As level 9618 : Notes Pack : VB.NET

Cambridge AS Level Computer Science (9618)

The AS Level comprises two externally assessed written papers, each carrying 75 marks and constituting 50% of the AS Level (and 25% of the full A Level if continued)
No calculators are permitted in any paper
Paper 1: Theory Fundamentals
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes, 75 marks.
- Covers Sections 1–8 of the syllabus
Paper 2: Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills
- Duration: 2 hours, 75 marks.
- Focuses on Sections 9–12, emphasising algorithmic problem solving and pseudocode

Sections 1–8: Theory Fundamentals (Paper 1)

Information Representation
Communication
Hardware
Logic Gates & Circuits
Processor Fundamentals
Assembly Language
System Software
Security, Privacy & Data Integrity; Ethics and Ownership; Databases

Sections 9–12: Problem-Solving & Programming (Paper 2)

Algorithm Design & Problem-solving
Data Types & Structures
Programming Basics
Software Development

Why This Course Matters

Holistic Foundation: Paper 1 builds critical understanding of how computers work, software systems are structured, and data is managed.
Skill Application: Paper 2 transitions theory into action—students practise algorithmic thinking, pseudocode, and design philosophies.
Progression Ready: Excellent preparation for the full A Level or university-level computing and software development courses.

Course Content

Paper 2 : Problem Solving Approach – Practical

9.1 Computational thinking skills
9.1.1 Using abstraction
9.1.2 Using decomposition
9.2 Algorithms
9.2.1 Writing algorithms that provide solutions to problems
9.2.2 Writing simple algorithms using pseudocode
9.2.3 Writing pseudocode from a structured English description
9.2.4 Writing pseudocode from a flowchart
9.2.5 Stepwise refinement
10.1 Data types and records
10.1.1 Data types
10.1.2 Records
10.2 Arrays
10.2.1 1D arrays
10.2.2 2D arrays
10.2.3 Using a linear search
10.2.4 Using a bubble sort
10.3 Files
10.4 Abstract data types (ADTs)
10.4.1 Stack operations
10.4.2 Queue operations
10.4.3 Linked list operations
11.1 Programming basics
11.1.1 Constants and variables
11.1.2 Library routines
11.2 Programming constructs
11.2.1 CASE and IF
11.2.2 Loops
11.3 Structured programming
11.3.1 Procedures
11.3.2 Functions
12.1 Program development lifecycle
12.1.1 The purpose of a program development lifecycle
12.1.2 Stages in the program development lifecycle
12.1.3 Different development lifecycles
12.2 Program design
12.2.1 Purpose and use of structure charts
12.2.2 Purpose and use of state-transition diagrams to document algorithms
12.3 Program testing and maintainance
12.3.1 Ways of avoiding and exposing faults in programs
12.3.2 Location, identification and correction of errors
12.3.3 Program testing
12.3.4 Program maintenance

Paper 1 : Theory Paper

1.1 Data Representation
1.1.1 Number systems
1.1.2 Binary number system
1.1.3 Hexadecimal number system
1.1.4 Binary-coded decimal (BCD) system
1.1.5 ASCII codes and Unicodes
1.2 MultiMedia
1.2.1 Bit-map images
1.2.2 Vector graphics
1.2.3 Sound files
1.2.4 Video
1.3 File compression
1.3.1 File compression applications
1.3.2 General methods of compressing files
2.1 Networking
2.1.1 Networking devices
2.1.2 Client-server and peer-to-peer networking models
2.1.3 Network topologies
2.1.4 Public and private cloud computing
2.1.5 Wired and wireless networking
2.1.6 Hardware requirements of networks
2.1.7 Ethernet
2.1.8 Bit streaming
2.2 The internet
2.2.1 The differences between the internet and the World Wide Web
2.2.2 Hardware and software needed to support the internet
2.2.3 IP addresses
2.2.4 Uniform resource service (URLs)
2.2.5 Domain name service (DNS)
2.2.6 Scripting in HTML
3.1 Computers and their components
3.1.1 Types of memory and storage
3.1.2 Input and output devices
3.2 Logic gates and logic circuits
3.2.1 Logic gates
3.2.2 Truth tables
3.2.3 The function of the six logic gates
3.2.4 Logic circuits
3.2.5 Logic circuits in the real world
3.2.6 Multi-input logic gates
4.1 Central processing unit (CPU) architechure
4.1.1 Von Neumann model
4.1.2 Components of the processor (CPU)
4.1.3 Registers
4.1.4 System buses
4.1.5 Computer ports
4.1.6 Fetch-execute cycle
4.1.7 Interrupts
4.2 Assembly language
4.2.1 Assembly language and machine code
4.2.2 Stages of assembly
4.2.3 Assembly language instructions
4.2.4 Addressing modes
4.2.5 Simple assembly language programs
4.3 Bit manipulation
4.3.1 Binary shifts
4.3.2 Bit manipulation used in monitoring and control
5.1 Operating systems
5.1.1 The need for an operating system
5.1.2 Operating system tasks
5.1.3 Utility software
5.1.4 Program libraries
5.2 Language translators
5.2.1 Translation and execution of programs
5.2.2 Pros and cons of compiling or interpreting a program
5.2.3 Partial compiling and interpreting
5.2.4 Integrated development environment (IDE)
6.1 Data security
6.1.1 Data privacy
6.1.2 Preventing data loss and restricting data access
6.1.3 Risks to the security of stored data
6.1.4 Data recovery
6.2 Data integrity
6.2.1 Validation
6.2.2 Verification
7.1 Legal, moral, ethical and cultural implications
7.1.1 Computer ethics
7.1.2 Professional ethical bodies
7.1.3 Impact on the public
7.2 Copyright issues
7.2.1 Software copyright and privacy
7.2.2 The internet and the World Wide Web (WWW)
7.2.3 Software licensing
7.3 Artificial intelligence
7.3.1 What is AI?
7.3.2 The impact of AI
7.3.3 The impacts of AI on society, the economy and the environment
8.1 Database concepts
8.1.1 The limitations of a file-based approach
8.1.2 The advantages of a relational database over a file-based approach
8.1.3 Relational database model terminology
8.1.4 Entity-relationship (E-R) diagrams
8.1.5 The normalisation process
8.2 Database management systems (DBMSs)
8.2.1 How a DBMS addresses the limitations of a file-based approach
8.2.2 The use and purpose of DBMS software tools
8.3 Data definition language (DDL) and data manipulation language (DML)
8.3.1 Industry standard methods for building and modifying a database
8.3.2 SQL (DDL) commands and scripts
8.3.3 SQL (DML) commands and scripts

