Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028.

3 Subject content

This syllabus gives you the flexibility to design a course that will interest, challenge and engage your learners.
Where appropriate you are responsible for selecting resources and examples to support your learners’
study. These should be appropriate for the learners’ age, cultural background and learning context as well as
complying with your school policies and local legal requirements.

Computer Science is a practical subject and a range of practical exercises must be integral to the teaching
of this qualification. It is important that learners develop their computational thinking skills by doing practical
problem-solving and programming using appropriate resources. It is also expected that learners have the
opportunity in class to write their own programs, as well as executing (running), testing and debugging them.

Any equipment and facilities should be adequate for learners to be able to satisfy the requirements of the
syllabus. The hardware facilities needed will depend on the number of learners but must be sufficient for all
learners to have enough time to practise their programming skills. Learners also need to have access to a
system with direct-access file capability on backing store and hardcopy facilities.

Computer systems
1 Data representation
1.1 Number systems

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand how and why computers use • Any form of data needs to be converted to
binary to represent all forms of data binary to be processed by a computer
• Data is processed using logic gates and stored
in registers
2 (a) Understand the denary, binary and • Denary is a base 10 system
hexadecimal number systems • Binary is a base 2 system
• Hexadecimal is a base 16 system
(b) Convert between • Values used will be integers only
(i) positive denary and positive binary • Conversions in both directions, e.g. denary to
(ii) positive denary and positive binary or binary to denary
hexadecimal • Maximum binary number length of 16-bit
(iii) positive hexadecimal and positive
binary
3 Understand how and why hexadecimal is used • Areas within computer science that
as a beneficial method of data representation hexadecimal is used should be identified
• Hexadecimal is easier for humans to
understand than binary, as it is a shorter
representation of binary
4 (a) Add two positive 8-bit binary integers
(b) Understand the concept of overflow and • An overflow error will occur if the value is
why it occurs in binary addition greater than 255 in an 8-bit register
• A computer or a device has a predefined limit
that it can represent or store, for example 16-bit
• An overflow error occurs when a value outside
this limit should be returned

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

1.1 Number systems continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

5 Perform a logical binary shift on a positive 8-bit • Perform logical left shifts
binary integer and understand the effect this • Perform logical right shifts
has on the positive binary integer
• Perform multiple shifts
• Bits shifted from the end of the register are lost
and zeros are shifted in at the opposite end of
the register
• The positive binary integer is multiplied or
divided according to the shift performed
• The most significant bit(s) or least significant
bit(s) are lost
6 Use the two’s complement number system to • Convert a positive binary or denary integer to a
represent positive and negative 8-bit binary two’s complement 8-bit integer and vice versa
integers • Convert a negative binary or denary integer to a
two’s complement 8-bit integer and vice versa

1.2 Text, sound and images

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand how and why a computer • Text is converted to binary to be processed by
represents text and the use of character a computer
sets, including American standard code for • Unicode allows for a greater range of
information interchange (ASCII) and Unicode characters and symbols than ASCII, including
different languages and emojis
• Unicode requires more bits per character than
ASCII
2 Understand how and why a computer • A sound wave is sampled for sound to be
represents sound, including the effects of the converted to binary, which is processed by a
sample rate and sample resolution computer
• The sample rate is the number of samples
taken in a second
• The sample resolution is the number of bits per
sample
• The accuracy of the recording and the file size
increases as the sample rate and resolution
increase

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

1.2 Text, sound and images continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

3 Understand how and why a computer • An image is a series of pixels that are converted
represents an image, including the effects of to binary, which is processed by a computer
the resolution and colour depth • The resolution is the number of pixels in the
image
• The colour depth is the number of bits used to
represent each colour
• The file size and quality of the image increase
as the resolution and colour depth increase

1.3 Data storage and compression

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand how data storage is measured • Including:
– bit
– nibble
– byte
– kibibyte (KiB)
– mebibyte (MiB)
– gibibyte (GiB)
– tebibyte (TiB)
– pebibyte (PiB)
– exbibyte (EiB)
• The amount of the previous denomination
present in the data storage size, e.g.:
– 8 bits in a byte
– 1024 mebibytes in a gibibyte
2 Calculate the file size of an image file and a • Answers must be given in the units specified
sound file, using information given in the question. Calculations must use the
measurement of 1024 and not 1000
• Information given may include:
– image resolution and colour depth
– sound sample rate, resolution and length of
track
3 Understand the purpose of and need for data • Compression exists to reduce the size of the file
compression • What the impact of this is, e.g.:
– less bandwidth required
– less storage space required
– shorter transmission time

