Computer Science study guides

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 1.1 Systems architecture. Covers the purpose and components of the CPU, the fetch-decode-execute cycle, the von Neumann architecture, the named registers, how clock speed, cores and cache affect performance, and embedded systems, with the definitions Paper 1 rewards.

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 1.2 Memory and storage. Covers primary storage (RAM, ROM, virtual memory), secondary storage, units of information, binary numbers and arithmetic, hexadecimal, representing characters, images and sound, and compression, with the number-work methods Paper 1 rewards.

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols. Covers LANs and WANs, network performance, client-server and peer-to-peer, star and mesh topologies, network hardware, wired versus wireless, encryption, the common protocols and the layered model, with the comparisons Paper 1 rewards.

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 1.4 Network security. Covers the forms of attack (malware, phishing, social engineering, brute force, denial of service, SQL injection, the human weak point) and the methods to identify and prevent them (penetration testing, anti-malware, firewalls, access levels, encryption, physical security, policies).

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 1.5 Systems software. Covers the purpose and functions of the operating system (user interface, memory management, multitasking, peripheral management and drivers, user management, file management) and utility software (encryption, defragmentation, compression, full and incremental backups), with the definitions Paper 1 rewards.

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 1.6 Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts. Covers the five impact categories and stakeholders, privacy and personal data, the Data Protection Act 2018, the Computer Misuse Act 1990, the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, software licensing, environmental impacts and the digital divide.

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 2.1 Algorithms. Covers computational thinking (abstraction, decomposition, algorithmic thinking), designing algorithms with pseudocode and flowcharts, trace tables, the two searches (linear, binary) and the three sorts (bubble, insertion, merge), with the comparisons Paper 2 rewards.

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 2.2 Programming fundamentals. Covers variables, constants and data types, sequence, selection and iteration, arithmetic, comparison and Boolean operators, arrays and records, SQL, string manipulation and file handling, and subprograms, with the OCR Exam Reference Language throughout.

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topics 2.3 Producing robust programs and 2.4 Boolean logic. Covers defensive design and input validation, maintainability, iterative and terminal testing, the three types of test data, syntax and logic errors, the AND, OR and NOT operators, truth tables, and logic gates and circuits.

A deep-dive OCR GCSE Computer Science guide to topic 2.5 Programming languages and IDEs. Covers high-level and low-level languages, machine code and assembly, the three translators (compiler, interpreter and assembler) and how they differ, and the common tools of an integrated development environment.