Unit 1 - Computer Architecture

Subunit 1 - Computer Models

1.1.1. Input-Process-Output Model
Input Process Output Model IPO Model | Input phase of IPO model | Process Phase of the IPO model | Output phase of the IPO Model | Hard Copy Information | Soft Copy Information |
Input-Process-Output Model / Input / Process / Output / Data Flow / System / Model / Abstraction / Feedback / Control / Hard Copy / Soft Copy / File Format /
1.1.5. Sequential, Parallel & Multi-agent Models
Sequential Architecture Introduction to sequential computer architecture | Execution Flow | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Parallel Architecture Introduction to parallel architecture | Execution | Use cases for parallel architecture | Advantages of parallel architecture | Disadvantages of parallel architecture |
Multi-agent architecture Introduction to multi-agent architecture | Use cases for Multi-Agent Architecture | Types of Multi-Agent Models | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Parallel algorithm / Sequential / Parallel / Multi-agent / Models / Task / Order / Simultaneously / Processors / Threads / Autonomous /
1.1.4. Fetch – Execute Cycle
Introduction to Fetch – Execute Cycle Introduction to the Fetch-Execute Cycle | Fetch | Fetch Stage Steps | Decode Phase | Decode Stage Steps | Execute Phase | Execute Phase Steps | Fetch Using the MAR and MBR | Register Transfer Notation | Read and Write Control Signals | Putting It Together: Executing a LOAD |
Fetch / Execute / Cycle / Instruction / Memory / CPU / Step / Retrieve / Sequence / Carry out / Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle / Decode / register transfer notation / control signal /
1.1.2. CPU Registers
CPU Registers CPU Registers | Program Counter (PC) | Memory Address Register (MAR) | Memory Data/Buffer Register (MDR/MBR) | Accumulator | Current Instruction Register (CIR) | Index Registers | Stack Pointer (SP) | General Purpose Registers | Status Register (SR) | The CPU Clock |
Central Processing Unit / register / accumulator / program counter / memory data register / memory address register / instruction register / status register / clock speed / current instruction register /
1.1.3. Von Neumann Architecture
Introduction to Von Neumann Architecture Von Neumann Architecture | Stored Program Computer | Components of the Von Neumann Architecture | Central Processing Unit (CPU) | Memory (RAM) | Control Unit (CU) | Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) | Input/Output (I/O) System | Registers | System Busses | Data Bus | Address Bus | Addressable Memory | Addressable Memory Worked Examples | Control Bus | Program Counter (PC) | Benefits and Drawbacks of Von Neumann Architecture | The Von Neumann Bottleneck |
Von Neumann Architecture / Stored-Program Computer / Memory / Instruction Fetch / Instruction Decode / Instruction Execution / Control Unit / Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) / Input/Output (I/O) / bus / control bus / data bus / address bus / system bus / Fixed Programs / Stored Program Computer / Sequential Execution / Reprogrammability / Data Bus / Address Bus / Control Bus / von Neumann bottleneck / addressable memory /

Subunit 2 - The CPU

1.2.2. CPU Performance Factors
CPU Performance Factors Clock Speed | Core Count | Cache Size | Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) | Thermal Design Power (TDP) | Memory Support | Bus Speeds and Bandwidth | Pipelining | Hyper-Threading / Multi-Threading | Power Management Features | Overclocking |
Clock Speed / Cache Memory / Instruction Set / Number of Cores / Hyper-Threading / Pipeline Length / Bus Speed / Cache Latency / Power Consumption / Thermal Design Power / Thread Count / Thermal Design Power (TDP) / Instruction Pipelining / Overclocking / Clock Speed /
1.2.1. The CPU
The CPU The CPU | Instruction Execution | CPU Clock | Clock Speed | Cores | Cache Memory | Cooling and Power Management | Architecture and Instruction Set | Overclocking | Underclocking |
Central Processing Unit / Microprocessor / Instruction Set / Clock Speed / Cache Memory / Pipeline / Multicore / CPU / heatsink / thermal paste / overclocking / liquid cooling / Underclocking / CPU clock / crystal oscillator / core / gigahertz /

Subunit 3 - Other Computer Components

1.3.1. The GPU
The GPU Graphical Processing Units | Graphics Rendering | Parallel Processing Power | General-Purpose Computing | High Memory Bandwidth | Integrated vs discrete graphics |
GPU / Parallel processing / Graphics memory / Ray tracing / VRAM /
1.3.2. Motherboard
Motherboard Motherboard | Motherboard Slots | Form Factors | Power Supply Unit. |
fan / finned heatsink / memory slots / expansion slots / Power connectors / Form factor / power supply unit /

Subunit 4 - Embedded Systems

1.4.1. Embedded Devices
Embedded Systems Embedded Systems | Microcontrollers | Embedded System Components | Components of an Embedded System | Embedded System Characteristics | Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) | System-on-Chip (SoC) | Smart Home Devices | Consumer Devices | Automotive Systems | Industrial Systems | Medical Systems |
Embedded devices / Microcontroller / Firmware / Real-time operating system (RTOS) / Sensor / Internet of Things (IoT) / Embedded software / Single-board computer / Embedded Systems / Microcontroller / Smart TV / Smart speaker / Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) / Robotic arm controllers / Real-Time Operation / FPGA /

Unit 10 - Languages & IDEs

Subunit 1 - High & Low Level Languages

10.1.1. High & Low Level Languages
High & Low Level Programming Languages High Level Languages | Features of High Level Languages | Limitations of High Level Languages | Low Level Languages | Features of Low Level Languages |
High-level language / Low-level language / Compiler / Interpreter / Assembly language / Machine language / Abstraction / Portability / Efficiency / Readability /
10.1.2. Compilers, Interpreters, Assemblers & Translators
Translators What a translator does | Compiler versus interpreter | Two translation paths | Assemblers | Choosing a translator |
source code / object code /
10.1.7. Compilation Process
Compilation Process Compilation Process | 1. Preprocessing | 2. Compiling | 3. Assmembly | 4. Linking | The need for separate steps |
Compiler / Interpreter / Assembler / Translator / Lexical Analysis / Syntax Analysis / Semantic Analysis / Code Generation / Optimization / Linker /
10.1.6. Compilers, Interpreters, Assemblers & Translators
Translators Translators | Compile then run, or run as you go | How much code one statement becomes | Assemblers | When errors show |
compiler / interpreter /
10.1.5. Assemblers
Assemblers Assembler | Features of Assemblers | Advantages of Assembly Language | Disadvantages of Assembly Language | Example Assembly Language Code |
Assembler / Line by Line / Compilation / Rapid Prototyping / Portability / Bytecode / Interpretation overhead / JIT compilation / Bytecode / Assembler / Assembly Language / Machine Code /
10.1.4. Compilers
Compilers Compiler | Features of Compilers | Compilation Process | Advantages of Compilers | Disadvantages of Compilers | Just In Time Compilation | Advantages of JIT Compilation | Disadvantages of JIT Compilation |
Compilation / Source code / Preprocessing / Compilation / Assembly code generation / Linking / Executable creation /
10.1.3. Interpreters
Interpreters Interpreter | Features of Interpreters | Advantages of Interpreters | Disadvantages of Interpreters | Bytecode Interpreters | Advantages of Bytecode Interpreters | Disadvantages of Bytecode Interpreters |
Compiler / Interpreter / Line by line processing /

Subunit 2 - Integrated Developer Environments

10.2.1. Integrated Developer Environments
Integrated Developer Environments Integrated Development Environments | Source Code Editor | Debugger | Compiler and/or Interpreter | Intelligent Code Completion | Simulators or Emulators | Project Management |
IDE / Code editor / Debugging / Compiler / Syntax highlighting / Version control / Auto-completion / Project management / Syntax errors / Refactoring /

Unit 2 - Memory, Storage & Data Representation

Subunit 1 - Primary Storage (RAM & ROM)