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

1.3 Data storage and compression continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

4 Understand how files are compressed using • Lossy compression reduces the file size by
lossy and lossless compression methods permanently removing data, e.g. reducing
resolution or colour depth, reducing sample
rate or resolution
• Lossless compression reduces the file size
without permanent loss of data, e.g. run length
encoding (RLE)

2 Data transmission
2.1 Types and methods of data transmission

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 (a) Understand that data is broken down into
packets to be transmitted
(b) Describe the structure of a packet • A packet of data contains a:
– packet header
– payload
– trailer
• The packet header includes the:
– destination address
– packet number
– originator’s address
(c) Describe the process of packet switching • Data is broken down into packets
• Each packet could take a different route
• A router controls the route a packet takes
• Packets may arrive out of order
• Once the last packet has arrived, packets are
reordered
2 (a) Describe how data is transmitted from one • Including:
device to another using different methods – serial
of data transmission
– parallel
– simplex
– half-duplex
– full-duplex
(b) Explain the suitability of each method of • Including the advantages and disadvantages of
data transmission, for a given scenario each method
3 Understand the universal serial bus (USB) • Including the benefits and drawbacks of the
interface and explain how it is used to transmit interface
data

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

2.2 Methods of error detection

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand the need to check for errors after • Errors can occur during data transmission due
data transmission and how these errors can to interference, e.g. data loss, data gain and
occur data change
2 Describe the processes involved in each of the • Including parity byte and parity block check
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) • Including the use of:
can be used to establish that data is received – positive/negative acknowledgements
without error
– timeout

2.3 Encryption

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand the need for and purpose of
encryption when transmitting data
2 Understand how data is encrypted using • Asymmetric encryption includes the use of
symmetric and asymmetric encryption public and private keys

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

3 Hardware
3.1 Computer architecture

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 (a) Understand the role of the central • The CPU processes instructions and data that
processing unit (CPU) in a computer are input into the computer so that the result
can be output
(b) Understand what is meant by a • A microprocessor is a type of integrated circuit
microprocessor on a single chip
2 (a) Understand the purpose of the • Including:
components in a CPU, in a computer that – units: arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and control
has a Von Neumann architecture unit (CU)
– registers: program counter (PC), memory
address register (MAR), memory data
register (MDR), current instruction register
(CIR) and accumulator (ACC)
– buses: address bus, data bus and control
bus
(b) Describe the process of the • How instructions and data are fetched from
fetch–decode–execute (FDE) cycle, random access memory (RAM) into the CPU,
including the role of each component in the how they are processed using each component
process and how they are then executed
• Storing data and addresses into specific
registers
• Using buses to transmit data, addresses and
signals
• Using units to fetch, decode and execute data
and instructions
3 Understand what is meant by a core, cache • The number of cores, size of the cache and
and clock in a CPU and explain how they can speed of the clock can affect the performance
affect the performance of a CPU of a CPU
4 Understand the purpose and use of an • An instruction set is a list of all the commands
instruction set for a CPU that can be processed by a CPU, and the
commands are machine code
5 Describe the purpose and characteristics of • An embedded system is used to perform a
an embedded system and identify devices in dedicated functions. For example in, domestic
which they are commonly used appliances, cars, security systems, lighting
systems or vending machines. This is different
to a general purpose computer that is used to
perform many different functions. For example
in, a personal computer (PC) or a laptop

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

3.2 Input and output devices

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand what is meant by an input device • Including:
and why it is required – barcode scanner
– digital camera
– keyboard
– microphone
– optical mouse
– QR code scanner
– touch screen (resistive, capacitive and
infra-red)
– two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional
(3D) scanners
2 Understand what is meant by an output device • Including:
and why it is required – actuator
– digital light processing (DLP) projector
– inkjet printer
– laser printer
– light emitting diode (LED) screen
– liquid crystal display (LCD) projector
– liquid crystal display (LCD) screen
– speaker
– 3D printer
3 (a) Understand what is meant by a sensor and • Limited to:
the purposes of sensors – acoustic
– accelerometer
– flow
– gas
– humidity
– infra-red
– level
– light
– magnetic field
– moisture
– pH
– pressure
– proximity
– temperature
(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

