Key term
Eduqas A-Level Computer Science A500QS
Data Structures: Arrays, Records and Hash Tables
Stacks, Queues, Linked Lists and Trees
Boolean Logic and Simplification
Algorithms, Pseudo-Code and Programming Constructs
Variables, Scope, Parameters and Identifiers
Recursion and Modular Programming
Sorting Algorithms
Searching and Shortest-Path Algorithms
Big O Notation and Algorithm Efficiency
Validation, Verification and Testing
Data Compression
Programming Paradigms and Computer Languages
Topic overviewProgramming paradigms and where each is usedProcedural programmingEvent-driven and visual programmingMark-up languagesObject-oriented programming: objects, classes and methodsAmbiguity in natural language and the standardisation of languagesBackus-Naur form and syntax diagramsHigh-level and low-level languages, and choosing one
Systems Analysis, Maintenance and Documentation
Topic overviewWaterfall, Agile and approaches to systems developmentThe feasibility study, budgets and time scalesMethods of investigationAbstraction, decomposition and data flow diagramsSelecting suitable hardware and softwareAcceptance testing and methods of changeoverPerfective, adaptive and corrective maintenanceBackup and recovery proceduresUser and maintenance documentation
System Design and Human-Computer Interaction
Software Engineering Tools and Translators
Topic overviewSoftware tools for the software engineering processSoftware packages in analysis, specification, design and testingIntegrated development environmentsDebugging toolsProgram version managementCompilers, interpreters and assemblersThe stages of compilationTranslation errors and execution errors
Computing, Society and the Law
Computer Architecture, the Processor and Assembly Language
Topic overviewHardware elements and how they are connectedVon Neumann architecture and the stored program conceptThe processor: control unit, ALU and registersTypes of memory: RAM, ROM and virtual memoryCache memory and locality of referenceThe fetch-execute cycle and its registersParallel processing and the limits to parallelisationAssembly language and executing a program
Input, Output and Secondary Storage
Topic overviewInput devices and how data is capturedOutput devices and how results are presentedChoosing input and output devices for a situationVoice input, dictation and voice print recognitionMagnetic, optical and solid state storageComparing secondary storage for a purposeDisc organisation, fragmentation and defragmentation
Networks, Protocols and the Internet
Topic overviewNetworks, LANs and WANsNetwork topologies and connection hardwareNetworking standards and the layered modelIP addressing, TCP and UDPApplication protocols: HTTP, FTP, SMTP, IMAP and DHCPHandshaking and establishing a connectionWireless hardware and wireless technologiesThe internet and connected mobile devices
Data Transmission and Network Performance
Topic overviewSerial and parallel transmissionSimplex, half duplex and full duplexMultiplexing and sharing a channelCircuit, message and packet switchingPackets, headers and packet contentsNetwork collisions and collision detectionRouting traffic on a networkCalculating transfer rates and lowest cost routes
Number Systems and Binary Arithmetic
Data Types, Characters and Floating Point
Topic overviewPrimitive data typesStorage requirements for each data typeASCII and standardised character setsUnicode and multilingual encodingFloating point form: mantissa and exponentConverting between real numbers and floating pointInteger and floating point comparedTruncation, rounding and accuracy
Files, Records and File Organisation
Topic overviewThe purpose of files in data processingFiles, records and fieldsFixed and variable length fields and recordsMaster files and transaction filesSerial and sequential file accessIndexed sequential access and multi-level indexesDirect access and hashing algorithmsOverflow handling and file reorganisationFile security, backups, generations and archiving
Databases, Normalisation and Entity Modelling
SQL, Big Data and Distributed Systems
Topic overviewQuery languages and the purpose of SQLCreating tables: CREATE TABLE, data types and keysRetrieving data with SELECT, FROM and WHEREComparison operators, IN, AND, OR and sub-queriesSorting, grouping and aggregate functionsInserting, updating, deleting and joining dataThe DBMS, the data dictionary and distributed databasesBig Data, data warehousing, data mining and predictive analytics
The Operating System and Its Modes
Topic overviewThe need for an operating system and the role of the kernelManaging peripherals, processes and memory protectionThe user interface and the layers between user and hardwareDirectory structures and file attributesUtility softwareBatch processing, real time control and real time transaction systemsTypes of operating system: single-user, multi-user, multi-tasking and multi-programmingDesigning an interface for different users and environments
Interrupts, Memory Management and Scheduling
Topic overviewWhat causes an interruptInterrupt handling and the interrupt service routineInterrupt priorities and how they are allocatedPartitioning main memoryMethods of data transfer between processor and devicesBuffers and double bufferingHigh level scheduling, processor and device allocationProcess states, time-slicing, polling and threading
Types of Software System
Data Security, Cryptography and Attack
Topic overviewOnline updating and the integrity of shared filesDangers of holding personal dataClerical procedures, access levels, passwords and write protectionCryptography: its purpose, and symmetric and asymmetric keysHashing, digital signatures and certificatesCaesar and Vernam ciphers and comparing cipher strengthBiometric technologies and their limitationsThreats, damage and contingency planningMalicious software, hacking and penetration testing
Networks, Protocols and the Internet
- 8 subtopics
- 24 things to know
- Component 2
What Networks, Protocols and the Internet covers
Networks, Protocols and the Internet is examined in Component 2, Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications. It covers networks, LANs and WANs, network topologies and connection hardware, networking standards and the layered model, IP addressing, TCP and UDP, application protocols: HTTP, FTP, SMTP, IMAP and DHCP, handshaking and establishing a connection, wireless hardware and wireless technologies and the internet and connected mobile devices.
