Cambridge IGCSE · 0478

Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science

ConceptOrbit’s Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science course is written to the 0478 syllabus: 113 lessons in 13 units, with 51 simulations you can experiment with. Its syllabus has a single tier. Every lesson is free to read.

Lessons: 113
Simulations: 51
Units: 13
Topics: 42

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Every unit and topic

The lessons open at launch, and every one will be free to read. Simulations marked Free open for everyone; the rest come with the Student plan or a teacher’s class.

Unit 1

Data Representation

3 topics · 10 lessons

Number Systems

Lessons

Binary, Denary and Hexadecimal
Hexadecimal Representation
Binary Addition and Overflow
Binary Shifts
Two's Complement

Simulations

Binary and hexadecimalFreeSet the bits of a byte, and say how its denary and hex values follow from the place values.
Binary addition and overflowAdd two bytes column by column, carrying as you go, and find out what happens when the sum needs a ninth bit.
Logical shiftsShift a byte left and right, and find out what each shift does to its value, and when it loses a bit.
Two’s complementWrite negative numbers in two’s complement, and explain why the leftmost bit is worth −128.

Text, Sound and Images

Lessons

Character Representation
Sound Representation
Image Representation

Simulations

Character encodingFind the code for each character of some text, and see why some characters need Unicode rather than ASCII.
Sound samplingChange the sample rate and the sample resolution, and say how each changes the sound’s accuracy and its file size.
Pixels and colour depthChange an image’s resolution and colour depth, and work out how many colours it can have and how much storage it takes.

Data Storage

Lessons

Units of Data
File Size Calculations

Simulations

Storage calculationsWork out the size of an image or a sound file, and convert it between bits, nibbles, bytes, KiB, MiB and larger units.
Sound sampling
Pixels and colour depth

Unit 2

Data Transmission

5 topics · 14 lessons

Types of Data Transmission

Lessons

Serial and Parallel Transmission
Simplex, Half-Duplex and Full-Duplex

Simulations

Transmission modesFreeSend data serially and in parallel, one way and both ways, and say which suits which job.

Transmission Methods

Lessons

Synchronous and Asynchronous Transmission
Transmission Media

Simulations

Transmission modesFree

Data Packets

Lessons

Packet Switching
Routing Packets
Packet Switching Advantages

Simulations

Packet switchingSend a message as packets across a network, and see how they find their way and are put back in order.

Error Detection

Lessons

Parity Checks
Checksums
Check Digits
Echo Checking

Simulations

Parity checkingAdd a parity bit, change bits on the way, and find out which errors a parity check catches and which it misses.
ChecksumsSend bytes with a checksum, change them on the way, and see when the receiver asks for them again.
Check digitsCalculate a check digit, make typing errors, and find out which ones it catches.
Echo checkingSend data, have it echoed back, and decide from the two copies whether it must be sent again.

Encryption

Lessons

Encryption Concepts
Symmetric Encryption
Asymmetric Encryption

Simulations

Toy symmetric cipherEncrypt a message with a key, and find out what the receiver and an eavesdropper can read.
Public and private key rolesChoose the key that encrypts a message and the key that decrypts it, and find out who else could read it.

Unit 3

Hardware

5 topics · 15 lessons

Computer Architecture

Lessons

CPU and Microprocessors
Von Neumann Architecture
Fetch–Decode–Execute Cycle
CPU Performance
Instruction Sets

Simulations

Fetch–decode–executeFreeFollow each instruction through fetch, decode and execute, and say which register changes at every step.
What makes a CPU fasterChange the clock speed, the number of cores and the cache, and explain which changes speed up which tasks.

Input and Output Devices

Lessons

Input Devices
Sensors
Output Devices
Choosing Devices

Simulations

Sensors and output devicesChoose the input device and the output devices a system needs, run it, and follow what each part does.
Feedback controlFreeRun a heating system’s control loop, and explain how the sensor, the processor and the heater keep the temperature steady.

Storage Devices

Lessons

Magnetic Storage
Optical Storage
Solid-State Storage

Simulations

Storage technologies comparedCompare magnetic, optical and solid-state storage, and choose the right one for a job.