2.1.1. Main Memory
Cache Memory Cache Memory | L1 Cache (Level 1) | L2 Cache (Level 2) | L3 Cache (Level 3) | Cache Hits & Misses | Pros & Cons of Cache Memory |
RAM RAM | Why do we need RAM? | When is RAM used? | Virtual Memory | Advantages of RAM | Disadvantages of RAM | The Memory Hierarchy | Why Use a Memory Hierarchy? |
Cache Memory / Hits / Misses / RAM / Memory Module / Virtual Memory / Latency / Non-volatile Memory / Memory Management / Swap Space / L1 cache / cache hit / cache miss / cache memory / memory hierarchy /
2.1.2. Virtual Memory
Introduction to Virtual Memory Introduction to Virtual Memory | How Virtual Memory Works | Benefits of Virtual Memory | Impact of Virtual Memory on System Performance |
Virtual Memory / Multitasking / Paging / Page Table / Physical Frames / Address Translation /

Subunit 2 - Secondary Storage

2.2.1. Magnetic Storage Devices
Introduction to Magnetic Storage Devices Hard Disk Drives (HDD) | How Hard Drives Read Data | How Hard Drives Write Data | Components of a HDD | Advantages of HDD Drives | Disadvantages of HDD Drives | Magnetic Tape Drives | Advantages of magnetic tape drives | Disadvantages of magnetic tape drives |
Magnetic storage / Hard disk drive / Read/write head / Track / Sector / Platter / Disk controller / Magnetic tape / Tape drive / Backup / Archiving / Data retention / Data recovery / Data redundancy / Data mirroring / Redundant Array of Independent Disks / Solid-state drive /
2.2.2. Optical Storage Devices
Introduction to Optical Storage Devices CD (Optical Storage Devices) | How Optical Storage Devices Work | CD Reading Process | Advantages of CDs | Disadvantages of CDs | Types of CDs | DVD (Optical Storage Devices) | Advantages of DVDs | Disadvantages of DVDs | Blu-ray (Optical Storage Devices) |
Optical Storage Devices / CD-ROM / DVD / Blu-Ray / Read-only / Write-once / Rewritable / Sector / Track / Pit / Land / Laser / Optical Disc Drive / Reflectivity / Data Density / Rotational Speed / Access Time / Buffer / Caddy / Tray /
2.2.3. Electrical Storage Devices (SSD,Flash Drive)
Introduction to Electrical Storage Devices (SSD,Flash Drive) Electrical Storage Devices (SSD, Flash Drive) | Programming (writing data) | Erasing | Read Operation | Multi-Level Cell (MLC) Storage | Solid-State Drives (SSD): | Advantages of SSD Drives | Disadvantages of SSD Drives | Flash Drives (USB Drives) | SD cards | Embedded Multi Media Cards | Pros and Cons of eMMCs |
Electrical Storage Devices / SSD / Flash Drive / Storage / Energy / Data / Integrated Circuits / Portable / Flash Memory / Digital /
2.2.4. Cloud Storage
Introduction to Cloud Storage Cloud Storage | Advantages of Cloud Storage | Advantages (cont) | Disadvantages of Cloud Storage | Disadvantages of Cloud Storage(cont...) | Personal Cloud Storage | Business Cloud Storage | Public Cloud Storage | Private Cloud Storage |
Cloud Storage / Virtualization / Data Migration / Data Center / Data Redundancy / Cloud Service Provider / Security Protocols / Subscription Model / Data Encryption / Data Replication / Private Cloud / Public Cloud / Hybrid Cloud / Network Latency / Cloud Backup / Disaster Recovery / Cloud Availability / Cloud Scalability / Data Center Virtualization / Cloud Deployment Model / Scalability / Enterprise Cloud Storage / Document Management / Collaboration Tools /
2.2.5. Data Backups
Reasons for data backup Accidental Deletion | Data Corruption | Ransomware and Malware | Hardware and Software Upgrades | Natural Disasters | Theft and Physical Damage | Archiving and Version Control | Regulatory Compliance |
Onsite vs Offsite Backups Backup Location | Backup Speed | Backup Security | Backup Cost | Backup Management | Backup Legislative compliance |
Online vs Offline Backups Online Backups | Pros & Cons of Online Backups | Offline Backups | Pros & Cons of Offline Backups |
Backup / Data loss / Disaster recovery / Incremental backup / Full backup / Differential backup / Off-site backup / On-site backup / Magnetic tape backup / Cloud backup / In-house backup / Third-party backup / Backup frequency / Backup retention / Backup verification / Virtual server backup / Physical server backup / Bare-metal restore / Backup compression / Backup encryption / Onsite backups / Offsite backups / Data redundancy / Backup validation / backup legislative compliance / compliance / audit trail / Online Backups / Offline Backups / Remote Server / Cloud-Based Storage /

Subunit 3 - Binary & Hexadecimal

2.3.1. Binary Numbers
Introduction to binary numbers Introduction to Binary | Reason 1: Reliability | Reason 2: Ease of Storage | Reason 3: Efficiency with Electrical Circuits | Reason 4: Mathematical Operations | Bits, Nibbles, and Bytes | Special Encodings | Denary to Binary Conversion | Binary to Denary Conversion |
Binary number / Base 2 / Bit / Nibble / Byte / Binary addition / Binary subtraction / Binary conversion / Binary coded decimal / Floating-point binary number / Encoding /
2.3.8. Hexadecimal
Introduction to Hexadecimal Introduction to Hexadecimal | Converting hexadecimal to binary | Converting binary to hexadecimal | Binary to hexadecimal example | Common uses of Hexadecimal | Why do we use hexadecimal? | Converting Hexadecimal to Denary | Converting Denary to Hexadecimal |
Hexadecimal / Base / Digits / Binary / Decimal / Conversion / Representation / Nibble / Byte /
2.3.4. Binary Addition
Introduction to Binary Addition Introduction to binary addition | Rules of Binary Addition | Binary addition example | How do computers perform binary addition? | Binary Subtraction (Unsigned) | Subtraction Using Two's Complement |
binary addition / binary / addition / bit / carry / overflow / half adder / full adder / binary arithmetic / Binary addition / Base-2 / Carry over /
2.3.2. Sign & Magnitude
Sign & Magnitude Sign and Magnitude | Issue 1: Two Representations of Zero | Issue 2: Difficulty in Performing Arithmetic Operations |
Binary Number / Sign Bit / Overflow / Magnitude / Ones Complement / Sign and Magnitude /
2.3.3. Two's Complement
Two's Complement Introduction to Two’s Complement | Calculating the Two's Complement of a number | Advantages of Two's Complement |
Two's complement / Negative Number / Binary Representation /
2.3.5. Arithmetic Binary Shifts
Arithmetic Binary Shifts Arithmetic Right Shift | Arithmetic Right Shift - Example | Arithmetic Left Shift | Arithmetic Left Shift - Example | Interactive Demonstration | Summary Example - 10001010 (Shift 1) |
Binary shift / Binary Shifts / Shift Left / Shift Right / Arithmetic Shift / Carry Bit / Shift Amount / Binary underflow / Binary arithmetic / Floating point / Machine precision /
2.3.7. Binary Overflow & Underflow
Binary Overflow & Underflow Binary Addition Overflow | Binary Shift Overflow | Consequences of Binary Overflow | Binary Underflow | Binary Underflow | Consequences of Binary Underflow |
Overflow / Binary Overflow / Binary Underflow / Overflow Flag / Underflow Flag / Unsigned Integer / Signed Integer /
2.3.6. Logical Binary Shifts
Logical Binary Shifts Logical Left Shift (<<) | Logical Right Shift (>>) | Right Logical Shift Example | Uses of Logical Bit Shifts | Logical Arithmetic Shifts Demo |
Logical Shift /

