Computer Science study guides

A deep-dive WJEC GCSE Computer Science guide to the Algorithms and programming principles content in Unit 1. Covers computational thinking, algorithms in flowcharts and pseudocode, linear and binary search, bubble and merge sort, the three programming constructs, variables and constants, operators, subprograms and a modular approach, and Boolean logic with truth tables and gates.

A deep-dive WJEC GCSE Computer Science guide to the Computer networks and the internet content in Unit 1. Covers networks and their benefits, LANs and WANs, client-server and peer-to-peer models, topologies, network hardware, wired versus wireless, bandwidth, packets, protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SMTP), layering, IP and MAC addresses, DNS and routing, with the exam patterns WJEC repeats.

A deep-dive WJEC GCSE Computer Science guide to the Computer systems and hardware content in Unit 1. Covers the CPU and its components, the von Neumann architecture, the fetch-decode-execute cycle and its registers, factors affecting processor performance, RAM, ROM and virtual memory, secondary storage types, and input and output devices, with the exam patterns WJEC repeats.

A deep-dive WJEC GCSE Computer Science guide to the Cyber security content in Unit 1. Covers the main threats (malware, phishing, social engineering, brute-force, denial-of-service, SQL injection and interception) and the methods used to protect systems and networks (firewalls, encryption, authentication, anti-malware, penetration testing and policies), with the exam patterns WJEC repeats.

A deep-dive WJEC GCSE Computer Science guide to the Data organisation and databases content in Unit 1. Covers the common data types, data structures such as arrays and records, validation and verification, databases and their key terms, flat-file versus relational databases, distributed systems, and data security and integrity, with the exam patterns WJEC repeats.

A deep-dive WJEC GCSE Computer Science guide to the Data representation content in Unit 1. Covers binary and denary, hexadecimal, binary arithmetic and overflow, arithmetic shifts, signed numbers in sign and magnitude and two's complement, character sets, bitmap images, sampled sound, file-size calculations and compression, with the conversions and exam patterns WJEC repeats.

A deep-dive WJEC GCSE Computer Science guide to the Software and operating systems content in Unit 1. Covers the difference between system and application software, the operating system and its functions, utility software, and low-level versus high-level languages with assemblers, compilers and interpreters, including the exam patterns WJEC repeats.

A deep-dive WJEC GCSE Computer Science guide to the Software development and impacts content. Covers the software development life cycle and testing, the main legislation (data protection, the Computer Misuse Act and copyright), ethical and cultural issues, the environmental and social impacts of digital technology including e-commerce, and an overview of the practical Units 2 and 3.