All 12 ICT topics for Cambridge IGCSE, grouped the way the exam is. Each topic has a few flashcards to test yourself; the full sets are free in Socrates AI.
What is hardware and what is software?
Hardware: the physical parts of a computer. Software: the programs that run on it.
Name four internal components of a computer.
CPU, motherboard, RAM, ROM (also graphics card, sound card, internal storage).
What does the CPU do?
It processes instructions and data, controlling the computer's operations.
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What is the difference between primary and secondary storage?
Primary storage (RAM, ROM) is directly accessed by the CPU; secondary storage keeps data permanently.
What are magnetic storage devices? Give examples.
Devices storing data on magnetised surfaces, e.g. hard disk drives and magnetic tape.
Why is magnetic tape still used for backups?
It has a very large capacity and is cheap, although access is slow (serial).
What is a LAN?
A local area network covering a small area, such as a school or office.
What is a WAN?
A wide area network covering a large geographical area; the internet is the largest.
What is a WLAN?
A wireless local area network, connecting devices using radio waves via access points.
Name three health problems from using computers for long periods.
Back and neck problems, repetitive strain injury (RSI), eye strain and headaches.
How can repetitive strain injury (RSI) be prevented?
Ergonomic keyboards and mice, wrist rests, correct posture and regular breaks.
How can eye strain be prevented?
Anti-glare screens, regular breaks, good lighting and correct screen brightness.
Give three communication applications of ICT.
Email, video conferencing, social media, websites and mobile apps.
What is computer modelling? Give an example.
Using a computer to simulate a real situation to test what would happen, e.g. traffic flow, weather forecasting or flight simulators.
Give two advantages of using a model rather than the real thing.
It is safer and cheaper, and "what if" scenarios can be tested quickly.
Name the stages of the systems life cycle.
Analysis, design, development and testing, implementation, documentation and evaluation.
Give four methods of researching the current system.
Observation, interviews, questionnaires and examining existing documents.
Give an advantage and disadvantage of observation.
Advantage: reliable, first-hand information. Disadvantage: people may behave differently when watched.
What is personal data? Give examples.
Data that identifies a living person, e.g. name, address, date of birth, medical records.
Why should personal data be kept confidential?
To prevent identity theft, fraud, discrimination and harm to the person.
Give three rules of data protection legislation.
Data must be processed fairly and lawfully, used only for the stated purpose, kept accurate and up to date, not kept longer than needed, and kept secure.
Why must a presentation be designed for its audience?
Content, language, layout and colours must suit the audience's age, knowledge and needs.
How should a presentation for young children differ from one for adults?
Simpler language, larger text, bright colours and more images.
What is copyright?
The legal right protecting creators' work from being copied without permission.
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What is a file extension?
Letters after the dot in a file name that show the file type, e.g. .docx, .jpg.
What are .csv and .txt files?
.csv: comma-separated values for table data. .txt: plain text with no formatting.
What are .jpg, .png and .gif used for?
Images: .jpg for photos (lossy), .png for graphics with transparency (lossless), .gif for simple animations.
What is a cell reference?
The column letter and row number that identify a cell, e.g. B3.
What is a formula?
A calculation entered in a cell, starting with =, e.g. =A1+B1.
What is a function? Give three examples.
A predefined formula: SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, COUNT.
What is a field and a record?
Field: one item of data about each entry (a column). Record: all the data about one entry (a row).
What is a primary key?
A field that uniquely identifies each record.
What is a flat-file database?
A database with a single table.
What are the three layers of a web page?
Content (HTML), presentation (CSS) and behaviour (scripts such as JavaScript).
What is the content layer?
HTML that defines the structure and content: text, images, tables and links.
What is the presentation layer?
CSS that controls how content looks: fonts, colours, layout.
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