Revision

This is revision for the end of year examination in computer science.

Just because there is a topic here does not mean that it will be in the examination.

Similarly, if there is a topic that is not mentioned then that does not mean that it will not be examined.

Software

You are expected to know how ro convert between the three number bases in computing, Binary, Denary and Hexadecimal.

Here is a quick way of converting from Decimal to binary. Start with the number (106) and divide it by two, the remainder is 0. Now the number is 53 and when divided by two the remainder is 1. Keep doing this until there is nothing left. The answer is the remainders, backwards. Neat huh? Try it, it works.

106 01101010
106 0  
53 1
26 0
13 1
6 0
3 1
1 1
0 0

 

 

Glossary

 

Glossary for logic
algorithm A sequence of logical instructions for carrying out a task. In computing, algorithms are needed to design computer programs.
ALU Arithmetic logic unit - a component of the CPU that performs calculating functions such as addition and subtraction.
binary A number system that contains two digits, 0 and 1. Also known as base 2.
bit The smallest unit of data in computing represented by a 1 in binary.
Boolean A data type in computing which only has two possible values, true or false.
CPU Central processing unit - the brain of the computer that processes program instructions. Also called a microprocessor.
data type In computer programming, data is divided up and organised according to type, eg numbers, characters and Boolean.
device Any piece of computing hardware.
execution The process of a program being run on a computer.
logic gate Circuit components which take several inputs, compare the inputs with each other, and provide a single output based on logical functions such as AND, OR and NOT.
overflow An overflow error is caused when the processor does not have enough bytes available to process an instruction.
programming language A language used by a programmer to write a piece of software. There are many programming languages.
pseudocode A method of writing up a set of instructions for a computer program using plain English. This is a good way of planning a program before coding.
statement The smallest element of a programming language which expresses an action to be carried out.
transistor Microscopic devices that open and close circuits to communicate electrical signals. CPUs contain millions of transistors.
truth table Used to assess possible results of a Boolean algebra statement.
variable In a computer program, this is a memory location where values are stored.

 

 

Set work

Useful links (AQA Guides)

Questions

These are questions that relate to the AQA guides above.

Revision

These are some revision topics and example questions that will aid revision for the year 10 examination on 23rd June 2017. Just because it is in this list does not mean that its in the exam and if it is not in the list it does not mean that the topic is not inthe exam.

Mock examination

Here are the answers to the mock examination that you took in the summer.

For many students the objective here is to understand how to answer questions, to see where silly mistakes were made that cost easy marks and to appreciate how the examiner can aske questions relating to the theory that you already know.

Coursework

Here is the information regarding your coursework as well as some worked examples to show you how coursework should be written up.

The coursework will be done twice, once with the example task for practice and then the real NEA task. You will only have 20 hours in which to complete the real task; there cannot be any extra time given.