Subunit 4 - Data Representation

2.4.1. ASCII & Unicode
ASCII Introduction to ASCII | ASCII Table | Limitations of ASCII | Extended ASCII | Unicode |
Unicode Unicode | Unicode Bit Length |
ASCII / Unicode / Character encoding / Character set / ASCII table / UTF-8 / UTF-16 / Binary representation / Bit /
2.4.2. B&W Images
Introduction to B&W Images Black & White Image Representation | Bitmap Pixel to binary demo |
Black and White Images / Pixel / Binary Image / Monochrome / Contrast / Sharpness / Bitmap / Resolution / Bit Depth / File Format /
2.4.3. Grayscale Images
Introduction to Grayscale Images Greyscale Images | Adjust Grayscale Brightness | Uses for Grayscale Imagery |
Grayscale image / Intensity / Monochrome / Luminosity / Histogram / Grayscale / Pixel / Bit Depth / Contrast /
2.4.4. Color Images
Introduction to Color Images LED Computer Screens | RGB Color Images | RGB color demonstration | Bit Depth | Image Bit Depth Examples |
RGB color model / hex code / color depth / additive color mixing / hex color code / Bit Depth / Pixel / 8-bit / 16-bit / 24-bit /
2.4.7. Data Compression
Lossless & Lossy Image Compression Image Compression | Calculating image sizes | Lossless Compression | Lossless Compression Techniques | Benefits of Lossless Compression | Drawbacks of lossless compression | Lossy Image Compression | Advantages of lossy compression | Image Compression Artifacts | Disadvantages of lossy compression | Common Compression Artifacts |
Image Compression / Lossy Compression / Lossless Compression / JPEG / GIF / PNG / Bitrate / Compression / Data / Image compression artifacts / Blockiness / Color bleeding / Noise / Ring artifacts / Posterization / Aliasing /
2.4.8. Binary & Denary Prefixes
Introduction to Binary & Denary Prefixes Denary Prefixes | Conversion between Binary and Denary (Binary & Denary Prefixes) | Binary & Denary comparison table | Example Exam Question |
binary / denary / prefix / binary prefix / denary prefix / bit / byte / kibibyte / mebibyte / gibibyte / binary search / denary conversion / binary conversion / binary code / megabits / megabytes /
2.4.10. Calculating file sizes
Introduction to Calculating file sizes Calculating Image Sizes | Calculating Image size example | Example 3 | Example 4 |
2.4.9. Calculating Bit Depths
Calculating Image Bit Depths Image Bit Depth | Standard Image Bit Depths | Importance of Bit Depth | Calculating Bit Depth for a Given Number of Colors | Example | Advantages of Higher Bit Depths | Disadvantages of Higher Bit Depths |
Bit Depth / Color Depth / Quantization / Pixel / Resolution /
2.4.6. Sound Representation
Introduction to Sound Representation Introduction to sound representation | Digital Sound Wave | Digital Sound Representation | Sampling Rate | Sampling Resolution (Bit Depth) | Lossy Sound Compression | Lossy sound compression techniques |
Audio Signal / Amplitude / Frequency / Waveform / Sampling Rate / Bit Depth / Digital Audio / Analog-to-Digital Conversion / Quantization / Sampling Resolution / ADC / DAC / Speaker /
2.4.5. How microphones work
How microphones work How dynamic microphones work | Advantages of Dynamic Microphones | Disadvantages of Dynamic Microphones | How condenser microphones work | Advantages of Condenser Microphones | Disadvantages of Condenser Microphones |
Sound Representation / Condenser microphone / Dynamic microphone / Frequency response / Phantom power / Diaphragm /

Subunit 5 - Encryption

2.5.1. Symmetric & Asymmetric Encryption
Introduction to Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption Fundamentals of Symmetric Encryption | Core Concepts of Asymmetric Encryption | Advantages and Disadvantages of Both Encryption Types |
Introduction to Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption Basics of Symmetric Encryption | Overview of Asymmetric Encryption | Advantages and Disadvantages of Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption |
Introduction to Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption Basic Concepts and Definitions | How Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption Work | Advantages and Disadvantages of Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption |

Subunit 6 - Data Integrity

2.6.1. Error Checking
Parity Bit Checks Parity Checks | Even Parity | Parity Bit Demonstration | Odd Parity | Use cases for parity bits | Advantages of Parity Bits | Limitations of Parity Bits |
Checksums Checksums | Checksum Calculation Process | Checksum Calculation Demonstration | Checksum Use cases | Advantages of Checksums | Limitations of Checksums |
Echo Check Echo Check |
Automatic Repeat Query (ARQ) Automatic Repeat Query (ARQ) | The Stop and Wait ARQ | Go back & ARQ | Selective Repeat ARQ |
Check Digits Check Digits | Luhn’s Algorithm | Luhns Algorithm Presentation | Check Digit Use Cases |
Parity Block Parity Block Checks | Interactive Demonstration | Block Parity Use Cases | Advantages of Parity Blocks | Limitations of Parity Blocks |
parity bits / error detection / odd parity / even parity / error correction / redundancy / Parity blocks / Data integrity / Checksum / RAID / Fault tolerance / Striping / Parity calculation / Capacity Overhead / MD5 / CRC / echo check / Automatic Repeat Query / Retransmission / Feedback / Packet Loss / Acknowledgment / Timeout / Sequence Number / Check digit / Luhn algorithm /

Unit 3 - Networking & The internet

Subunit 1 - Networks

3.1.1. Networking
Introduction to networking Ancient Networks | Introduction to Computer networking | The first computer network | Advantages of Computer Networks | Advantages of Networking | Advantages of Networking | Drawbacks of Computer Networks | Drawbacks of Computer Networks |
Networking / Router / Switch / IP Address / Protocol / LAN / WAN / Firewall / DNS / Ethernet /
3.1.2. Types of networks – LAN,WAN,PAN
Local Area Network Introduction to LANs | LAN Example | Components of a LAN | Advantages of LANs | Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) | Disadvantages of LANs |
Wide Area Network Introduction to WANs | Example WAN Diagram | Components of a WAN | Use cases for WANs | Advantages of WANs | Disadvantages of WANs |
PAN network Introduction to PANs | PAN Use cases | Advantages of PANs | Disadvantages of PANs |
LAN / WAN / PAN / Network / Topology / Router / Switch / Firewall / IP Address / Packet / Bandwidth / Latency / Scalability / Quality of Service (QoS) / Traffic shaping / Internet of Things / Fitness Tracking / Wearable Devices / Smartwatches / Healthcare Monitoring / Smart Homes / Location Tracking / Mobile Payments / Encryption / WLAN / Wireless access point / SSID / Frequency band / Signal strength /
3.1.3. Network Topologies
Introduction to Network Topologies Network Topologies | Bus Topology | Pros and Cons of Bus Topology | Star Topology | Pros and Cons of Star Topology | Ring Topology | Pros and Cons of Ring Topology | Mesh Topology | Pros and Cons of Mesh Topology | Hybrid topology | Pros and Cons of Hybrid Topology |
Network Topologies / Bus Topology / Star Topology / Ring Topology / Tree Topology / Hybrid Topology / Client-Server Topology / Peer-to-Peer Topology /
3.1.7. Network Speeds
Network Speeds Network Speeds | Upload Speed | Download Speed | Latency | Bandwidth | Calculating Network Transmission Speeds | Network Speed Calculation Expressions |
Network Speeds / Bandwidth / Latency / Ping / Download Speed / Upload Speed / Throughput / Jitter / Quality of Service (QoS) / Packet Loss /
3.1.5. Network Protocols
Standards & Protocols Networking Standards | Network Protocols | Common Protocols | Importance of Protocols | Secure Protocols |
FTP File Transfer Protocol | Use Cases | Advantages of FTP | Disadvantages of FTP |
TCP vs UDP TCP & UDP | TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) | TCP Use Cases | UDP (User Datagram Protocol) | UDP Use Cases |
TCP / UDP / HTTP / HTTPS / FTP / SMTP / POP3 / IMAP / SSH / NTP / DNS / DHCP / ARP / IPSEC / Network Protocol / Handshake / Standard / IPv4 / IPv6 / SSL/TLS / IP / TLS / URI / Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / NFC / WiMAX /
3.1.6. TCP/IP Model Stacks & Layers
TCP/IP Model Layers Network stack layers | Stack diagram | Application Layer | Transport Layer | Network Layer | Data Link Layer |
Network Stacks / Layers / Data Link Layer / Network Layer / Transport Layer / Application Layer / network stack / TCP/IP / routing / interoperability / Scalability / Reliability / Interchangeability / Evolvability / frames / packets / segments / payload /
3.1.8. Client - Server Model
Client - Server Model Introduction to the Client - Server Model | Clients | Servers | Advantages of the Client-Server Model | Disadvantages of the Client - Server Model |
Client server / Server / Centralized / Scalability / Reliability / Security / Efficiency / Client / End-user device / Client software / Web Server / Database Server /
3.1.9. Peer to Peer Model
Peer to Peer Model Introduction to Peer to peer model | Features of P2P Networks | Advantages of the P2P Model | Disadvantages of the P2P Model |
Peer to Peer / Decentralized / P2P network / File sharing / Distributed network / Resource sharing / Fault tolerance /