Where it is assessed
Component 2
Computer Architecture, Data, Communication and Applications.
Check the Eduqas specification ↗The 8 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Networks, LANs and WANsComputer network, local area network and wide area network.Open →
- Network topologies and connection hardwareNetwork topology, bus topology and give one drawback and star topology and give one advantage.Open →
- Networking standards and the layered modelNetworking standard, de facto and a de jure standard and protocol stack.Open →
- IP addressing, TCP and UDPIP address and network address translation.Open →
- Application protocols: HTTP, FTP, SMTP, IMAP and DHCPIMAP and POP3 and DHCP lease.Open →
- Handshaking and establishing a connectionAgreed during handshaking, TCP three-way handshake and purpose of the ACK in a handshake.Open →
- Wireless hardware and wireless technologiesWireless access point, role of an aerial in wireless communication and near field communication.Open →
- The internet and connected mobile devicesInternet and the World Wide Web, internet backbone and internet service provider.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Compare a star topology with a ring topology.
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What is a networking standard?
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What is an IP address?
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What is HTTP used for?
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What is handshaking?
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What hardware is needed to make a wireless connection?
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What is the internet?
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What is a computer network?
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What is a network topology?
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Why are networking standards important?
Numbers
How is an IPv4 address written, and how many bits does it hold?
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How does HTTPS differ from HTTP?
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What is agreed during handshaking?
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What is a wireless access point?
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Distinguish between the internet and the World Wide Web.
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What is a local area network?
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Describe a bus topology and give one drawback.
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Distinguish between a de facto and a de jure standard.
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Why was IPv6 introduced?
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What is FTP used for?
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Why is handshaking necessary?
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What is the role of an aerial in wireless communication?
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What is the internet backbone?
Take Networks, Protocols and the Internet further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Switch vs Router
Switch: forwarding by MAC address within one network. Router: forwarding by IP address between networks.
IMAP vs POP3
IMAP: leaving mail on the server and synchronising folders. POP3: downloading and usually deleting it.
Handshaking vs Flow control
Handshaking: agreeing the settings before any data moves. Flow control: pausing a sender part way through a transmission.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a computer network?
Model answer
A computer network is two or more devices linked so they can exchange data and share resources. A printer, files and an internet connection can all be shared.
- 2
What is a local area network?
Model answer
A local area network covers a single site such as one building or campus. The organisation owns the cabling and the network hardware itself.
- 3
What is a wide area network?
Model answer
A wide area network links sites spread over a large geographical area. Third-party links such as leased lines or the internet are used between the sites.
- 4
What is a personal area network?
Model answer
A personal area network connects the devices of one person over a few metres. A phone paired with wireless earphones forms a personal area network.
- 5
Distinguish between client-server and peer-to-peer networks.
Model answer
A client-server network has dedicated servers providing resources to client machines. A peer-to-peer network gives every machine equal status, acting as both client and server.
- 6
Give two advantages of a client-server network.
Model answer
Central control makes security, backup and software updates much easier to manage. User accounts and files are available from any client on the network.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Networks, Protocols and the Internet revision questions
- What does Networks, Protocols and the Internet cover in Eduqas A-Level Computer Science?
- 8 subtopics: networks, lans and wans, network topologies and connection hardware, networking standards and the layered model, ip addressing, tcp and udp, application protocols: http, ftp, smtp, imap and dhcp, handshaking and establishing a connection, wireless hardware and wireless technologies and the internet and connected mobile devices. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Networks, Protocols and the Internet organised?
- By the Eduqas A500QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Networks, Protocols and the Internet, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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