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

3.3 Data storage

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand what is meant by primary storage • Primary storage is directly accessed by the
CPU
• Including the role of:
– random access memory (RAM)
– read only memory (ROM)
• Including why a computer needs both RAM
and ROM, and the difference between them
2 Understand what is meant by secondary • Secondary storage is not directly accessed by
storage the CPU and is necessary for more permanent
storage of data
3 Describe the operation of magnetic, optical • Magnetic storage uses platters which are
and solid-state (flash memory) storage and give divided into tracks and sectors. Data is read
examples of each and written using electromagnets. Including
hard disk drive (HDD)
• Optical storage uses lasers to create and read
pits and lands. Including: CD, DVD and Blu-ray
• Solid-state (flash memory) uses NAND or NOR
technology. Transistors are used as control
gates and floating gates. Including: solid-state
drive (SSD), SD card and USB drive
4 Describe what is meant by virtual memory, how • Pages of data are transferred between RAM
it is created and used and why it is necessary and virtual memory when needed
5 Understand what is meant by cloud storage • Cloud storage can be accessed remotely in
comparison to storing data locally
6 Explain the advantages and disadvantages • Physical servers and storage are needed to
of storing data on the cloud in comparison to store data in cloud storage
storing it locally

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

3.4 Network hardware

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand that a computer needs a network
interface card (NIC) to access a network
2 Understand what is meant by, and the purpose • A network interface card is given a MAC
of, a media access control (MAC) address, address at the point of manufacture
including its structure • MAC addresses are usually written as
hexadecimal
• MAC addresses are created using the
manufacturer code and the serial code
3 (a) Understand what is meant by, and the • An IP address is allocated by the network and it
purpose of, an internet protocol (IP) address can be static or dynamic
(b) Understand that there are different types of • Including the characteristics of, and differences
IP address between, IPv4 and IPv6
4 Describe the role of a router in a network • A router sends data to a specific destination on
a network
• A router can assign IP addresses
• A router can connect a local network to the
internet

4 Software
4.1 Types of software and interrupts

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Describe the difference between system • System software provides the services that the
software and application software and provide computer requires, including operating system
examples of each and utility software
• Application software provides the services that
the user requires
2 Describe the role and basic functions of an • Including:
operating system – managing files
– handling interrupts
– providing an interface
– managing peripherals and drivers
– managing memory
– managing multitasking
– providing a platform for running applications
– providing system security
– managing user accounts

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

4.1 Types of software and interrupts continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

3 Understand how hardware, firmware and • Applications are run on the operating system
an operating system are required to run • The operating system is run on the firmware
applications software
• The bootloader (firmware) is run on the
hardware
4 Describe the role and operation of interrupts • Including:
– how an interrupt is generated
– how it is handled using an interrupt service
routine
– what happens as a result of the interrupts
• Software interrupts include division by zero
and two processes trying to access the same
memory location
• Hardware interrupts include pressing a key on
the keyboard and moving the mouse

4.2 Types of programming language, translators and integrated development environments

(IDEs)

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Explain what is meant by a high-level language • Advantages and disadvantages include:
and a low-level language, including the – ease of reading and writing code,
advantages and disadvantages of each e.g. low-level is hard to read
– ease of debugging code
– machine independence
– direct manipulation of hardware
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 • A compiler translates the whole code at once
interpreter, including how high-level language is before executing it, producing an executable file
translated by each and how errors are reported • An interpreter translates and executes the code
line-by-line
• A compiler provides an error report for the
whole code if errors are detected
• An interpreter stops execution when an error is
found

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

4.2 Types of programming language, translators and integrated development environments

(IDEs) continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

4 Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a • Including an understanding that an interpreter is
compiler and an interpreter mostly used when developing a program and a
compiler is used to translate the final program
5 Explain the role of an IDE in writing program • Including:
code and the common functions IDEs provide – code editors
– run-time environment
– translators
– error diagnostics
– auto-completion
– auto-correction
– prettyprint

5 The internet and its uses

5.1 The internet and the world wide web

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand the difference between the internet • The internet is the infrastructure
and the world wide web • The world wide web is the collection of
websites and web pages accessed using the
internet
2 Understand what is meant by a uniform • A URL is a text-based address for a web page;
resource locator (URL) it can contain the protocol, the domain name
and the web page/file name
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 • The main purpose of a web browser is to
browser render hypertext markup language (HTML) and
display web pages
• Functions include:
– storing bookmarks and favourites
– recording user history
– allowing use of multiple tabs
– storing cookies
– providing navigation tools
– providing an address bar

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

5.1 The internet and the world wide web continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

5 Describe how web pages are located, retrieved • Including the role of:
and displayed on a device when a user enters a – the web browser
URL
– IP addresses
– the domain name server (DNS)
– the web server
– HTML
6 Explain what is meant by cookies and how • Cookies are used for functions, including:
they are used, including session cookies and – saving personal details
persistent cookies
– tracking user preferences
– holding items in an online shopping cart
– storing login details