Memory

Lessons

Primary Memory
Memory and Storage Comparison

Simulations

Volatile and non-volatile memorySwitch a computer on and off, and find out what runs first and which kinds of memory keep what they hold.
Storage technologies compared

Embedded Systems

Lessons

Embedded Systems

Simulations

Feedback controlFree

Unit 4

Software

3 topics · 5 lessons

Operating Systems

Lessons

Operating System Functions

Simulations

Operating system memory managerFreeLoad and close programs, and see how the operating system manages the memory they share.

Utility Software

Lessons

Utility Programs

Simulations

Defragment, compress and scanDefragment a disk, compress files and scan for malware, and see what each utility changes.

Programming Languages and Translators

Lessons

High-Level and Low-Level Languages
Translators
Integrated Development Environments

Simulations

Compiler against interpreterTranslate a program with a compiler and with an interpreter, and compare what each does with an error.
Input, calculation and outputFreeStep through a program that inputs a quantity and outputs its cost, and predict what each line stores or outputs.

Unit 5

The Internet and Its Uses

4 topics · 8 lessons

The Internet and the World Wide Web

Lessons

Internet and Web
URLs and Web Access

Simulations

From address to pageFreeFollow a web address from the browser to the page, through the DNS and the web server, and say what the client and the server each do.

Internet Communication

Lessons

Web and Network Services
Network Risks

Simulations

From address to pageFree
Threats and the measures that protect against themMatch each cyber-security threat to the measures that protect against it.

Network Security

Lessons

Security Threats
Security Measures

Simulations

Threats and the measures that protect against them

Digital Communication and Web Technologies

Lessons

Web Applications
Cookies and Web Tracking

Simulations

From address to pageFree
Cookies and trackingVisit websites and find out which cookies they set, how long each lasts, and what they reveal.

Unit 6

Automated and Emerging Technologies

2 topics · 4 lessons

Automated Systems

Lessons

Automated Control

Simulations

Feedback controlFree

Artificial Intelligence

Lessons

AI Concepts
Expert Systems
Machine Learning

Simulations

Nearest-neighbour learningTeach a program to classify by giving it examples, and see how its predictions change as it learns.
Expert-system rulesBuild and test an expert system’s rules, and name the part of the system each piece belongs to.

Unit 7

Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving

5 topics · 15 lessons

Computational Thinking

Lessons

Decomposition
Abstraction
Algorithmic Thinking

Simulations

Decomposition and abstraction workbenchFreeBreak a problem into its parts, say whether each is an input, a process, an output or storage, keep only the data it needs, and draw it as a structure diagram.
Decision flowTrace a flowchart with different inputs, and predict which way each decision goes.

Algorithms

Lessons

Algorithm Representation
Variables and Constants
Inputs and Outputs

Simulations

Decision flow
Classify a markRun a program that classifies a mark with IF, and predict which branch it takes at the pass mark and on either side of it.
Input, calculation and outputFree

Validation and Testing

Lessons

Validation
Testing
Trace Tables

Simulations

Validation and boundary testsTest a validation routine with normal, abnormal, extreme and boundary data, and say which data each check rejects.
Repeat until input is validGive a REPEAT … UNTIL loop marks that are out of range and in range, and predict each time whether it asks again.
Trace table builderComplete a trace table for an algorithm, and use it to find the error.
Accumulate a totalStep through a FOR loop that builds up a total, and predict the total and whether the loop goes round again at each pass.

Standard Algorithm Structures

Lessons

Sequence
Selection
Iteration

Simulations

Input, calculation and outputFree
Decision flow
Classify a mark
Trace table builder
Accumulate a total

Searching and Sorting

Lessons

Linear Search
Bubble Sort
Insertion Sort

Simulations

Linear searchSearch a list one item at a time, and predict how many comparisons a search will take.
Bubble sortFollow bubble sort one comparison at a time, and say why it stops when it does.
Insertion sortFollow insertion sort a step at a time, and compare the work it does with bubble sort’s.

Unit 8

Programming

5 topics · 15 lessons

Programming Concepts

Lessons

Variables and Constants
Data Types
Input and Output
Sequence, Selection and Iteration

Simulations

Input, calculation and outputFree
Accumulate a total

Operators and Expressions

Lessons

Arithmetic Operators
Relational Operators
Logical Operators

Simulations

Input, calculation and outputFree
Validation and boundary tests
Repeat until input is valid
Logic gates and truth tablesFreeWork out each logic gate’s output, and check your truth table against it.

