Dear All,

Area of Concentration for Term 1 Examination

Theory Exam
Cambridge IGCSE information and communication technology. by Graham Br…

Chapter 1:

Hardware
Hardware are the physical components of a computer system that can be felt or
touched. Hardware is the general term for the physical components that make up
a typical computer system.
Hardware falls into two categories: internal and external.
There are two types of hardware:
1. Internal Hardware
They are the components of the computer system that can be felt or touched and
are located on the inside of the computer. Examples:
a. Motherboard(MOBO): the central hub that holds all the components. It is the
main printed circuit board within a computer. It provides connectivity
between the hardware components of a computer

b. Central Processing Unit(CPU): a CPU, or central processing unit, is the brain

of the computer. Like a human brain, the CPU controls all the functions of
the computer. It decides how fast our computer is
c. Random access memory(RAM): temporary storage for data being used. It is
memory that stores the data that you're currently working with, but it's
volatile, meaning that as soon as it loses power, that data disappears

d. Read only memory(ROM): stores data or information permanently. ROM, or

read-only memory, is a type of computer memory that can only be read
from, not written to. It is a type of storage that contains data that can't be
changed or modified. It contains firmware(a type of software that provides
machine instructions to a device's hardware components, enabling it to
function on a basic level.). ROM refers to permanent memory. It's
non-volatile, so when it loses power, the data remains.
e. Sound Card: is a computer component responsible for generating and
recording audio.

f. Video Card:
g. Hard Disk Drive(HDD):
h. Solid State Drive(SSD):
i. GPU(graphics processing unit): is a specialised chip for handling graphics. It’s
especially important for gaming and graphic design, making visuals look
smooth and detailed.

j. NIC(network interface card): is an essential component of any computer that

connects a computer to the network.
 2. External Hardware
They are the components of a computer system that can be felt or touched but are
located outside of the computer system. Example:
a. Keyboard
b. Monitor
c. Mouse
d. Printer
e. Scanners
f. Speakers
g. Microphone

Input devices Output devices

Keyboard Printer

Mouse Headphones

Scanner Projects

Joystick Disk drive

Barcode scanner Flash drive

Optical pen Webcam

Trackball Plotter

Microphone Speaker

Graphics tablet Sound card

Modem LED display panel

An input device is a hardware component that allows users to provide data and
commands to a computer or other digital system.

An output device is hardware that receives data from a computer and presents it to
the user.
There are some devices that are neither input or output devices; they are called
storage devices. Examples are:

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Solid State Drive (SSD)
USB Flash Drive
Optical Disc (CD, DVD, Blu-ray)
Memory Card
External Hard Drive
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Cloud Storage

Software
Software are the programs designed to control the operation of a computer
system. Software is the general term used for the programs that control the
computer system and process data. Software falls into two categories: applications
and system

There are two types of software:

1. Application Software
Application Software are programs designed to carry out specific tasks or
operations. Examples:
a. Word Processors
b. Spreadsheets
c. Database Management system(DBMS)
d. Applets or apps
e. Photo editing software
f. Video editing software
g. Control and measurement software
 h. Graphics editing
i. Audio editing
j. Computer-aided design (CAD)

Applications software provides the services that the user requires to solve a
given task.
 2. System Software
Software is the platform that other softwares or application software runs on. It is
the software designed to provide a platform on which all other software can run.

Examples:
a. Utilities
b. Device Drivers
c. Linkers
d. Operating System
e. Compilers

Software is a set of instructions, data, or programs that tell a computer how to

perform specific tasks. It is a collection of instructions that can be ‘run’ on a
computer. These instructions tell the computer what to do.

For a computer system to be useful it has to consist of both hardware and

software.
User interfaces
1. Command Line Interface(CLI)
It requires the user to type in a set of instructions or commands. This is often used
by professionals.
FURTHER EXPLANATION:
It requires a user to type in instructions to choose options from menus, open
software, etc. There are often a number of commands that need to be typed in, for
example, to save or load a file. The user has to learn a number of commands just to
carry out basic operations. It is also slow, having to key in these commands every
time an operation has to be carried out. However, the advantage of a CLI is that
the user is in direct communication with the computer and is not restricted to a
number of predetermined options
 2.Graphical User Interface(GUI)
It allows the user to interact with the computer using pictures and symbols rather
than typing in commands.