5.2 Digital currency

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand the concept of a digital currency • A digital currency is one that only exists
and how digital currencies are used electronically
2 Understand the process of blockchain and how • Blockchain, in its basic form, is a digital ledger,
it is used to track digital currency transactions that is a time-stamped series of records that
cannot be altered

5.3 Cyber security

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Describe the processes involved in, and the • Including:
aim of carrying out, a range of cyber security – brute-force attack
threats
– data interception
– distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack
– hacking
– malware (virus, worm, Trojan horse,
spyware, adware, ransomware)
– pharming
– phishing
– social engineering

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

5.3 Cyber security continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

2 Explain how a range of solutions are used to • Including:
help keep data safe from security threats – access levels
– anti-malware, including anti-virus and
anti-spyware
– authentication (username and password,
biometrics, two-step verification)
– automating software updates
– checking the spelling and tone of
communications
– checking the URL attached to a link
– firewalls
– privacy settings
– proxy-servers
– secure socket layer (SSL) security protocol

6 Automated and emerging technologies

6.1 Automated systems

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Describe how sensors, microprocessors and
actuators can be used in collaboration to create
automated systems
2 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of • Including scenarios from:
an automated system used for a given scenario – industry
– transport
– agriculture
– weather
– gaming
– lighting
– science

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

6.2 Robotics

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand what is meant by robotics • Robotics is a branch of computer science that
incorporates the design, construction and
operation of robots
• Examples include factory equipment, domestic
robots and drones
2 Describe the characteristics of a robot • Including:
– a mechanical structure or framework
– electrical components, such as sensors,
microprocessors and actuators
– programmable
3 Understand the roles that robots can • Robots can be used in areas including:
perform and describe the advantages and – industry
disadvantages of their use
– transport
– agriculture
– medicine
– domestic settings
– entertainment

6.3 Artificial intelligence

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand what is meant by artificial • AI is a branch of computer science dealing
intelligence (AI) with the simulation of intelligent behaviours by
computers
2 Describe the main characteristics of AI as the
collection of data and the rules for using that
data, the ability to reason, and it can include
the ability to learn and adapt
3 Explain the basic operation and components of • Limited to:
AI systems to simulate intelligent behaviour – expert systems
– machine learning
• Expert systems have a knowledge base, a rule
base, an inference engine and an interface
• Machine learning is when a program has the
ability to automatically adapt its own processes
and/or data

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

Algorithms, programming and logic

See section 4 for the:
• standard flowchart symbols that must be used by students when drawing flowcharts
• logic gate symbols that must be used by students when drawing logic circuits
• format in which pseudocode will appear in examinations.

In Paper 2, candidates are expected to write solutions to given problems using the methods and concepts
listed in topics 7 to 10.

Where the solution to a problem involves coding, candidates are required to write solutions in pseudocode.
Solutions written in programming code will not be awarded marks. The exception is the 15-mark scenario
question.

In the 15-mark scenario question, candidates are required to write solutions to the given problem using
pseudocode or their choice of one of the following programming languages: Python, Visual Basic or Java.
Solutions written in other programming languages will not be awarded marks.

7 Algorithm design and problem-solving

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance
1 Understand the program development life • Including identifying each stage and performing
cycle, limited to: analysis, design, coding and these tasks for each stage:
testing – analysis: abstraction, decomposition of the
problem, identification of the problem and
requirements
– design: decomposition, structure diagrams,
flowcharts, pseudocode
– coding: writing program code and iterative
testing
– testing: testing program code with the use
of test data
2 (a) Understand that every computer system is
made up of sub-systems, which are made
up of further sub-systems
(b) Understand how a problem can be • Including:
decomposed into its component parts – inputs
– processes
– outputs
– storage
(c) Use different methods to design and • Including:
construct a solution to a problem – structure diagrams
– flowcharts
– pseudocode
3 Explain the purpose of a given algorithm • Including:
– stating the purpose of an algorithm
– describing the processes involved in an
algorithm