Procedures and Functions

Lessons

Procedures
Functions
Maintainable Programs

Simulations

Call a reusable procedureCall a procedure without a parameter and one with a parameter, and predict what each call outputs.
Return a calculated valueFreeCall a function, and predict the value it returns and what the line that called it does with that value.
Decomposition and abstraction workbenchFree

Arrays

Lessons

One-Dimensional Arrays
Array Processing
Two-Dimensional Arrays

Simulations

Array processingStep through an array to total its values, count the ones that pass a test, and find the largest, the smallest and the average.
Process a one-dimensional arrayInput values into a one-dimensional array, total them in a loop, and predict the total and the mean.
Fill a two-dimensional arrayFill a two-dimensional array with nested loops, and predict the value each cell is given and the order they are filled in.

File Handling

Lessons

Files
Reading and Writing Files

Simulations

Read and write a text fileCopy a text file a line at a time, and predict what each READFILE reads and when the loop stops.

Unit 9

Databases

3 topics · 7 lessons

Database Fundamentals

Lessons

Database Concepts
Data Types

Simulations

Databases and SQLFreePredict what a query returns, write queries that pick out the records a question asks for, and find each table’s primary key.

Primary Keys

Lessons

Primary Key

Simulations

Databases and SQLFree

Structured Query Language

Lessons

SQL Basics
Filtering Data
Sorting and Selection
Database Scenarios

Simulations

Databases and SQLFree

Unit 10

Boolean Logic

3 topics · 10 lessons

Logic Gates

Lessons

NOT Gate
AND Gate
OR Gate
NAND and NOR
XOR

Simulations

Logic gates and truth tablesFree

Truth Tables

Lessons

Constructing Truth Tables
Logic Circuit Interpretation

Simulations

Compound logicCombine gates into a circuit, and work out its truth table column by column.
Logic circuit builderBuild a logic circuit from a statement, an expression or a truth table, and check it.

Boolean Expressions and Logic Circuits

Lessons

Boolean Expressions
Circuit Construction
Circuit Simplification

Simulations

Logic circuit builder

Unit 11

Integrated Computational Problem Solving

2 topics · 6 lessons

Algorithm-to-Program Development

Lessons

From Problem to Algorithm
From Algorithm to Program
Testing and Refinement

Simulations

Decomposition and abstraction workbenchFree
Accumulate a total
Validation and boundary tests
Repeat until input is valid

Scenario-Based Problem Solving

Lessons

Unseen Problems
Scenario Algorithms
Evaluation

Simulations

Decomposition and abstraction workbenchFree
Process a one-dimensional array
Validation and boundary tests
Repeat until input is valid

Unit 12

Practical Programming Skills

1 topic · 2 lessons

Programming Practice

Lessons

Program Construction
Code Quality

Simulations

Process a one-dimensional array
Return a calculated valueFree

Unit 13

Assessment and Exam Skills

1 topic · 2 lessons

Command Words

Lessons

Understanding Questions
Application Questions

Simulations

Decomposition and abstraction workbenchFree

Questions about IGCSE Computer Science

What does ConceptOrbit’s IGCSE Computer Science course cover?

Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (0478), written to the 0478 syllabus, in 13 units: Data Representation; Data Transmission; Hardware; Software; The Internet and Its Uses; Automated and Emerging Technologies; Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving; Programming; Databases; Boolean Logic; Integrated Computational Problem Solving; Practical Programming Skills; and Assessment and Exam Skills. That’s 113 lessons across 42 topics, with 51 simulations.

Is IGCSE Computer Science split into Core and Extended?

No. Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (0478) has a single tier, so every student studies the same content, and the course covers all of it.

Which IGCSE Computer Science simulations are free?

11 of the 51, marked Free in the list on this page. The rest come with the Student plan or a teacher’s class.

How much does IGCSE Computer Science cost on ConceptOrbit?

Every lesson is free to read. The Student plan is $8 a month for your first course and $5 for each extra one, and opens every simulation, the interactive past papers and the AI Tutor. Students in a teacher’s class get the course through the class.

The other courses

More subjects and qualifications will follow after launch: more IGCSE subjects, O Level, AS & A Level, and other exam boards such as Pearson Edexcel.