Subunit 2 - Wired Networks

3.2.1. Wired Networks
Introduction to wired networks Introduction to wired networks | Advantages of wired networks | Disadvantages of wired networks | Use cases for wired networks |
Wired Networks / Ethernet / LAN / Router / Switch / Cable / Fiber Optics / Bandwidth / CAT5e /
3.2.2. Switches
Switch Switches | How Switches Work | MAC Addresses | MAC table |
Switch / Hub / Network Switch / MAC address table / MAC address / Physical port / Switching /
3.2.3. Routers
Router Introduction to routers | How Routers Route Data | Other Router functions | Routers vs Switches |
Router / Firewall / Routing / IP Addressing / Network Address Translation (NAT) / Quality of Service (QoS) / Virtual Private Network (VPN) / Load Balancing / Packet Filtering / Data Packet / Routing Table / Next Hop / Default Gateway / Router / IP addresses / MAC addresses / Forwarding packets / Forwarding frames /
3.2.4. Servers
Server Introduction to servers | Types of server |
servers / hosting / data center / virtualization / dedicated server / redundancy /
3.2.5. Modems
Modem Introduction to Modems | Types of Modems |
Modem /
3.2.6. Wired Network Transmission Media
Wired Network Transmission Media Wired Network Transmission Media | Coaxial Cable | Ethernet | Fiber Optic | Applications of Wired Networks | Attenuation | Attenuation in different media | Advantages of Wired Networks | Disadvantages of wired networks |
Ethernet Cable / Ethernet / bandwidth / Ethernet / Fiber-Optic / Coaxial Cable / Cat6 / shielded cable / RJ-45 / Internet Backbone / Attenuation / Decibels /
3.2.7. Network Interface Controller
Network Interface Controller Network Interface Controllers (NICs) | Key Functions of a NIC | Types of NICs | NIC Features |
Network Interface Card (NIC) / Network interface controller / Ethernet / Full Duplex /

Subunit 3 - Wireless Networks

3.3.1. Wireless Networks
Introduction to wireless networks Introduction to wireless networks | Types of wireless networks | Applications of wireless networks | Advantages of wireless networks | Disadvantages of wireless networks |
Wireless Networks / Wireless Communication / Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / Mobile Network / Cellular Network / LAN / WAN / Signal Strength / Roaming / Satellite network / Mesh network / Ad hoc network / NFC /
3.3.3. Mobile communication standards
3G Introduction to 3G | Pros & Cons of 3G |
4G 4G Wireless Networks | Pros and Cons of 4G |
5G 5G Wireless Networks | Pros and Cons of 5G |
WIFI Introduction to WIFI | WIFI Range Factors | WIFI Encryption | Pros & Cons of WIFI |
Bluetooth Introduction to Bluetooth | Bluetooth use cases | Pros and Cons of Bluetooth |
Infra-Red & LiFi Infrared Communications | Introduction to Li-Fi | Use Cases for Li-Fi |
How Cellular Networks Work How Cellular Networks Work |
wifi / router / hotspot / SSID / encryption / bandwidth / signal strength / access point / Authentication / Key / Vulnerability / Cracking / Internet of things / Sensors / Smart Home / Security / Handover / Roaming /
3.3.2. Wireless Network Hardware
Wireless Router Wireless Routers | Traffic Routing | Wireless Access Point | DHCP Server | Network Address Translation | Firewall | Port Forwarding | Quality of Service (QoS) |
Wireless Access Point Introduction to WAPs | SSID (Service Set Identifier) | Authentication & Encryption | Wireless Bands | Use cases for WAPs |
NAT / Private IP / Public IP / LAN / Gateway / Router / IP Lease / dhcp / DHCP server / authentication / integrity / authentication protocol /

Subunit 4 - Internet & World Wide Web

3.4.1. Internet vs WWW
Introduction to Internet vs WWW Internet vs WWW | Infrastructure Differences | Usage Differences | Protocol Differences |
Internet Software Web Browsers | Email Clients | Instant Messaging (IM) Clients | File sharing clients | Cloud Storage Clients | VOIP Clients |
Internet / WWW / Network / Browser / HTML / URL / ISP / HTTP / Download / Upload / instant messaging client / text messaging / file sharing / group chat / emoticons / presence status / email clients / inbox / spam / attachment / folders / cloud storage client / file syncing / automatic backup / offline access /
3.4.2. IP v4, IPv6 & MAC Addresses
IPv4 Introduction to IPv4 | IPv4 Address Structure | Public IP Addresses | Private IP Addresses | IP Address Exhaustion |
IPv6 Internet Protocol Version 6 | IPv6 Address Structure | IPv6 Address Compression |
MAC Addresses Introduction to MAC Addresses | MAC Address structure | MAC Address Assignment | MAC address spoofing |
IPv4 / IPv6 / MAC Address / IP / Internet Protocol version 4 / Internet Protocol version 6 / Media Access Control Address / Data Link Layer / OSI Model / public IP / private IP / NAT / MAC Addresses / mac address spoofing /
3.4.4. HTTP, HTML, CSS & Javascript
HTTP Introduction to HTTP | Client Server Model | HTTP Methods | Stateless Protcol | Cookies | HTTPS |
HTML Introduction to HTML | HTML Elements | Example HTML Page |
CSS Introduction to CSS | Selectors and Declarations | Example CSS Sheet | Inline Stylesheet | Embedded Stylesheet | External Stylesheet |
Javascript Introduction to Javascript | Example Script |
HTTP / HTML / URL / GET / POST / HTTP Response / Status Code / Header / Hyperlink / Tag / HTTP Cookie / Session Cookie / Persistent Cookie / Tracking Cookie / Selector / embedded inline external CSS / style attribute / external CSS / stylesheet / cascade /
3.4.5. URLS, DNS & Address resolution
URLs Introduction to URLs | URL Components | URL Schemes | Subdomains | Domain Name | Top Level Domains | URL Ports | URL Path | URL Parameters | URL Fragments |
Domain Name System Domain Name System | How DNS Works |
URL / DNS / Address Resolution / Domain / IP Address / Hostname / Resolver / URL Encoding / Root DNS Server / subdomain / Host / Hierarchy / Parent Domain / Domain Registrar / Domain Name / DNS Record / Time to Live / Top-Level Domain / Authoritative Name Server /
3.4.3. Email Protocols
POP, SMTP & IMAP SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) | SMTP Use Cases | Advantages of SMTP | Disadvantages of SMTP | POP (Post Office Protocol) | POP Process | POP Use Cases | Advantages of POP | Disadvantages of POP | IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) | IMAP Procedure | Advantages of IMAP | Disadvantages of IMAP |
POP / SMTP / IMAP / Email client / Mailbox / Port / Mail Server /

