
Databases
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9.1Define a single-table database from given data-storage requirements9.2Suggest suitable basic database data types9.3Explain and select a primary key9.4Read, understand and complete SQL scripts that query one database table
- 10
Boolean logic
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10.1Identify and use standard logic-gate symbols10.2Define and understand the functions of the logic gates and their binary outputs10.3Translate among problem statements, logic expressions, truth tables and logic circuits
Topic 1 is free.
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