iGCSE Computer Science (0478) 2023 Checklist

Name

Class:

Written examination:

Paper 1 Theory 1 hour 45 mins 50% of the qualification

Paper 2 Problem Solving 1 hour 45 mins 50 % of the qualification

and programming

Section 1 Theory of Computer Science

Covered Not Covered

Topics
1 Data representation
1. Number System
1
1 Understand how and why computers use binary
to represent all forms of data
2 (a) Understand the denary, binary and
hexadecimal number systems
(b) Convert between
(i) positive denary and positive binary
(ii) positive denary and positive hexadecimal
(iii) positive hexadecimal and positive binary
3. Understand how and why hexadecimal is used as a beneficial
method of data representation
4. (a) Add two positive 8-bit binary integers
(b) Understand the concept of overflow and why
it occurs in binary addition
5 Perform a logical binary shift on a positive 8-bit
binary integer and understand the effect this has
on the positive binary integer
6. Use two’s complement to represent positive and
negative 8-bit binary integers
1. Text, sound and images
2
1 Understand how and why a computer represents
text and the use of character sets, including
American standard code for information
interchange (ASCII) and Unicode
2 Understand how and why a computer represents
sound, including the effects of the sample rate
and sample resolution
3 Understand how and why a computer represents
an image, including the effects of the resolution
and colour depth
1.3 Data storage and compression
1 Understand how data storage is measured
2 Calculate the file size of an image file and a
sound file, using information given
3 Understand the purpose of and need for data
compression
4 Understand how files are compressed using lossy
and lossless compression methods
2 Data transmission
2. Types and methods of data transmission
1
1 (a) Understand that data is broken down into
packets to be transmitted

(b) Describe the structure of a packet

(c) Describe the process of packet switching
2 (a) Describe how data is transmitted from one
device to another using different methods of
data transmission
(b) Explain the suitability of each method of data
transmission, for a given scenario
3 Understand the universal serial bus (USB)
interface and explain how it is used to transmit
data
2. Methods of error detection
2
1 Understand the need to check for errors after
data transmission and how these errors can occur
2 Describe the processes involved in each of the
following error detection methods for detecting
errors in data after transmission: parity check
(odd and even), checksum and echo check
3 Describe how a check digit is used to detect
errors in data entry and identify examples of
when a check digit is used, including international
standard book numbers (ISBN) and bar codes
4 Describe how an automatic repeat query (ARQ)
can be used to establish that data is received
without error
2. Encryption
3
1 Understand the need for and purpose of
encryption when transmitting data
2 Understand how data is encrypted using
symmetric and asymmetric encryption
 3 Hardware
3. Computer architecture
1
1 (a) Understand the role of the central processing
unit (CPU) in a computer
(b) Understand what is meant by a microprocessor
2 (a) Understand the purpose of the components
in a CPU, in a computer that has a Von Neumann architecture
(b) Describe the process of the fetch–decode–execute cycle
including the role of each component in the process
3 Understand what is meant by a core, cache and clock in a CPU
and explain how they can affect the performance of a CPU
4 Understand the purpose and use of an instruction set for a CPU
5 Describe the purpose and characteristics of an embedded
system and identify devices in which they are commonly used
3. Input and output devices
2
1 Understand what is meant by an input device and why it is
required
2 Understand what is meant by an output device and why it is
required
3 (a) Understand what is meant by a sensor and the purposes of
sensors
(b) Identify the type of data captured by each sensor and
understand when each sensor would be used, including selecting
the most suitable sensor for a given context
3. Data storage
3
1 Understand what is meant by primary storage
2 Understand what is meant by secondary storage
3 Describe the operation of magnetic, optical and solid-state (flash
memory) storage and give examples of each
4 Describe what is meant by virtual memory, how it is created and
used and why it is necessary
5 Understand what is meant by cloud storage
6 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of storing data on the
cloud in comparison to storing it locally
3. Network hardware
4
1 Understand that a computer needs a network interface card
(NIC) to access a network
2 Understand what is meant by and the purpose of
a media access control (MAC) address, including
its structure
3 (a) Understand what is meant by and the purpose of an internet
protocol (IP) address
(b) Understand that there are different types of IP address
4 Describe the role of a router in a network
4 Software
4. Types of software and interrupts
1
1 Describe the difference between system software
and application software and provide examples
of each
2 Describe the role and basic functions of an
operating system
3 Understand how hardware, firmware and an
operating system are required to run applications
software
4 Describe the role and operation of interrupts
4. Types of programming language, translators
2 and integrated development environments
(IDEs)
1 Explain what is meant by a high-level language and a low-level
language, including the advantages and disadvantages of each
2 Understand that assembly language is a form of low-level
language that uses mnemonics, and that an assembler is needed
to translate an assembly language program into machine code
3 Describe the operation of a compiler and an interpreter,
including how high-level language is translated by each and how
errors are reported
4 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a compiler and an
interpreter
5 Explain the role of an IDE in writing program code and the
common functions IDEs provide

5 The internet and its uses

5. The internet and the world wide web
1
1 Understand the difference between the internet and the world
wide web
2 Understand what is meant by a uniform resource locator (URL)
3 Describe the purpose and operation of hypertext transfer
protocol (HTTP) and hypertext transfer
protocol secure (HTTPS)
4 Explain the purpose and functions of a web browser
5 Describe how web pages are located, retrieved and displayed on
a device when a user enters a URL
6 Explain what is meant by cookies and how they are used,
including session cookies and persistent cookies
5. Digital currency
2
1 Understand the concept of a digital currency and how digital
currencies are used
2 Understand the process of blockchain and how it is used to track
digital currency transactions
5. Cyber security
3
1 Describe the processes involved in, and the aim of carrying out,
a range of cyber security threats
2 Explain how a range of solutions are used to help keep data safe
from security threats
 6 Automated and emerging technologies
6. Automated systems
1
1 Describe how sensors, microprocessors and actuators can be
used in collaboration to create automated systems
2 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of an
automated system used for a given scenario
6. Robotics
2
1 Understand what is meant by robotics
2 Describe the characteristics of a robot
3 Understand the roles that robots can perform
and describe the advantages and disadvantages
of their use
6. Artificial intelligence
3
1 Understand what is meant by artificial
intelligence (AI)
2 Describe the main characteristics of AI as the
collection of data and the rules for using that
data, the ability to reason, and can include the
ability to learn and adapt
3 Explain the basic operation and components of AI
systems to simulate intelligent behaviour