Unit 4 - Network Security

Subunit 1 - Network Security

4.1.1. Network validation & authentication
Network validation & authentication Two different checks | Why a network needs both | Who versus unchanged | Passwords and hashes in this role |
authentication / integrity /
4.1.5. Viruses
Viruses Viruses | Worms | Worm Infection Process | Trojan Horses | Defending against viruses |
computer virus / Antivirus / Trojan Horse / Worm / Ransomware /
4.1.6. Malware
Malware Malware | Types of Malware |
Malware / Virus / Trojan / Ransomware / Spyware / Adware / Worm / Rootkit / Keylogger / Phishing /
4.1.7. Spyware
Spyware Introduction to Spyware | Defense Against Spyware | What Spware Spies on |
spyware /
4.1.8. Phishing
Phishing Introduction to Phishing | Phishing Example | Spear Phishing | Defense aginst Phishing | Warning Signs | Spear Phishing Example |
Phishing / Spoofing / Two-factor authentication / Phishing website / Spear Phishing /
4.1.9. DDOS Attacks
DDOS Attacks Introduction to DDoS Attacks | Defense Against DDoS Attacks |
DDoS Attack / Zombie Computers / Amplification Attack / Packet Flooding /
4.1.10. Brute Force Attacks
Brute Force Attacks Introduction to Brute Force Attacks | Defence against brute force attacks | How Long Does It Take to Brute Force a Password? | Brute Force Simulation | Dictionary Based Attacks |
brute force attacks / dictionary attack / Brute force attack /
4.1.11. SQL Injection Attacks
SQL Injection Attacks SQL Injection | How SQL Injection Attacks Work | Preventing SQL Injection | Example: a vulnerable login query | Fixing the example: parameterized queries |
SQL injection / Input sanitation /
4.1.12. Insider Threats
Insider Threats Insider Threats | Types of insider threats | Deliberate Threats | Negligent Threats | Mitigating Insider Threats |
Insider Threats / Privileged Access /
4.1.13. Social Engineering
Social Engineering Introduction to social engineering | Types of social engineering | Defence against social engineering attacks |
Social Engineering / Pretexting / Baiting / Tailgating / Impersonation / Spear Phishing /
4.1.14. Physical Network Attacks
Physical Network Attacks Physical System Attacks | Types of physical attacks | Defense against physical attacks |
Physical system attacks / Eavesdropping / Tampering / Impersonation / Physical Tapping /
4.1.15. Botnets
Botnets Introduction to Botnets | Botnet Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks | Botnet Spam Distribution | Botnet Credential Theft | Botnet Click Fraud | Botnet Proxy Services | Botnet Data Theft | Botnet Cryptojacking |
Botnet / Zombie Computers / Command and Control Server / Infected Devices / botnet / botmaster /
4.1.3. Digital Certificates
Digital Certificates Introduction to digital certificates | Public & Private Keys | Key Exchange | Certificate Authorities. | Diffie-Hellman |
Network validation / Digital certificate / asymmetric encryption / public key / private key / key exchange / encryption / decryption / certificate authority / digital signature / certificate revocation / key pair /
4.1.2. Password based authentication
Password based authentication Introduction to password authentication | Password Hashing | Password Vulnerabilities | Limitations of passwords | Strong passwords | Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) |
Authentication / Network security / Biometric authentication / Access control / Two-factor authentication / Intrusion detection system / Firewall / Security audit / password authentication / credentials / authentication factor / phishing / symmetric encryption /
4.1.4. Whitelisting & Blacklisting
Whitelisting & Blacklisting Whitelisting | Pros and Cons of Whitelisting | Types of whitelisting | Blacklisting | Pros and Cons of Whitelisting | Types of Blacklisting |
Whitelisting / Blacklisting /

Subunit 2 - Protecting Systems

4.2.1. Protecting networks
Protecting Networks Firewalls | IDS & IPS | Access Control | Encryption | Patch Management | Network Segmentation | Security Policies | Network Monitoring | Incident Response Plan | Security Audits & Audit Trails | Backup and Disaster Recovery | Security Updates and Threat Intelligence | White Box Penetration Testing | Black Box Penetration Testing |
Firewall / Antivirus / Intrusion Detection System / Encryption / Virtual Private Network / Two-factor authentication / Access control / Intrusion Prevention System / Vulnerability scanning / Security policy / Antivirus Software / Network Segmentation / network security audit / penetration testing / Acceptable Use Policy / User Agreement / Internet Usage Policy / incident response plan / mitigation / White box testing / Code vulnerabilities / Black box testing / Reconnaissance / Perimeter defenses / audit trail / access log / compliance / forensic accounting / user authentication /
4.2.2. Firewalls
Firewalls Introduction to Firewalls | Packet Filtering Process | Example Firewall Rules Table | Types of Firewalls | Hardware and Software Firewalls | Hardware vs Software Firewalls: Pros and Cons | Importance of Firewalls in Network Security |
Firewall / Network Traffic / Security Rules / Packet-Filtering Firewalls / Stateful Inspection Firewalls / Proxy Firewalls / Rule ID / Source IP/Range / Regulatory Compliance / hardware firewall / software firewall /
4.2.4. Penetration testing
Penetration testing Authorised Attacks | Penetration Test versus Ethical Hacking |
penetration testing /
4.2.3. User access levels
User access levels Who Is Allowed to Do What | Access Levels versus Passwords |
user access levels /

Unit 5 - Computer Software

Subunit 1 - Operating Systems

5.1.1. User Interfaces
Command Line Interfaces Command Line Interfaces | Text-Based | Commands | Scripting | Remote Access | Common Uses | Advantages of CLIs | Disadvantages of CLIs |
Graphical User Interfaces Graphical User Interfaces | Visual Elements | WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) | Windows and Multitasking | Point-and-Click Interaction | Multimedia Support | Common Use Cases | Advantages of GUIs | Disadvantages of GUIs |
WIMP Interfaces WIMP Interfaces | Windows | Icons | Menus | Pointer |
CLI / GUI / WIMP / terminal / shell / command / prompt / output / mouse / keyboard / menu / drag and drop / window / icon / scroll bar / tooltip / shortcut / file explorer / taskbar / control panel / remote access / SSH / Remote desktop / WYSIWYG / User Interface / Interface / multimedia / digital media /
5.1.2. Operating Systems
Functions of Operating Systems Introduction to Operating Systems | OS Kernel | Hardware Abstraction | Process and task management | Device Drivers | File system management | Memory Management | Device Management | Security | User Interface | Networking Management | Error Handling | Resource Allocation and Scheduling | System Configuration and Maintenance | Accounting |
Operating System / Multi-tasking / Multi-user / Kernel / Interrupt / Command Line Interface / Graphical User Interface / File System / Device Driver / Virtual Memory / Process / Thread / Deadlock / File Allocation Table (FAT) / Disk Defragmentation / File Compression / Encryption / System Call / Boot Loader / System Tray / Memory Management / Virtual Memory / Device Driver / User Authentication / Access Control / Encryption / Security Updates / Graphical User Interface / Networking Capabilities / CPU Scheduling / Memory Management / System Configuration / Maintenance Tasks /
5.1.3. System / Utility Software
System Utility Software Disk Cleanup and Maintenance Tools | Disk Defragmentation Software | System Optimization Tools | Antivirus and Anti-Malware Programs | Backup and Recovery Software | Data Encryption and Secure File Deletion | System Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools | Uninstaller Programs | File conversion software | Compression Software |
Operating System / Utility Software / Compression Software / Backup Software / Disk Defragmenter / Anti-virus Software / Firewall Software / Spyware Removal Software / Data Recovery Software / Encryption Software / Debugging Software / Compiler / Interpreter / Device Driver / Registry Cleaner / System Restore / Task Manager / Disk Cleanup / System Information / File Manager / System Utility Software / Antivirus Software / Driver Updater / Uninstaller / File Compression Software / File conversion software / Compression software / Compressed archive / Uninstaller / Registry Cleaner / Cleanup Tool /
5.1.4. Defragmentation
Defragmentation Putting File Pieces Back Together | Defragmentation versus Compression |
defragmentation /

