About Lesson
The latest update to the Cambridge 0984 /0478 specifications was made in July 2023. This course was updated to include these changes in July 2023. If you have any concerns or questions about what is covered in the course, please get in touch using the Q&A feature at the front of the course or by email to hello@teachallaboutit.uk
You can access the official specifications directly from Cambridge using the links below:
- Cambridge 0984 Specification (UK 9 – 1 grades)
- Cambridge 0478 Specification (International A* – G grades)
You are responsible for arranging your own exams. I strongly recommend booking these with your chosen centre at least 6 months before the exam you wish to sit. For assistance with this, please see the details in my Student Welcome Pack.
The table below shows how this course maps to the current specification and when you can expect to cover each part.
What changed in July 2023?
- Confirmation that file size calculations must use the measurement of 1024 and not 1000
- Data packet descriptions are a little stricter (this hasn’t technically changed, but the learning outcome 2.1.1.b has been changed for clarity)
- The abbreviation of the fetch-decode-execute (FDE) cycle has been added to learning outcome 3.1.2.b
- 7.5b now includes the purpose of each verification check
- In pseudocode, procedures and functions are defined at the start of the code ( a pseudocode guide is included in week 6 and other algorithm lessons)
Paper 1 – Theory
| Specification Reference | When This is (first) Covered | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 : Data Representation | ||
| 1.1.1 | Understand how and why computers use binary to represent all forms of data | Week 1 |
| 1.1.2 | (a) Understand the denary, binary and hexadecimal number systems (b) Convert between (i) positive denary and positive binary (ii) positive denary and positive hexadecimal (iii) positive hexadecimal and positive binary | Week 1 & 2 |
| 1.1.3 | Understand how and why hexadecimal is used as a beneficial method of data representation | Week 2 |
| 1.1.4 | (a) Add two positive 8-bit binary integers (b) Understand the concept of overflow and why it occurs in binary addition | Week 3 |
| 1.1.5 | Perform a logical binary shift on a positive 8-bit binary integer and understand the effect this has on the positive binary integer | Week 3 |
| 1.1.6 | Use two’s complement to represent positive and negative 8-bit binary integers | Week 4 |
| 1.2.1 | Understand how and why a computer represents text and the use of character sets, including American standard code for information interchange (ASCII) and Unicode | Week 6 |
| 1.2.2 | Understand how and why a computer represents sound, including the effects of the sample rate and sample resolution | Week 7 |
| 1.2.3 | Understand how and why a computer represents an image, including the effects of the resolution and colour depth | Week 5 |
| 1.3.1 | Understand how data storage is measured | Week 5 – 8 |
| 1.3.2 | Calculate the file size of an image file and a sound file, using information given | Week 5 – 8 |
| 1.3.3 | Understand the purpose of and need for data compression | Week 9 |
| 1.3.4 | Understand how files are compressed using lossy and lossless compression methods | Week 9 |
| Unit 2 : Data Transmission | ||
| 2.1.1 | (a) Understand that data is broken down into packets to be transmitted (b) Describe the structure of a packet (c) Describe the process of packet switching | Week 8 |
| 2.1.2 | (a) Describe how data is transmitted from one device to another using different methods of data transmission (b) Explain the suitability of each method of data transmission, for a given scenario | Week 8 |
| 2.1.3 | Understand the universal serial bus (USB) interface and explain how it is used to transmit data | Week 16 |
| 2.2.1 | Understand the need to check for errors after data transmission and how these errors can occur | Week 8 & 9 |
| 2.2.2 | Describe the processes involved in each of the following error detection methods for detecting errors in data after transmission: parity check (odd and even), checksum and echo check | Week 8 & 9 |
| 2.2.3 | 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 | Programming challenges |
| 2.2.4 | Describe how an automatic repeat query (ARQ) can be used to establish that data is received without error | Week 8 & 9 |
| 2.3.1 | Understand the need for and purpose of encryption when transmitting data | Week 20 – 23 |
| 2.3.2 | Understand how data is encrypted using symmetric and asymmetric encryption | Week 23 |
| Unit 3 : Hardware | ||
| 3.1.1 | (a) Understand the role of the central processing unit (CPU) in a computer (b) Understand what is meant by a microprocessor | Week 10 |
| 3.1.2 | (a) Understand the purpose of the components in a CPU, in a computer that has a Von Neumann architecture (b) Describe the process of the fetch–decode–execute (FDE) cycle including the role of each component in the process | Week 10 |
| 3.1.3 | Understand what is meant by a core, cache and clock in a CPU and explain how they can affect the performance of a CPU | Week 10 – 15 |
| 3.1.4 | Understand the purpose and use of an instruction set for a CPU | Week 10 & Week 27 |
| 3.1.5 | Describe the purpose and characteristics of an embedded system and identify devices in which they are commonly used | Week 11 |
| 3.2.1 | Understand what is meant by an input device and why it is required | Week 12 |
| 3.2.2 | Understand what is meant by an output device and why it is required | Week 12 |
| 3.2.3 | (a) Understand what is meant by a sensor and the purposes of sensors (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 | Week 12 – 13 & extended in week 48 – 51 |
| 3.3.1 | Understand what is meant by primary storage | Week 13 |
| 3.3.2 | Understand what is meant by secondary storage | Week 14 |
| 3.3.3 | Describe the operation of magnetic, optical and solid-state (flash memory) storage and give examples of each | Week 14 |
| 3.3.4 | Describe what is meant by virtual memory, how it is created and used and why it is necessary | Week 15 |
| 3.3.5 | Understand what is meant by cloud storage | Week 15 |
| 3.3.6 | Explain the advantages and disadvantages of storing data on the cloud in comparison to storing it locally | Week 15 |
| 3.4.1 | Understand that a computer needs a network interface card (NIC) to access a network | Week 16 |
