This section is being built up over the next few weeks, starting Sept 2015.

Based on OCR Level 3 AS GCE in Computer Science (H046) Version : First Assessment 2016

OCR AS Computing: 2016 specification

1.1 The characteristics of modern processors, input, output and storage devices
Components of a computer and their uses

1.1.1

 

 

 

 

 

Structure and function of the processor

 

 

 

 

 

a) The ALU and special registers

a. The Arithmetic and Logic Unit; ALU, Control Unit and Registers (Program Counter; PC, Accumulator; ACC, Memory Address Register; MAR, Memory Data Register; MDR, Current Instruction Register; CIR). Buses: data, address and control: How this relates to assembly language programs.

b) Fetch Decode Execute Cycle

b. The fetch-decode-execute cycle, including its effect on registers.

Performance

c. The factors affecting the performance of the CPU, clock speed, number of cores, cache.
Computer architecture

d. Von Neumann, Harvard and contemporary processor architecture.

1.1.2

 

 

 

 

Types of processor

 

 

 

 

 CISC and RISC

a) The differences between, and uses of, CISC and RISC processors.
Parallel and Multi-core

b) Multicore and parallel systems.

1.1.3

 

 

 

Input, Output and Storage

 

 

 

 Choice of I/O

a) How different input output and storage devices can be applied as a solution of different problems.
Use of storage

b) The uses of magnetic, flash and optical storage devices.
Memory types

c) RAM and ROM.
d) Virtual storage.

1.2 Software and software development
Types of software and the different methodologies used to develop software

1.2.1

 

 

 

Operating Systems

 

 

 

 Types of O.S.

a) The need for, function and purpose of operating systems.
Memory Management

b) Memory management (paging, segmentation and virtual memory).
Interrupts

c) Interrupts, the role of interrupts and Interrupt Service Routines (ISR), role within the fetch decode execute cycle.
Scheduling

d) Scheduling: round robin, first come first served, multi-level feedback queues, shortest job first and shortest remaining time.
Types of O.S.

e) Distributed, embedded, multi-tasking, multi-user and real time operating systems.
Low level tasks

f) BIOS.
g) Device drivers.
Virtual machines

h) Virtual machines, any instance where software is used to take on the function of a machine including executing intermediate code or running an operating system within another.

1.2.2

 

 

 

Application generation

 

 

 

 Applications

a) The nature of applications, justifying suitable applications for a specific purpose.
b) Utilities.
Source code

c) Open Source and Closed Source
Translators

d) Translators: interpreters, compilers and assemblers.
1.2.3 Introduction to Programming Flow

a) Program Flow
Data type

b) Variables and Constants
Partitioning

c) Procedures and Functions
Operators

d) Arithmetic, Boolean, Assignment operators
Handling

e) String and File handling
Assembly

f) Write and follow basic programs with Little Man Computer

 

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