Unit 6 - Ethical & Legal Considerations

Subunit 1 - Legal Frameworks

6.1.3. Computer Usage Laws
Computer Usage Laws Cybercrime Laws | Data Protection and Privacy Laws | Intellectual Property Laws | Cybersecurity Laws | Online Defamation and Cyberbullying | Hate Speech and Content Regulation | Domain Name Disputes | CyberSquatting | Characteristics of Cybersquatting: |
Legal Considerations / Contract Law / Intellectual Property / Privacy Laws / Employment Law / Compliance / Tort Law / Cybersecurity / Consumer Protection / Corporate Governance / Software Copyright / Patents / Infringement / Trade Secret / Open Source / Invention / Fair Use / Freeware / Shareware / Proprietary / Commercial / Public domain / Trialware / End-user license agreement (EULA) / Site license / Software license / Open source license / Freeware license / Shareware license / Commercial license / Single user license / Multi-user license / Multi User License / Cybercrime Laws / Computer Fraud / Digital Forensics / Online Harassment / Ransomware / Identity Theft / Intellectual Property Laws / Copyright / Trademark / Patent / Creative Commons / Data Protection / Breach Notification / Consent / Cybersecurity Laws / Online Defamation / Cyberbullying / Social Media / Slander / Harassment / Trolling / Online Reputation Management / Anonymity / Impersonation / Domain Name Disputes / Cybersquatting / DNS Hijacking /
6.1.4. Copyright
Copyright & Patents Two different rights | Copyright versus patent | In computing | Fair dealing is limited |
copyright / patent /
6.1.5. Software License Types
Software License Types Software Licences | Proprietary (Closed-Source) License | Open Source License | Permissive License | Commercial License | Freeware & Shareware | Public Domain | A single-user license | Multi-User License | Site License | Multi-Seat License | Educational and Academic Licenses |
Licensing / Proprietary license / Open Source / Proprietary / Freeware / Shareware / Public Domain / Copyleft / GNU General Public License (GPL) / Commercial License / Proprietary License / Compiled Program / Permissive License / MIT License / Site License / Proprietary License / Open Source License / Individual License / Multi-seat License / Site License / Educational License / Subscription License /
6.1.1. Computer Misuse Legislation
Overview and Purpose of Computer Misuse Legislation Understanding Computer Misuse Legislation | Main Offenses Covered by Computer Misuse Laws | Real-World Applications and Enforcement of Computer Misuse Laws |
6.1.2. Data Protection Act 2018
Data Protection Act 2018 Rules for Personal Data | Data Protection versus Computer Misuse |
personal data /

Subunit 2 - Ethical Issues & responsibilities

6.2.1. Environmental Impact of technology on society
Positive Environmental Impact of Technology Positive Impacts of technology on the environment | Renewable Energy Sources | Energy Efficiency | Waste Reduction | Environmental Monitoring | Precision Agriculture | Clean Transportation | Eco-Friendly Building Materials | Remote Work and Telecommuting | Water Conservation | Conservation and Restoration |
Negative Environmental Impact of Technology Negative Consequences for the Environment | Resource Depletion | Energy Consumption | E-Waste | Deforestation | Pollution | Loss of Biodiversity & Habitat | Climate Change | Sedentary Lifestyle | Mental Health |
Environmental Impact / Technology / Society / Pollution / E-waste / Carbon footprint / Deforestation / Resource depletion / Digital divide / Greenwashing / Renewable energy / Energy efficiency / Green buildings / Eco-friendly transportation / Smart grid / Waste reduction / Precision agriculture / Environmental monitoring / Telecommuting / Habitat Loss / Species Extinction / Ecosystem / Fragmentation / Planned Obsolescence /
6.2.2. Data & Online Privacy
Privacy Concerns Data Collection and Profiling | Surveillance | Eroding Privacy Norms | Right to be forgotten | Data privacy breaches | Data Protection Laws |
Data Protection Laws Data protection laws | Data Collection and Consent | Data Minimization | Data Security | Data Accuracy | Data Portability | Data Access and Transparency | Data Retention | Accountability and Governance | Penalties and Enforcement | Example Data Protection Laws |
Data / Online Privacy / Encryption / Cookies / Cybersecurity / Anonymity / Data Breach / Phishing / Digital Footprint / Privacy Policy / Data privacy / Security breach / Identity theft / Data breaches / Tracking / Consent / accuracy / retention / data protection laws / personal data / data subject / data controller / Data Minimization / Anonymization /
6.2.3. Inclusion in Computing
Disability Inclusion Digital Inclusion for those with disabilities | Accessible Websites and Apps | Captioning and Transcripts | Assistive Technologies | User Testing with People with Disabilities | Accessible Document Formats | Accessible Hardware and Devices | Policy and Regulation Compliance | Inclusive Design Practices |
The digital divide Introduction to the digital divide | Access to Technology | Internet Connectivity | Digital Literacy | Economic and Social Implications | Age Related Issues |
Gender Inclusion Promoting Female Inclusion in Technology | Equal Access to Education | Promoting STEM Education | Supportive Networks | Promoting Female Role Models | Diversity in Hiring | Equal Pay and Advancement Opportunities | Flexible Work Arrangements | Investment in Female-Led Startups | Addressing Workplace Harassment |
Inclusion in Computing / Diversity / Equity / Underrepresented / Bias / Accessibility / Empowerment / Growth Mindset / Digital inclusion / Assistive technology / Web accessibility / Screen reader / Captioning / Inclusive design / Accessible Document Format / Alt Text / Tagged PDF / gender bias / gender gap / glass ceiling / equal opportunities / stereotype / work-life balance / mentorship / Harassment / Sexual Harassment / Microaggression / Digital divide / Technology gap / Internet inequality / Technological disparity / Access divide / Information divide / Connectivity gap / Digital literacy / Information literacy / Computer literacy / Internet literacy / Media literacy / Cybersecurity /
6.2.4. Professionalism in the world of IT
IEEE Code of Ethics IEEE Software Engineering Code of Ethics | Rule 1 - Ensuring the safety of the public & the environment | Rule 2 – Educating individuals and society | Rule 3 – Avoiding conflicts of interest | Rule 4 – Avoiding unlawful conduct | Rule 5 – Being honest in claims and criticism | Rule 6 – Maintaining technical competence | Rule 7 – Avoiding discrimination | Rule 8 – Avoiding harassment | Rule 9 – Avoiding hurting others | Rule 10 – Supporting each other | Insider & Outside Whistleblowes | Legal Protections for Whistleblowers |
Professionalism / Ethics / Accountability / Communication / Integrity / Confidentiality / Professional Development / Adaptability / Teamwork / Problem-solving / Objectivity / Competence / Fairness / Responsibility / Respect / Sustainability / harassment / whistleblower / reporting / discrimination / retaliation / code of conduct / whistleblower protection / moonlighting / conflict of interest / Continuing education / Certifications / Industry conferences / Online courses / Self-study / Mentorship / Professional networking /

