IGCSE - Cambridge International ASL Coursebook Guide
By: Anas Hussein
28/01/2023
Cambridge University - International ICT coursebook (ASL):
1 - Data processing and information
1.1 Data and information: This topic covers the basic concepts of data and information,
including the different types of data and the importance of data in organisations.
1.2 Quality of information: This topic covers the importance of ensuring the quality of
information, including the factors that can affect the quality of information and how to assess the
quality of information.
1.3 Encryption: This topic covers the process of encrypting data, including the different types of
encryption and the importance of encryption in protecting data.
1.4 Checking the accuracy of data: This topic covers the process of checking the accuracy of
data, including the different techniques that can be used to check data accuracy and how to
identify and correct errors in data.
1.5 Data processing: This topic covers the different types of data processing and the importance
of data processing in organisations.
2 - Hardware and Software
2.1 Mainframe computers and supercomputers: This topic covers the basic concepts of
mainframe computers and supercomputers, including the differences between the two and the
types of tasks that each is suited for.
2.2 System software: This topic covers the basic concepts of system software, including the
different types of system software and the role of system software in the operation of a
computer.
2.3 Utility software: This topic covers the basic concepts of utility software, including the different
types of utility software and the role of utility software in maintaining and troubleshooting a
computer.
2.4 Custom-written software and off-the-shelf software: This topic covers the basic concepts of
custom-written software and off-the-shelf software, including the advantages and disadvantages
of each and the factors to consider when choosing between the two.
2.5 User interfaces: This topic covers the basic concepts of user interfaces, including the
different types of user interfaces and the importance of user interfaces in making a computer
easy to use.
3 - Monitoring and control
3.1 Monitoring technologies: This topic covers the different types of monitoring technologies,
including the advantages and disadvantages of each, and the importance of monitoring in
organisations.
3.2 Control technologies: This topic covers the different types of control technologies, including
the advantages and disadvantages of each, and the importance of control in organisations.
4 - Algorithms and flowcharts
4.1 Algorithms: This topic covers the basic concepts of algorithms, including the different types
of algorithms and the importance of algorithms in computer programming.
5 - eSecurity
5.1 Personal data: This topic covers the basic concepts of personal data, including the types of
personal data and the importance of protecting personal data.
5.2 Malware: This topic covers the basic concepts of malware, including the different types of
malware and the importance of protecting against malware.
6 - The digital divide
6.1 What is the digital divide: This topic covers the basic concepts of the digital divide, including
the factors that contribute to the digital divide and the impact of the digital divide on individuals
and societies.
6.2 Causes of the digital divide: This topic covers the causes of the digital divide, including
economic, social, and technological factors.
6.3 Groups affected by the digital divide: This topic covers the groups affected by the digital
divide, including low-income individuals and communities, rural residents, and elderly people.
6.4 The effects of the digital divide: This topic covers the effects of the digital divide on
individuals, businesses, and societies, including economic and social consequences.
6.5 Reducing the effects of the digital divide: Strategies to reduce the effects of the digital divide
can include increasing access to technology and the internet, providing digital literacy training,
and addressing underlying socio-economic inequalities.
7 - Expert systems
7.1 What is an expert system? An expert system is a computer program that is designed to
mimic the decision-making abilities of a human expert.
7.2 Different scenarios where expert systems are used: Expert systems are used in a variety of
fields such as medicine, finance, and law.
7.3 Chaining: Chaining is a technique used in expert systems where the output of one rule is
used as the input for another rule.
8 - Spreadsheets
8.1 Create a spreadsheet: Creating a spreadsheet involves opening a spreadsheet program,
such as Microsoft Excel, and creating a new document.
8.2 Test a spreadsheet: Testing a spreadsheet involves inputting data and ensuring that the
spreadsheet performs calculations and functions correctly.
8.3 Use a spreadsheet: Spreadsheets can be used for tasks such as budgeting, data analysis,
and record keeping.
8.4 Automate operations with a spreadsheet: Spreadsheets can be programmed to automate
repetitive tasks and perform calculations.
8.5 Graphs and charts: Spreadsheets can be used to create graphical representations of data,
such as bar charts and line graphs.
9 - Modelling
9.1 Modelling: This section of the topic will provide an introduction to the concept of modelling
and its uses.
9.2 Simulations: This section will discuss how models can be used to simulate the behaviour of
a system or process. It will cover the different types of simulations and how they can be used in
different scenarios.
