Hardware and Software
This section of the course is broken down into nine sections.  Below you can see the nine sections as outlined by the CIE syllabus along with the requirements for each.  You can use these requirements as a checklist for your revision and select from the tabs above to find out more.
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​1.3.1 - Logic gates
  • Use logic gates to create electronic circuits
  • Understand and define the functions of NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR and XOR (EOR) gates, including the binary output produced from all the possible binary inputs (all gates, except the NOT gate, will have 2 inputs only)
  • Draw truth tables and recognise a logic gate from its truth table
  • Recognise and use the following standard symbols used to represent logic gates:
1.3.2 - Computer architecture and the fetch-execute cycle
  • Show understanding of the basic Von Neumann model for a computer system and the stored program concept (program instructions and data are stored in main memory and instructions are fetched and executed one after another)
  • Describe the stages of the fetch-execute cycle, including the use of registers and buses
​1.3.3 - Input devices
  • Describe the principles of operation (how each device works) of these input devices: 2D and 3D scanners, barcode readers, Quick Response (QR) code readers, digital cameras, keyboards, mice, touch screens, interactive whiteboards, microphones .
  • Describe how these principles are applied to real-life scenarios, for example: scanning of passports at airports, barcode readers at supermarket checkouts, and touch screens on mobile devices
  • Describe how a range of sensors can be used to input data into a computer system, including light, temperature, magnetic field, gas, pressure, moisture, humidity, pH and motion
  • Describe how these sensors are used in real-life scenarios, for example: street lights, security devices, pollution control, games, and household and industrial applications
​1.3.4 - Output devices
  • Describe the principles of operation of the following output devices: inkjet, laser and 3D printers; 2D and 3D cutters; speakers and headphones; actuators; flat-panel display screens, such as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) display; LCD projectors and Digital Light Projectors (DLP)
  • Describe how these principles are applied to real-life scenarios, for example: printing single items on demand or in large volumes; use of small screens on mobile devices
1.3.5 - Memory, storage devices and media 
  • Show understanding of the difference between: primary, secondary and off-line storage and provide examples of each, such as: primary: Read Only Memory (ROM), and Random Access Memory (RAM) secondary: hard disk drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD); off-line: Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), Compact Disc (CD), Blu-ray disc, USB flash memory and removable HDD
  • Describe the principles of operation of a range of types of storage device and media including magnetic, optical and solid state
  • Describe how these principles are applied to currently available storage solutions, such as SSDs, HDDs, USB flash memory, DVDs, CDs and Blu-ray discs
  • Calculate the storage requirement of a file
1.3.6 - Operating Systems

Describe the purpose of an operating system
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Show an understanding of the need for interrupts
1.3.7 - High / Low level Languages

Understand the need for high and low level languages

Understand the need for compilers

Understand the use of interpreters

Understand the need for assemblers when translating assembly languag