Unit 7 - Problem Solving & Algorithms

Subunit 1 - Introduction to Algorithms

7.1.1. Algorithms
What are algorithms? Introduction to Algorithms | Examples of everyday algorithms | Example 1: Getting up on time | Thinking Algorithmically | Advantages of thinking algorithmically | Disadvantages of thinking algorithmically |
Common types of algorithms Sorting Algorithms | Search Algorithms | Compression Algorithms | Divide and Conquer Algorithms | Encryption Algorithms | Graph Algorithms |
Algorithm / Sorting / Searching / Divide and conquer / Encryption algorithm / Compression algorithm / Search algorithm / Sorting algorithm / Iteration / Pattern recognition / Efficiency / Logical reasoning /
7.1.2. Flowcharts
Introduction to flowcharts Introduction to Flowcharts | Terminator Symbols | Input and Output in Flowcharts | Decisions in flowcharts | For loops in flowcharts | While loops in flowcharts | Processes in Flowcharts | Subprocess Symbol | Pros of Flowcharts | Cons of Flowcharts | Flowchart Symbols | Flowchart Symbols Visualisation |
Flowchart / Process / Terminal Symbol / Decision Symbol / Process Symbol / Connector Symbol / Flowline / Input Symbol / Output Symbol / Loop Symbol / Iteration / Flowcharting Tool / Input / Output / Decision / Terminator Symbol / subprocess symbol /
7.1.3. Pseudocode
Introduction to pseudocode Introduction to Pseudocode | Why use Pseudocode? | Pseudocode - pros & cons |
Pseudocode /
7.1.5. Program Code
Program Code Program Code | Code Example: Python | Code Example: Java | Code Example: Assembly Language | Executing Program Code | Pros and Cons of Program Code |
Program Code / Syntax / Flowchart / Variable / Control Structure / Loop / Conditional Statement / Assembly Language /
7.1.4. Written descriptions of algorithms
Written descriptions of algorithms Written descriptions |

Subunit 2 - Decomposition & Abstraction

7.2.1. Decomposition
Decomposition Introduction to Decomposition | Benefits of Decomposition | Decomposition Steps | Comment-First Coding | Comment-First Example |
Decomposition / Modular programming / Abstraction / Top-down design / Hierarchy / Modularity / Bottom-up Processing / Divide and Conquer / Decentralization / Component / comment-first coding /
7.2.3. Subprograms
Subprograms Introduction to Subprograms | Functions | Procedures | Advantages of subprograms |
Subprogram / Function / Procedure / Return statement / Call statement / Modularity / Reusability / Maintainability / Abstraction / Testing / Readability / Efficiency /
7.2.4. Abstraction
Introduction to abstraction What is Abstraction? | Examples of Abstraction | Benefits of Abstraction | Abstraction in Programming | Abstraction - Car Example |
Abstraction / Data abstraction / Abstract data type / Abstraction layer / Procedural abstraction / Class / Object / Encapsulation / Inheritance / Polymorphism /
7.2.2. Structure diagrams
Structure diagrams Breaking a Problem into Boxes | Structure Diagram versus Flowchart |
structure diagram /

Subunit 3 - Searching & Sorting Algorithms

7.3.3. Bubble Sort
Introduction to Bubble Sort Introduction to Bubble Sort | Bubble Sort Visualisation | Bubble Sort Python | Pros and Cons of Bubble Sort | Exam Tip: Bubble Sort's Final Pass | Bubble Sort Big-O Complexity |
Bubble Sort / Comparison / Efficiency / Iteration / Swapping / In-place Sorting / Time Complexity / Space Complexity / Worst-Case Performance / Best-Case Performance / Average-Case Performance / Optimization / Element / Ascending Order / Descending Order / Stable sorting /
7.3.5. Merge Sort
Introduction to Merge Sort Introduction to Merge Sort | Steps of Merge Sort | Merge Sort in Python | Advantages of Merge Sort | Disadvantages of Merge Sort: |
Merge Sort / Divide and conquer / Recursive / Merge / In-place sorting / Stable sort / Comparisons / Swaps / Time complexity / Best case / Average case / Worst case / Big-O notation / Space complexity / In-place merge sort / Recursion / Merge Function / Comparison-based Sort / In-place Sort / Out-of-place Sort / Linearithmic Time Complexity / Logarithmic Time Complexity / Quadratic Time Complexity / Pseudocode /
7.3.1. Linear Search
Linear Search Introduction to Linear Search | Linear Search Visualisation | Time & Space Complexity | Pros and Cons of Linear Search | Linear Search on a Sorted List | Sorted Linear Search in Python |
Sequential Search / Linear Search / List / Index / Search / Unordered / Comparison / Algorithm / Runtime / Complexity / Linear time complexity / Worst-case scenario / Best-case scenario / Average-case scenario / Efficiency / Big O notation / O(n) / Array / Element / Boolean /
7.3.2. Binary Search
Binary Search Algorithm Introduction to Binary Search | Binary Search Visualisation | Pros and Cons of Binary Search | Binary Search Python Implementation | Recursive Binary Search | Tracing the Recursive Version |
Binary Search / Sorted array / Divide and Conquer / Iteration / Target element / Mid-point / Index / Comparison / Time complexity / Space complexity /
7.3.4. Insertion Sort
Understanding the Insertion Sort Algorithm What is an insertion sort? | How each pass works | Hand-tracing an insertion sort | In-place insertion sort in Python | Benefits and drawbacks of insertion sort | Putting it together: tracing in code |
Understanding the Insertion Sort Algorithm Basics and Process of Insertion Sort | Python Implementation and Applications |
key / in-place algorithm /

Subunit 4 - Trace Tables

7.4.1. Trace Tables
Trace Tables Introduction to Trace Tables | Trace table example |
Trace Tables / Variable / Expression / Statement / Value / Initial value / Final value / Iteration / Condition / Boolean expression / Logical operator / Relational operator / Concatenation / Debugging / Syntax error / Logic error / Runtime error / Function / Recursion /

Unit 8 - Python Programming

Subunit 1 - Programming Fundamentals & Constructs

8.1.1. Variables & Constants
Variables & Constants Introduction to Variables | Declaring and Assigning Variables | Combining Declaration and Assignment | Variable Naming Rules | Python Reserved Words | Built-in Functions | Sensible vs Not Sensible Variable Names | Constants |
Variable / constant / data type / declaration / assignment / scope / global variable / local variable / type inference /
8.1.6. Sequencing & Selection (If & switch statements)
IF statements If Statements | Else | IF ELIF ELSE | Nested If Statement |
Switch Statements Switch Statements | Switch statements < Python 3.10 |
Sequencing / Selection / If statement / Switch statement / Condition / Boolean / Execution path / Nested if statement / Default case /
8.1.7. Definite Iteration
Definite Iteration What is definite iteration for | for and range — first example | start, stop and step | Common trap: off-by-one and exclusive stop | Looping through a list | Putting it together |
definite iteration / range / stop / step /
8.1.8. Indefinite Iteration
Indefinite Iteration What is indefinite iteration for | while True — an infinite loop | Stopping with input and break | continue to skip bad input | Running total of scores | Putting it together | Optional comparison: counting with while |
indefinite iteration / while loop / break / continue / infinite loop /
8.1.2. Arithmetic Operators
Arithmetic Operators in Python Standard Arithmetic Operators ( + - * / ) | Modulo (%) | Floor division | Exponentiation (**) |
Arithmetic Operators / Addition Operator / Subtraction Operator / Multiplication Operator /
8.1.4. Comparison Operators
Comparison Operators Comparison and Relational Operators in Python | Equal to (==) | Not equal to (!=) | Greater than (>) | Greater than or equal to (>=) | Less than (<) | Less than or equal to (<=) |
Comparison Operators / == / != / > / < / >= / <= / in / not in / is / Comparison Operator /
8.1.5. Logical Operators
Logical Operators AND Operator | OR Operator | NOT Operator | Order of Precedence |
Logical Operators / AND / OR / NOT / XOR /
8.1.3. Integer division
Integer division DIV and MOD | DIV versus MOD |
DIV / MOD /
8.1.. Input and output
Input and output What is input and output | Using print for output | Joining text with commas, plus and f-strings | Using input and converting numbers | Common mistakes with print and input | Putting it together |
input / output / print / prompt / f-string / concatenation / string /