A course by

Navid Saqib

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Instructor:Navid Saqib
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As level 9618 : Notes Pack : VB.NET

Cambridge AS Level Computer Science (9618)

Sections 1–8: Theory Fundamentals (Paper 1)

Sections 9–12: Problem-Solving & Programming (Paper 2)

Why This Course Matters

Course Content

Paper 2 : Problem Solving Approach – Practical

9.1 Computational thinking skills

9.1.1 Using abstraction

9.1.2 Using decomposition

9.2 Algorithms

9.2.1 Writing algorithms that provide solutions to problems

9.2.2 Writing simple algorithms using pseudocode

9.2.3 Writing pseudocode from a structured English description

9.2.4 Writing pseudocode from a flowchart

9.2.5 Stepwise refinement

10.1 Data types and records

10.1.1 Data types

10.1.2 Records

10.2 Arrays

10.2.1 1D arrays

10.2.2 2D arrays

10.2.3 Using a linear search

10.2.4 Using a bubble sort

10.3 Files

10.4 Abstract data types (ADTs)

10.4.1 Stack operations

10.4.2 Queue operations

10.4.3 Linked list operations

11.1 Programming basics

11.1.1 Constants and variables

11.1.2 Library routines

11.2 Programming constructs

11.2.1 CASE and IF

11.2.2 Loops

11.3 Structured programming

11.3.1 Procedures

11.3.2 Functions

12.1 Program development lifecycle

12.1.1 The purpose of a program development lifecycle

12.1.2 Stages in the program development lifecycle

12.1.3 Different development lifecycles

12.2 Program design

12.2.1 Purpose and use of structure charts

12.2.2 Purpose and use of state-transition diagrams to document algorithms

12.3 Program testing and maintainance

12.3.1 Ways of avoiding and exposing faults in programs

12.3.2 Location, identification and correction of errors

12.3.3 Program testing

12.3.4 Program maintenance

Paper 1 : Theory Paper

1.1 Data Representation

1.1.1 Number systems

1.1.2 Binary number system

1.1.3 Hexadecimal number system

1.1.4 Binary-coded decimal (BCD) system

1.1.5 ASCII codes and Unicodes

1.2 MultiMedia

1.2.1 Bit-map images

1.2.2 Vector graphics

1.2.3 Sound files

1.2.4 Video

1.3 File compression

1.3.1 File compression applications

1.3.2 General methods of compressing files

2.1 Networking

2.1.1 Networking devices

2.1.2 Client-server and peer-to-peer networking models

2.1.3 Network topologies

2.1.4 Public and private cloud computing

2.1.5 Wired and wireless networking

2.1.6 Hardware requirements of networks

2.1.7 Ethernet

2.1.8 Bit streaming

2.2 The internet

2.2.1 The differences between the internet and the World Wide Web

2.2.2 Hardware and software needed to support the internet

2.2.3 IP addresses

2.2.4 Uniform resource service (URLs)

2.2.5 Domain name service (DNS)