← Northern Ireland Digital Technology
Northern Ireland · CCEASyllabus
Digital Technology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Northern Ireland Digital Technologysyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
Unit 1: Digital Technology
Module overview →- What is cloud technology, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of storing and processing data in the cloud?Explain what cloud storage and cloud computing are, describe how the cloud is accessed over the internet, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages for individuals and organisations.9 min answer →
- What are the main hardware components of a computer system, and how do input, processing, storage and output fit together?Identify input, output and storage devices, describe the role of the CPU and the different types of memory (RAM, ROM and cache), and compare magnetic, optical and solid-state storage.11 min answer →
- How is data organised in a database, and how are records found, validated and kept accurate?Describe how a database organises data into tables, records and fields, explain the role of data types, primary keys, queries, sorting and validation, and outline the benefits of a database over a flat file.11 min answer →
- What are the ethical, legal, environmental and social impacts of digital technology, and what laws govern its use?Evaluate the ethical, legal, environmental and social impact of digital technology on society, and describe the purpose of the Data Protection legislation, the Computer Misuse Act and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.12 min answer →
- What are the main threats to networks and data, and how are systems and data kept secure when transferred?Identify cyber threats such as malware, hacking and phishing, describe security measures including firewalls, encryption, passwords and access rights, and explain how data is transferred and kept secure.11 min answer →
- What is a network, what hardware does it need, and how do LANs, WANs and the internet differ?Explain what a computer network is and its benefits, distinguish a LAN from a WAN, identify the hardware needed to build a network, compare wired and wireless connections, and describe the internet as a global network.10 min answer →
- How is data represented in a computer using binary and hexadecimal, and how are text, images, sound and video stored and compressed?Explain how computers represent data using the binary and hexadecimal number systems, state the units of digital storage, describe how text, graphics, sound and video are encoded, and compare lossy and lossless compression.11 min answer →
- What is the difference between systems software and application software, and what does an operating system do?Distinguish systems software from application software, describe the functions of an operating system and common utility programs, and explain the role of the user interface.10 min answer →
- How do spreadsheets store, calculate with and model data using cells, formulae and functions?Describe how a spreadsheet organises data in cells, rows and columns, explain formulae, functions, cell referencing and modelling, and outline how charts and what-if analysis present and test data.10 min answer →
Route A: Multimedia (Units 2 and 3)
Module overview →- How is a multimedia product built, made interactive, tested and evaluated against its requirements?Describe how multimedia elements are integrated into a working product, explain interactivity and navigation links, and outline how a product is tested and evaluated against its requirements.10 min answer →
- How is a multimedia product designed for its audience, and what role do storyboards, site maps and user-interface design play?Describe how a multimedia product is designed to meet the needs of an audience and purpose, and explain the role of storyboards, site maps, navigation structures and user-interface and usability principles.10 min answer →
- What are the main multimedia elements, and how are file formats and optimisation used to build an effective multimedia product?Identify the multimedia elements of text, graphics, sound, video and animation, explain how each is used in a product, and describe how file formats and optimisation balance quality against file size.10 min answer →
- How does the Unit 3 Digital Authoring Practice controlled assessment work, and how is the design-build-test cycle applied to produce a multimedia product?Outline the Unit 3 Digital Authoring Practice controlled assessment for the Multimedia route, including the CCEA-set task, the design, create, test and evaluate stages, and how the work is assessed.9 min answer →
Route B: Programming (Units 4 and 5)
Module overview →- What is an algorithm, and how are solutions designed using flowcharts, pseudocode and structure diagrams?Explain what an algorithm is, describe how a solution is designed and represented using flowcharts, pseudocode and structure diagrams, and explain the role of interface design and decomposition.10 min answer →
- How do programs store data using variables and constants, and why does each store have a data type?Explain how programs store data in variables and constants, describe the common data types (integer, real, Boolean, character and string), and explain why the correct data type is chosen.10 min answer →
- What are the three basic programming constructs of sequence, selection and iteration, and how does each control the flow of a program?Describe the three basic programming constructs, sequence, selection and iteration, explain how each controls the flow of a program, and identify when each is used.10 min answer →
- How does the Unit 5 Digital Development Practice controlled assessment work, and how is the development cycle applied to build a program?Outline the Unit 5 Digital Development Practice controlled assessment for the Programming route, including the CCEA-set task, the analyse, design, develop, test and evaluate stages, and how the work is assessed.9 min answer →
- What are the stages of the system development life cycle, and why is software developed as a repeating cycle?Describe the stages of the system development life cycle, analysis, design, development, testing, installation and review, explain what happens at each, and explain why development is iterative.10 min answer →
- How are programs tested with test data, what types of error occur, and how is a program evaluated against its requirements?Explain how programs are tested using a test plan and normal, boundary and erroneous test data, describe syntax, logic and runtime errors, and explain how a program is evaluated against its requirements.10 min answer →