Subunit 2 - Data Types

8.2.1. Strings
Strings What is a String? | Python String Concatenation | String Indexing | String Slicing | String Methods | String Formatting |
String / Concatenation / Index / Substring / Length / Escape Sequence / Immutable / Comparing / String Methods / Case Sensitivity /
8.2.3. Integer
Integers Integers | Python integer operations | Converting between Integers and Strings |
Integer / Positive Integer / Negative Integer / Zero / Prime Integer / Integer Division / Integer Overflow /
8.2.4. Float data type
Floats Floating point numbers | Type Conversion Involving Floats | Floating Point Rounding Errors |
Float data type / Floating-point precision / Floating-point number / Decimal numbers / Floating-point arithmetic / Floating-point constant / Overflow / Underflow /
8.2.5. Boolean
Booleans Introduction to Boolean Data Type | Use Cases of Booleans |
Boolean / True / False / Logic / Boolean Operator / AND Operator / OR Operator / NOT Operator / Truth Table / Boolean Algebra /
8.2.2. Character data type
Character data type What a Char Stores | Char versus String |
character /
8.2.6. Casting
Casting Temporarily Changing Type | int versus str |
casting /

Subunit 3 - Data Structures

8.3.1. 1 Dimensional Arrays
One dimensional arrays Introduction to One-Dimensional Arrays | Looping through arrays | Searching Arrays | Adding Items to a List | Removing Items from a List |
Array / Elements / Index / Array Size / Initialization / Access / Traversal / Search / Insertion / Deletion / Element / Traverse / Update / Sort /
8.3.2. 2 Dimensional Arrays
2 Dimensional Arrays in Python Creating 2D Arrays in Python | Accessing Elements in 2D Arrays | Modifying Elements in 2D Arrays | Iterating Through 2D Arrays |
2D Array / Rows / Columns / Elements / Index / Initialization / Access / Traversal / Array Length / Nested Arrays / Element / Row / Column / Array Size / Modification / 2D array / list of lists / indexing / nested for loops /
8.3.3. Dictionaries
Python Dictionaries Introduction to Dictionaries | Accessing Values in a Dictionary | Telephone Numbers and Emails | Dictionaries & Hast Tables |
Dictionary / Key / Value / Mutable / Immutable / Length / Update / Keys / Values / Clear / Pop / Nested Dictionary / Hash Table / Dictionary Methods / Items / Get / In / Copy / Dictionary Comprehension /
8.3.4. Records data structure
Introduction to Records data structure Records data structure | Uses of Records | Advantages of Records | Disadvantages of Records |
Records data structure / Record / Field / Attribute / Key / Value / Index / Linked list / Array / Binary tree / Records / Object-oriented programming (OOP) /

Subunit 4 - Error Handling & Validation

8.4.1. Error Types
Error Types Syntax Errors | Runtime errors | Logical Errors | Independent Research Task |
Syntax Error / Runtime Error / Type Error / Arithmetic Error / Index Out of Bounds / File Not Found / Overflow Error / IndentationError / NameError / TypeError / ValueError / IndexError / KeyError / FileNotFoundError / ZeroDivisionError /
8.4.2. Types of Testing
Methods of Software Testing Walkthrough Testing | White Box Testing | Black Box Testing | Unit Testing | Integration Testing | Alpha Testing | Beta Testing | Acceptance Testing | Stub Testing |
Unit Testing / Integration Testing / System Testing / Acceptance Testing / Regression Testing / Black Box Testing / White Box Testing / Test Case / dry run testing / walkthrough testing / alpha testing / beta testing / stub testing /
8.4.3. Test Plans & Test Data
Test Plans & Test Data Software Testing | Test Plan Components | Testing Table - Example | Normal Data | Abnormal Data | Boundary Data |
Testing / Test Plans / Test Data / Test Case / Test Scenario / Test Suite / Test Execution / Test Coverage / Boundary Testing / Equivalence Partitioning / Regression Testing / Test Plan / Testing Table / Test Case / Boundary Testing / Valid Input / Invalid Input /
8.4.4. Debugging Techniques
Code Analysis (Debugging Techniques) Code Analysis (Debugging Techniques) | IDE Debugging Features |
Debugging / Breakpoint / Stepping / Variable Watch / Stack Trace / Logging / Assertion / Memory Dump / Code Review / Tracing / Binary Search /
8.4.5. Verification & Validation
Introduction to Verification & Validation Input Verification | Duplicate Entry | Checksum Verification | Luhn Algorithm | Input Validation | Benefits of Input Validation | Presence Check | Length Check | Range Check | Format Check |
range check / presence check / format check / length check / syntax check / boundary check / entry verification / validation / luhn / isbn / barcode / checksum / data validation / checksum validation / verification process / barcode scanner / Uniqueness check / Pattern check / Type check / Data integrity / Schema validation /

Subunit 5 - Security Concepts

8.5.1. Authentication in programs
Password based authentication Introduction to password authentication | Password Hashing | Password Vulnerabilities | Limitations of passwords | Strong passwords | Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) |
Authentication / Network security / Biometric authentication / Access control / Two-factor authentication / Intrusion detection system / Firewall / Security audit / password authentication / credentials / authentication factor / phishing / symmetric encryption /

Subunit 6 - Advanced Topics

8.6.1. Functions & Procedures
Introduction to Functions & Procedures Introduction to Functions | Introduction to Procedures | Local Variables | Global Variables | Variable Scope |
Optional & Required Parameters Optional Parameters | Required Parameters | Parameters vs Arguments |
Procedure / Parameter / Return Value / Local Variable / Global Variable / Recursion / function / argument / call / modularization / Function scope / Block scope / scope / Subprogram / Return statement /
8.6.2. Strings Methods & String Manipulation
Strings Methods & String Manipulation len() | upper(), lower() and title() | replace() | split() | Searching and Extracting Substrings | String slicing [stard:end] | Negative Slicing | .join() |
Strings Methods / String Manipulation / Concatenation / Substring / Length / Indexing / Case Conversion / Replacing / Splitting / Trimming / String slicing / Start index / End index / Step value / Positive index / Negative index /
8.6.6. File handling in Python
File handling in Python Opening and Closing Files | Read versus Write | Reading line by line | Appending to a file |
file object / append mode / readline() /
8.6.3. Global and local variables
Global and local variables Where a Name Can Be Used | Local versus Global |
local variable / global variable /
8.6.4. Readable programs
Readable programs Why Layout Matters | Comments versus Identifiers |
meaningful identifier /
8.6.5. Random number generation
Random number generation Using Random Values | Inclusive Range versus a List Pick |
random number generation /

Subunit 7 - Databases

8.7.1. SELECT Queries
SELECT Queries SQL Queries | SELECT Query | Filtering using WHERE | ORDER BY Clause | LIKE Operator |

Unit 9 - Logic Gates

Subunit 1 - Logic

9.1.1. Logic Gates
Introduction to Logic Gates Logic Gates | AND Gate | AND Gate Demo | OR Gate | OR Gate Demo | NOT Gate | NOT Gate Demo | XOR Gate | XOR Gate Demo | NAND Gate | NAND Gate Demo | NOR Gate | NOR Gate Demo |
Logical operator / AND operator / OR operator / NOT operator / XOR operator / Logic Gates / AND Gate / OR Gate / NOT Gate / NAND Gate / NOR Gate / XOR Gate / XNOR Gate / Half Adder / Full Adder /
9.1.2. Logic Circuits
Logic Circuits Combing Logic gates into logic circuits | (NOT A) AND B | (A AND B) OR C |
9.1.3. Truth Tables & Logic Statements
Introduction to Truth Tables & Logic Statements Compound Statements | Compound Statements |
Truth Tables / Logic Statements / Logical Operators / AND / OR / NOT / Implication / Biconditional / Conditional / Tautology /