9.3 Using what-if analysis: This section will explore the technique of using what-if analysis to
explore different scenarios and make predictions about the behaviour of a system or process.
10 - Database and file concepts
10.1 Database basics: This section will provide an introduction to the concept of databases and
their uses.
10.2 Designing the database structure: This section will cover how to design the structure of a
database, including creating tables and fields.
10.3 Creating the database structure: This section will cover how to implement the designed
structure of a database, including creating tables and fields.
10.4 Creating a relational database from existing files: This section will discuss how to create a
relational database from existing files, such as spreadsheets.
10.5 Querying the database: This section will cover how to query a database to extract specific
information.
10.6 Sorting and grouping data: This section will discuss how to sort and group data within a
database to make it easier to analyse.
10.7 Creating a data entry form: This section will cover how to create a form that can be used to
enter data into a database.
10.8 Designing a switchboard: This section will discuss how to design a switchboard, which is a
user interface that allows easy access to different parts of a database.
10.9 Importing and exporting data: This section will cover how to import and export data from a
database, which can be useful for sharing data with other systems or for backup purposes.
10.10 Normalising data: This section will discuss the process of normalising data, which is the
process of organising data in a way that eliminates data redundancy and improves data
integrity.
10.11 Creating a data dictionary: This section will cover how to create a data dictionary, which is
a document that describes the data elements in a database.
10.12 File and data management: This section will discuss best practices for managing files and
data, including backup, security, and storage.
11 - Sound and video editing
11.1 Video editing: This section will cover the basics of video editing, including how to import,
edit, and export video files.
11.2 Audio editing: This section will cover the basics of audio editing, including how to import,
edit, and export audio files.
Summary + Real-world implications.
Various industries, including manufacturing and transportation, use monitoring and control
technology to guarantee the effective and secure operation of equipment. In several disciplines,
including computer science and engineering, processes are designed and enhanced using
algorithms and flowcharts. In order to achieve social and economic equality, it is critical to
overcome the "digital gap", which is the term that describes the unequal distribution of
technology and internet access. Many industries, including healthcare and finance, use expert
systems to make difficult judgments based on subject-matter knowledge. Spreadsheets are
frequently used in business and finance for the organisation and analysis of data. In disciplines
like engineering and finance, modelling and simulations are used to evaluate and refine designs
and forecast consequences. Understanding these methods can open up job options in
industries like media and entertainment where sound and video editing are crucial.
Cambridge University - International CSS coursebook (ASL):
1 - Theory Fundamentals:
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Chapter 1 Information representation: covers how data can be represented, including
number systems, character sets, and codes.
Chapter 2 Communication and Internet technologies: covers the technologies that
enable communication and information exchange over the internet, including protocols,
network types, and network security.
Chapter 3 Hardware: covers the physical components of a computer system, including
input/output devices, storage, and processors.
Chapter 4 Logic gates and logic circuits: covers the basic building blocks of digital logic,
including gates, circuits, and truth tables.
Chapter 5 Processor fundamentals: covers the basic operation of a processor, including
instruction execution and data manipulation.
Chapter 6 Assembly language programming: covers the basics of programming in
assembly language, including instruction set, registers and memory management.
Chapter 7 System software: covers the software that manages the computer system,
including operating systems, device drivers, and utility software.
Chapter 8 Data security, privacy and integrity: covers the measures used to protect data
from unauthorised access, misuse, or loss, including encryption, authentication, and
access control.
Chapter 9 Ethics and ownership: covers ethical issues related to computer use, including
privacy, intellectual property, and cybercrime.
Chapter 10 Database and data modelling: covers the concepts and techniques used to
design and manage databases, including data modelling, normalisation, and SQL.
2 - Fundamental Problem-Solving and Programming Skills:
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Chapter 11 Algorithm design and problem-solving: covers the process of designing
algorithms to solve problems, including problem analysis and algorithm design methods.
Chapter 12 Stepwise refinement and structure charts: covers the process of breaking
down a problem into smaller, manageable tasks and creating diagrams to represent the
tasks.
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Chapter 13 Programming and data representation: covers the basics of programming
concepts, including data types, variables, and control structures.
Chapter 14 Structured programming: covers the use of structured programming
techniques, including top-down design and modular programming.
Chapter 15 Software development: covers the process of creating software, including
requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, and maintenance.
3 - Advanced Theory:
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Chapter 16 Data representation: covers advanced topics in data representation,
including compression, data structures, and databases.