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

7 Algorithm design and problem-solving continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance
4 Understand standard methods of solution • Limited to:
– linear search
– bubble sort
– totalling
– counting
– finding maximum, minimum and average
values
5 (a) Understand the need for validation checks • Including:
to be made on input data and the different – range check
types of validation check
– length check
– type check
– presence check
– format check
– check digit
(b) Understand the need for verification checks • Including:
to be made on input data and the different – visual check
types of verification check
– double entry check
6 Suggest and apply suitable test data • Limited to:
– normal
– abnormal
– extreme
– boundary
• Extreme data is the largest/smallest acceptable
value
• Boundary data is the largest/smallest
acceptable value and the corresponding
smallest/largest rejected value
7 Complete a trace table to document a dry-run • Including, at each step in an algorithm:
of an algorithm – variables
– outputs
– user prompts
8 Identify errors in given algorithms and suggest
ways of correcting these errors
9 Write and amend algorithms for given problems • Precision is required when writing algorithms,
or scenarios, using: pseudocode, program e.g. x > y is acceptable but
code and flowcharts x is greater than y is not acceptable
• See section 4 for flowchart symbols
• See section 4 for pseudocode

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

8 Programming
8.1 Programming concepts

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Declare and use variables and constants
2 Understand and use basic data types • Including:
– integer
– real
– char
– string
– Boolean
3 Understand and use input and output
4 (a) Understand and use the concept of
sequence
(b) Understand and use the concept of • Including:
selection – IF statements
– CASE statements
(c) Understand and use the concept of • Including:
iteration – count-controlled loops
– pre-condition loops
– post-condition loops
(d) Understand and use the concepts of
totalling and counting
(e) Understand and use the concept of string • Including:
handling – length
– substring
– upper
– lower
• The first character of the string can be position
zero or one

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

8.1 Programming concepts continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

(f) Understand and use arithmetic, logical and • Arithmetic, limited to:
Boolean operators – +
– –
– /
– *
– ^ (raised to power of)
– MOD
– DIV
• Logical, limited to:
– =
– <
– <=
– >
– >=
– <> (not equal to)
• Boolean, limited to:
– AND
– OR
– NOT
5 Understand and use nested statements • Including nested selection and iteration
• Candidates will not be required to write more
than three levels of nested statements
6 (a) Understand what is meant by procedures,
functions and parameters
(b) Define and use procedures and functions, • Procedures and functions may have up to two
with or without parameters parameters
(c) Understand and use local and global
variables
7 Understand and use library routines • Including:
– MOD
– DIV
– ROUND
– RANDOM

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

8.1 Programming concepts continued

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

8 Understand how to create a maintainable • Including appropriate use of:
program – meaningful identifiers
– the commenting feature provided by the
programming language
– procedures and functions
– relevant and appropriate commenting of
syntax
• Use meaningful identifiers for:
– variables
– constants
– arrays
– procedures and functions

8.2 Arrays

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Declare and use one-dimensional (1D) and
two-dimensional (2D) arrays
2 Understand the use of arrays • Including the use of variables as indexes in
arrays
3 Write values into, and read values from, an • The first index can be zero or one
array using iteration • Including nested iteration

8.3 File handling

Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance

1 Understand the purpose of storing data in a file
to be used by a program
2 Open, close and use a file for reading and • Including:
writing – read and write single items of data
– read and write a line of text

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

9 Databases
Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance
1 Define a single-table database from given data • Including:
storage requirements – fields
– records
– validation
2 Suggest suitable basic data types • Including:
– text/alphanumeric
– character
– Boolean
– integer
– real
– date/time
3 Understand the purpose of a primary key
and identify a suitable primary key for a given
database table
4 Read, understand and complete structured • Limited to:
query language (SQL) scripts to query data – SELECT
stored in a single database table
– FROM
– WHERE
– ORDER BY DESCENDING
– ORDER BY ASCENDING
– SUM
– COUNT
– AND
– OR
• Identifying the output given by an SQL
statement that will query the given contents of a
database table

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 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

10 Boolean logic
Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance
1 Identify and use the standard symbols for logic • See section 4 for logic gate symbols
gates
2 Define and understand the functions of logic • Including:
gates – NOT
– AND
– OR
– NAND
– NOR
– XOR (EOR)
– the binary output produced from all the
possible binary inputs
• NOT is a single input gate
• All other gates are limited to two inputs
3 (a) Use logic gates to create given logic circuits • Circuits must be drawn for the statement given,
from a: without simplification
(i) problem statement • Logic circuits will be limited to a maximum of
(ii) logic expression three inputs and one output
(iii) truth table
(b) Complete a truth table from a: • An example truth table with three inputs, for
(i) problem statement completion:
(ii) logic expression A B C Output
(iii) logic circuit 0 0 0
0 0 1
0 1 0
0 1 1
1 0 0
1 0 1
1 1 0
1 1 1

(c) Write a logic expression from a:

(i) problem statement
(ii) logic circuit
(iii) truth table

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