Cambridge A-level Computer Science Year 12 revision

Topic 1: Information representation

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Data representation, and takes it further.

There are 3 parts: we start with number systems and data representation, and finish with data compression.

1. 1.1Number systems and data representationFree 67 questions
2. 1.2Representing images, sound and MIDI69 questions
3. 1.3Data compression: lossy, lossless, run-length encoding and dictionary coding60 questions

Topic 2: Communication

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Data transmission and The internet and its uses, and takes it further.

There are 5 parts: we start with communication and networking, and finish with DNS, URLs and the structure of the Internet.

1. 2.1Communication and networkingFree 65 questions
2. 2.2Network topologies, transmission media and wired vs wireless networks68 questions
3. 2.3Wi-Fi: CSMA/CA, SSID, wireless access points and wireless security29 questions
4. 2.4IP addressing, IPv4 and IPv6, subnetting, NAT and DHCP29 questions
5. 2.5DNS, URLs and the structure of the Internet71 questions

Topic 3: Hardware

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Hardware and Boolean logic, and takes it further.

There are 4 parts: we start with input, output and specialised external hardware devices, and finish with logic gates and truth tables.

1. 3.1Input, output and specialised external hardware devicesFree 45 questions
2. 3.2Primary memory: RAM, ROM and cache46 questions
3. 3.3Secondary storage: magnetic, flash and optical68 questions
4. 3.4Logic gates and truth tablesFree 61 questions

Topic 4: Processor fundamentals

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Hardware, and takes it further.

There are 6 parts: we start with Computer architecture, and finish with bitwise manipulation, binary shifts and masks.

1. 4.1Computer architecture62 questions
2. 4.2Von Neumann, Harvard and contemporary architecturesFree 19 questions
3. 4.3Factors affecting processor performance: clock speed, cores, cache, word length and bus width30 questions
4. 4.4Assembly language and the Little Man Computer32 questions
5. 4.5Machine code instruction formats and addressing modes20 questions
6. 4.6Bitwise manipulation, binary shifts and masks65 questions

Topic 5: System software

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Software, and takes it further.

There are 4 parts: we start with utility software, BIOS, device drivers and virtual machines, and finish with IDEs and program development tools.

1. 5.1Utility software, BIOS, device drivers and virtual machines27 questions
2. 5.2Translators: compilers, interpreters, assemblers and stages of compilation32 questions
3. 5.3Libraries, linkers, loaders and open/closed source software26 questions
4. 5.4IDEs and program development tools31 questions

Topic 6: Security, privacy and data integrity

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in The internet and its uses, and takes it further.

There are 2 parts: we start with network security, and finish with error detection and correction.

1. 6.1Network security: malware, threats, firewalls and proxy servers75 questions
2. 6.2Error detection and correction: parity, majority voting, checksums and check digits60 questions

Topic 7: Ethics and ownership

There are 3 parts: we start with consequences of computing, and finish with artificial intelligence.

1. 7.1Consequences of computing25 questions
2. 7.2Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, software licensing and piracy44 questions
3. 7.3Artificial intelligence: benefits, risks and ethics30 questions

Topic 8: Databases

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Databases, and takes it further.

There are 4 parts: we start with relational databases, and finish with SQL data definition and manipulation.

1. 8.1Relational databases: flat files, keys, entity-relationship diagrams and indexingFree 29 questions
2. 8.2Normalisation to third normal form21 questions
3. 8.3SQL queries: SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY and JOIN24 questions
4. 8.4SQL data definition and manipulation: CREATE, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE22 questions

Topic 9: Algorithm design and problem-solving

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Algorithm design and problem-solving, and takes it further.

There are 3 parts: we start with abstraction and automation, and finish with representing and tracing algorithms.

1. 9.1Abstraction and automationFree 28 questions
2. 9.2Thinking procedurally and logically: decomposition, sequencing and decision points30 questions
3. 9.3Representing and tracing algorithms: pseudocode, flowcharts and trace tables26 questions

Topic 10: Data types and structures

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Programming, and takes it further.

There are 4 parts: we start with records, tuples, vectors, dictionaries and user-defined data types, and finish with linked lists.

1. 10.1Records, tuples, vectors, dictionaries and user-defined data types26 questions
2. 10.2Data structures24 questions
3. 10.3Queue variants and multi-dimensional arrays: circular queues, priority queues, 2D and 3D arraysFree 25 questions
4. 10.4Linked lists28 questions

Topic 11: Programming

It builds on what you learned at IGCSE in Programming, and takes it further.

There are 3 parts: we start with programming fundamentals, and finish with string handling, file handling, random numbers and exception handling.

1. 11.1Programming fundamentalsFree 28 questions
2. 11.2Subroutines, structured programming, parameter passing and scope31 questions
3. 11.3String handling, file handling, random numbers and exception handling32 questions

Topic 12: Software development

There are 3 parts: we start with development methodologies, and finish with testing strategies, evaluation and software maintenance.

1. 12.1Development methodologies: waterfall, spiral and the analysis, design, implementation, testing cycle31 questions
2. 12.2Agile methods, extreme programming and rapid application development30 questions
3. 12.3Testing strategies, evaluation and software maintenance43 questions

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