Chapter 17 Communication and Internet technologies: covers advanced topics in
communication and internet technologies, including network protocols, security, and
internet services.
Chapter 18 Boolean algebra and logic circuits: covers advanced topics in Boolean
algebra and logic circuits, including Karnaugh maps, minimisation, and digital logic
design.
Chapter 19 Processor and computer architecture: covers advanced topics in processor
and computer architecture, including pipelining, memory hierarchy, and parallelism.
Chapter 20 System software: covers advanced topics in system software, including
virtual memory, file systems, and distributed systems.
Chapter 21 Security: covers advanced topics in security, including cryptography, access
control, and network security.
Chapter 22 Monitoring and control systems: covers the use of monitoring and control
systems in various applications, including industrial control systems, sensor networks,
and embedded systems.
4 - Further Problem-Solving and Programming Skills:
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Chapter 23: Computational thinking and problem-solving: This chapter covers the
concepts and techniques used to analyse and solve complex problems using
computational thinking.
Chapter 24: Algorithm design methods: This chapter explores different algorithm design
methods, such as divide-and-conquer, greedy, and dynamic programming, and how they
can be used to design efficient algorithms.
Chapter 25: Recursion: This chapter covers the concept of recursion in computer
science, including recursive functions and their uses in problem-solving.
Chapter 26: Further programming: This chapter builds on the programming concepts and
techniques covered in earlier chapters, and covers more advanced topics such as
concurrency, parallelism, and data structures.
Chapter 27: Object-oriented programming (OOP): This chapter introduces the concepts
of object-oriented programming, including classes, objects, inheritance, and
polymorphism.
Chapter 28: Low-level programming: This chapter covers low-level programming
concepts such as assembly language, memory management, and input/output
operations.
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Chapter 29: Declarative programming: This chapter covers declarative programming,
which is a programming paradigm that focuses on describing the desired results rather
than specifying the steps to achieve them.
Chapter 30: Software development: This chapter covers the software development
process, including software design, development, testing, and deployment. It also covers
software development methodologies such as Agile and Waterfall.
Summary + Real-world implications.
1 - Theory Fundamentals: For technology to be used and advanced in the real world, it is
essential to comprehend the fundamental ideas and principles of computer science. This covers
subjects including hardware, communication and internet technologies, and information
representation.
2 - Fundamental Problem-Solving and Programming Skills: It is possible to analyse and create
technological solutions to real-world problems by developing strong problem-solving and
programming skills. This covers subjects like software development, structured programming,
and algorithm design.
3 - Advanced Theory: A deeper understanding of advanced computer science ideas enables the
creation and implementation of more complicated and efficient solutions in the actual world. This
covers subjects including computer architecture, logic circuits, internet technologies, and data
representation.
4 - Further Problem-Solving and Programming Skills: Building and perfect problem-solving and
programming skills enables the creation of progressively more advanced and successful
technological solutions.
Final Thoughts:
A-level ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and A-level Computer Science are
two distinct courses with just some overlap. Computer Science focuses on the theoretical and
technical aspects of computers and computer systems, whereas ICT focuses on the actual
application of technology to support business and company processes.
Students in ICT study a variety of subjects such as information systems, digital media, and
e-business. They learn how to use software applications, create digital media products, and
design and implement ICT systems, among many other things. The course also covers the
social and ethical aspects of information and communication technology, such as data
protection and online safety.
The principles of computer systems and programming, on the other hand, are covered in
Computer Science. Algorithms, data structures, and programming principles such as
object-oriented programming are taught to students while they construct software applications.
They also study computer architecture and operating systems, as well as theoretical subjects
like complexity theory and formal languages.
While ICT may provide more hands-on experience, Computer Science is a more theoretical and
technical course that is required for anyone wishing to work in software development or
computer engineering. Furthermore, students are required to have a stronger understanding of
mathematical subjects in Computer Science A-level.
In conclusion, ICT focuses on the actual application of technology, whereas Computer Science
emphasises the theoretical aspects of computing and computer systems. Both disciplines are
significant and have distinct areas of focus, but they are targeted toward different career routes
and require different stuff.
Anas’ Bibliography:
- Cambridge IGCSE ICT 2nd Edition - Graham Brown, Brian Sargent, David Watson
- Cambridge IGCSE IT ASL 2015 - Graham Brown, Brian Sargent
- Cambridge IGCSE CSS ASL 2015 - Sylvia Langfield, Dave Duddel