Higher Computing Science Prelim

“Prepare for Success” Higher Computing Science Prelim

Your Higher Computing Science prelim will take place in January 2017. This is a very important examination for 2 main reasons:

It provides you with a trial run of an examination similar to the final exam you will undertake in the spring of 2017.

It provides feedback to you, your parents and Mr Boyle of how well you are doing and what areas of the course may require revision.

Preparation for your prelims should start now! You should be doing some or all of the following:

 Revising key areas of the course at home (minimum of one hour per week)  Attending any supported study classes that are being offered  Attempting SQA past papers, available on the SQA website  Completing all homework issued  Informing Mr Boyle of topics that are causing you difficulty

In particular, you MUST revise the following areas to ensure you are well prepared for your prelim:

Computer Systems: Binary/Decimal Conversion, Cache memory – System performance, Graphic Representation, 64 bit vs 32 bit, Trends – processor speeds vs carbon footprint, ascii

Software Development: Variable data types, Standard algorithms – Pseudo Code Form, pseudo code, Coding Errors, Software Development Language types, Software development methodologies, Target audience/ testing user, local/global variable, Parameters (formal/actual), ByRef / ByVal, Variable Scope, Testing Trace Table,, Emulator, SDD data types, Object orientated (object/method), concatenation. Information Systems: Websites - Keylogging software/hardware, Meta tags, Communications Act, Copyright, design and patents act, Client-side/server-side, SQL scripts (retrieve data, add data), Website security, DoS attack, HTML, CSS. Databases - Compound keys, Entity Relationship Diagram, Data Dictionary, Database reports, Database data types.

If you have been absent it is likely that you will have missed coverage of part of the course. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CATCH UP ON ALL WORK MISSED DUE TO ABSENCE.

All of the above areas will be examined. You must start revising now!

“TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LEARNING NOW”