teach-ict.com logo

THE education site for computer science and ICT

Edexcel GCSE Computer Science

The material on this site is not endorsed by Edexcel. We do not guarantee that it covers all of the relevant theory that is required for the examination. Please refer to the Edexcel syllabus to ensure that you are covering the material to the standard required.

GCSE 9-1 Edexcel Computer Science

Section

Topic

Syllabus points

Material

1: Algorithms

 

 

Computational thinking 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.4
  • Decomposition
  • Abstraction
  • Pattern recognition
Representing algorithms: Flowcharts 1.1.1, 1.1.2
  • Standard Shapes
  • Algorithms
Representing algorithms: Pseudocode 1.1.1, 1.1.2
  • Syllabus pseudocode
Using algorithms 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 1.1.5  
Standard algorithms: Sorting 1.1.8
  • Linear search
  • Binary Search
Standard algorithms: Searching 1.1.9
  • Bubble Sort
  • Merge Sort

2: Programming

Data types 2.3.1
  • Character
  • String
  • Integer
  • Real
  • Boolean
Sequence, Selection, Iteration 2.2.1, 2.2.2
  • IF
  • WHILE
  • REPEAT
  • FOR
  • Nesting
Variables and constants 2.3.4, 2.3.5
  • Naming
  • Assigning
  • Uses
Operators 2.5.1, 2.5.2, 2.5.3
  • Arithmetic
  • Boolean
  • Relational
Data structures 2.2.1, 2.3.2
  • One-dimensional arrays
  • Two-dimensional arrays
  • Records
Strings 2.3.3
  • Indexing
  • Length
  • Traversal
  • Concatenation
  • Slicing
  • Casting and Coercion
Subprograms 2.3.5, 2.6.1, 2.6.2, 2.6.3
  • Coding
  • Functions
  • Scope
  • Uses
Inputs and outputs 2.4.1, 2.4.2, 2.4.3
  • Presence checks
  • Length checks
  • Range checks
  • Lookup checks
  • Reading files
  • Writing files
Maintainability 2.1.2
  • Comments
  • Headers
  • Whitespace
  • Indentation
Types of Errors 2.1.3, 2.1.5
  • Logic errors
  • Arithmetic order
  • Syntax errors
  • Run-Time errors
Testing and Evaluating 2.1.4, 2.1.6, 2.1.7
  • Test plans
  • Test data
  • Trace tables
  • IDEs
  • Evaluating programs

3: Data

Binary 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4
  • Base systems
  • Binary values
  • Converting denary to binary
  • Converting binary to denary
  • Adding binary numbers
  • Signed integers
  • Shifts
Hexadecimal 3.1.5
  • Uses
  • Denary to Hex
  • Hex to Denary
  • Hex to Binary
  • Binary to Hex
Units 3.3.1, 3.3.4
  • Bit, Byte, Nibble
  • Kilobyte to Petabyte
Representing characters 3.2.1
  • ASCII
  • Extended ASCII
  • Character codes
  • Unicode
Representing images 3.2.2
  • Pixels
  • Grayscale
  • Colour Depth
  • Files size
Representing sounds 3.2.3
  • Sampling
  • Sampling frequency
  • Bit Depth, Bit Rate
  • Channels
  • Metadata
Compression 3.2.4, 3.3.2
  • Lossy compression
  • Lossless compression
  • Dictionary compression
  • Images,Video,Music
Run-length encoding 3.3.3
  • RLE data format
  • RLE & Images
  • RLE & Text
Encryption and ciphers 3.4.1, 3.4.2
  • Purpose
  • Symmetric encryption
  • Asymmetric encryption
  • Caesar Cipher
Databases: Structure 3.5.1, 3.5.2
  • Purpose
  • Parts
  • Flat-file
  • Relational
  • Keys
Databases: Relationships 3.5.2
  • Entities
  • Attributes
  • E-R diagrams

4: Computers

Input-Process-Output 4.1.1
  • Input
  • Process
  • Software
  • Output
  • Storage
The CPU 4.2.3
  • Architecture
  • ALU
  • Control Unit
  • Memory
  • Buses
Fetch-Decode-Execute 4.2.3
  • Hardware used
  • The FDE cycle
Main memory 4.2.2
  • RAM Random Access
  • DRAM and SRAM
  • ROM Read Only
  • Cache
Secondary storage 4.2.4, 4.2.5
  • Magnetic
  • Optical
  • Solid State
  • Cloud
Embedded systems 4.2.6
  • Definition
  • Sensors
  • Analog-Digital converter
  • Actuators
Boolean logic 4.3.1, 4.3.2
  • AND, OR, NOT
  • Logic Circuits
  • Truth Tables
Operating systems 4.4.1
  • Purpose
  • Kernel
  • User Interface
  • Device Drivers
  • Multitasking
Utility software 4.4.2
  • Encryption utilities
  • Defragmentation utilities
  • Compression
  • Backup
  • Information & diagnostics
Software modelling 4.4.3  
Translators and languages 4.5.1, 4.5.2
  • Machine code
  • Low Level
  • High level
  • Translators, Assemblers
  • Compiler, Interpreters

5: Networks

Introduction to networks 5.1.1, 5.1.2,
  • What is a network?
  • Home networks
  • Business networks
  • LANs/WANs
  • Client-Server/P2P
Network shape 5.1.3, 5.1.4, 5.1.7
  • Wired networks
  • Wireless networks
  • Topologies
Network protocols 5.1.5
  • TCP/IP and UDP
  • HTTP and HTTPs
  • FTP, Ethernet, Wi-Fi
  • Email Protocols
TCP/IP layers 5.1.6
  • Application Layer
  • Transport Layer
  • Network Layer
  • Data Link Layer
Introduction to Network Security 5.2.1
  • Importance of security
  • Authentication methods
  • Encryption
  • Firewalls
  • MAC filtering
Cyberattacks 5.2.2, 5.2.3
  • Phishing
  • Pharming
  • Fraud
  • Identity theft
Preventing vulnerabilities 5.2.4, 5.2.5
  • Software design
  • Software testing
  • Network testing
  • Tools
  • Policy
The Internet 5.2.2, 5.3.1, 5.3.2
  • ISP
  • URL/IP address
  • DNS
  • Websites
  • Hosting
  • The Cloud
  • HTML
  • HTTP/S

6: The Bigger Picture

Environment 6.1.1
  • E-waste
  • Recycling
  • Energy use
  • Carbon footprints
Ethics 6.1.2
  • Professionalism
  • Privacy
  • Inclusion
Legislation 6.1.3
  • Data Protection Act
  • Computer Misuse Act
  • Copyright, Designs & Patents Act
  • Communication Acts
  • Health and Safety
Open/Closed Source 6.1.3
  • Open Source
  • Closed Source
  • Creative Commons