| 3.4.2 | Understand what is meant by and the purpose of a media access control (MAC) address, including its structure | Week 17 |
| 3.4.3 | (a) Understand what is meant by and the purpose of an internet protocol (IP) address (b) Understand that there are different types of IP address | Week 17 |
| 3.4.4 | Describe the role of a router in a network | Week 16 |
| Unit 4 : Software | ||
| 4.1.1 | Describe the difference between system software and application software and provide examples of each | Week 26 |
| 4.1.2 | Describe the role and basic functions of an operating system | Week 28 |
| 4.1.3 | Understand how hardware, firmware and an operating system are required to run applications software | Week 28 |
| 4.1.4 | Describe the role and operation of interrupts | Week 29 |
| 4.2.1 | Explain what is meant by a high-level language and a low-level language, including the advantages and disadvantages of each | Week 27 & week 35 |
| 4.2.2 | 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 | Week 27 |
| 4.2.3 | Describe the operation of a compiler and an interpreter, including how high-level language is translated by each and how errors are reported | Week 36 |
| 4.2.4 | Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a compiler and an interpreter | Week 36 |
| 4.2.5 | Explain the role of an IDE in writing program code and the common functions IDEs provide | Week 37 |
| Unit 5 : The Internet and Its Uses | ||
| 5.1.1 | Understand the difference between the internet and the world wide web | Week 38 |
| 5.1.2 | Understand what is meant by a uniform resource locator (URL) | Week 38 |
| 5.1.3 | Describe the purpose and operation of hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) | Week 38 |
| 5.1.4 | Explain the purpose and functions of a web browser | Week 38 – 40 |
| 5.1.5 | Describe how web pages are located, retrieved and displayed on a device when a user enters a URL | Week 38 |
| 5.1.6 | Explain what is meant by cookies and how they are used, including session cookies and persistent cookies | Week 39 |
| 5.2.1 | Understand the concept of a digital currency and how digital currencies are used | Week 47 |
| 5.2.2 | Understand the process of blockchain and how it is used to track digital currency transactions | Week 47 |
| 5.3.1 | Describe the processes involved in, and the aim of carrying out, a range of cyber security threats | Week 20 – 23 |
| 5.3.2 | Explain how a range of solutions are used to help keep data safe from security threats | Week 24 – 25 |
| Unit 6 : Automated and Emerging Technologies | ||
| 6.1.1 | Describe how sensors, microprocessors and actuators can be used in collaboration to create automated systems | Week 12 – 13 & extended in week 48 – 51 |
| 6.1.2 | Describe the advantages and disadvantages of an automated system used for a given scenario | Week 13 & Week 48 – 51 |
| 6.2.1 | Understand what is meant by robotics | Week 50 |
| 6.2.2 | Describe the characteristics of a robot | Week 50 |
| 6.2.3 | Understand the roles that robots can perform and describe the advantages and disadvantages of their use | Week 50 – 52 |
| 6.3.1 | Understand what is meant by artificial intelligence (AI) | Week 50 – 52 & Week 54 |
| 6.3.2 | Describe the main characteristics of AI as the collection of data and the rules for using that data, the ability to reason, and can include the ability to learn and adapt | Week 54 |
| 6.3.3 | Explain the basic operation and components of AI systems to simulate intelligent behaviour | Week 54 |
Paper 2 – Programming
Programming concepts are covered multiple times throughout the course as these are practical skills that you need to demonstrate throughout the course. You’ll find programming questions in almost every set of weekly practice questions, and a set of 15 programming challenges for you to complete through the course. I subscribe to a “little & often” approach to programming which will not only prepare you for the exam, but help you to take programming further than iGCSE.
Paper 2 also includes several theory topics which have been included below:
| Specification Reference | When This is Covered | |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | Understand the program development life cycle, limited to: analysis, design, coding and testing | Week 21 |
| 7.2 | (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 decomposed into its component parts (c) Use different methods to design and construct a solution to a problem | Week 6> + weekly assignments |
| 7.3 | Explain the purpose of a given algorithm | Week 6> + weekly assignments |
| 7.4 | Understand standard methods of solution (counting, totalling, searching, & sorting) | Week 10 (arrays)> + programming challenges |
| 7.5 | (a) Understand the need for validation checks to be made on input data and the different types of validation check (b) Understand the need for verification checks to be made on input data and the different types of verification check | Week 20 |
| 7.6 | Suggest and apply suitable test data | Week 21 |
| 7.7 | Complete a trace table to document a dry-run of an algorithm | Week 6> + lesson notes |
| 7.8 | Identify errors in given algorithms and suggest ways of correcting these errors | Week 6> + weekly assignments |
| 7.9 | Write and amend algorithms for given problems or scenarios, using: pseudocode, program code and flowcharts | Week 6> + weekly assignments |
| Unit 9 : Databases | ||
| 9.1 | Define a single-table database from given data storage requirements | Week 44 |
| 9.2 | Suggest suitable basic data types | Week 43 |
| 9.3 | Understand the purpose of a primary key and identify a suitable primary key for a given database table | Week 43 |
| 9.4 | Read, understand and complete structured query language (SQL) scripts to query data stored in a single database table | Week 44 – 46 |
| Unit 10 : Boolean Logic | ||
| 9.1 | Identify and use the standard symbols for logic gates | Week 41 |
| 9.2 | Define and understand the functions of the logic gates | Week 41 |
| 9.3 | (a) Use logic gates to create given logic circuits from a: problem statement, logic expression, & truth table (b) Complete a truth table from a: problem statement, logic expression, & truth table (c) Write a logic expression from a: problem statement, logic expression, & truth table | Week 42 |