FURTHER EXPLANATION:
For example, the whole of a CLI code could have been replaced by clicking on the
Desktop icon within Windows Explorer. Simply selecting this icon would
automatically execute all the commands shown in the CLI code without the need
to type it in. GUIs use various technologies and devices to provide the user
interface. One of the most common is WIMP (windows icons menu and pointing
device) which was developed for use on personal computers (PC).

3. Dialogue Based User Interface

It uses the human voice to give commands to the computer system.

FURTHER EXPLANATION:
An example of its use is in some luxury modern cars, where voice activation is used
to control devices such as the in-car entertainment system or satellite navigation
system. By speaking certain commands, the system allows natural speech to
enable the driver to interact with the car.

4.Gesture Based User Interface

It relies on human interaction by the moving of the hand, head or feet.

FURTHER EXPLANATION:
Gesture recognition allows humans to interface with a computer in a more natural
fashion without the need for any mechanical devices. This type of interface uses
techniques known as computer vision and image processing.

Who would use each type of interface?

CLI: a programmer, analyst or technician; basically, somebody who needs to have
direct communication with a computer to develop new software, locate errors and
remove them, initiate memory dumps (contents of the computer memory at some
moment in time), and so on.
GUI: the end-user who does not have to (or does not need to) have any great
knowledge of how the computer works; a person who uses the computer to run
software, play games or store/manipulate photographs, for example.
Main Component of a computer system
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
2. Random Access Memory(RAM)
3. Read Only Memory(ROM)
4. Hard Disk Drive(HDD)
5. Solid State Drive(SSD)

CPU
CPU basically stands for Central Processing Unit and it is the brain of the computer.
CPU is made from 3 parts:
a. Arithmetic and Logic Unit
b. Control Unit
c. Registers

RAM and ROM

RAM
RAM in full is written as Random Access Memory. Random access memory (RAM) is
an internal chip where data is temporarily stored when running applications. This
memory can be written to and read from. Because its contents are lost when
power to the computer is turned off, it is often referred to as a volatile or
temporary memory.
ROM
Read-only memory (ROM) is a memory used to store information that needs to
be permanent. It is often used to contain, for example, configuration data for
a computer system. Chips used for ROM cannot be altered and can only be read
from (hence their name). One of the main advantages is that the information
stored on the ROM chip is not lost, even when power is turned off to the
computer. They are often referred to as non-volatile memories.

Internal (main) memory and backing storage

The main memories in a computer are RAM and ROM. However, to permanently
store large amounts of data it is necessary to use backing storage. This normally
takes the form of the internal hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD).
This is the computer’s main internal storage where the applications software,
disk operating system and files (for example, text, photo or music) are stored. A
key feature of a backing store is that it must store data permanently – that is, it
must be non-volatile

Types of computers
1. Desktop Computer
Desktop is basically a general purpose computer that is made up of a separate
monitor, keyboard, mouse and processor unit. It is distinguished from, for example,
a laptop computer by the fact that it is made up of a number of separate
components, which makes them not very portable.

2. Mobile computers
Mobile computers, by their very name, suggest a group of computers which
are considerably more portable than desktop computers. Such computers
fall into four categories:
- Laptop computers
Laptop (or notebook) refers to a type of computer where the monitor,
keyboard, pointing device and processor are all together in one single unit.
This makes them extremely portable.
Key features you would expect to find in a laptop:
» lightweight (to aid portability)
» low power consumption (and also long battery life)
» low heat output (cooling is very important).
- Smartphones
Smartphones allow normal phone calls to be made, but also have
an operating system (such as iOS, Android or Windows) allowing
them to run a number of computer applications (known as apps or
applets). They allow users to send/receive emails, use a number of
apps, use a camera feature (to take photos or videos), MP3/4 players
(for music and videos), and so on. Smartphones communicate with
the internet either by using Wi-Fi hot spots or by using 3G/4G/5G
mobile phone networks.
Some of the typical features of smartphones include:
» high-definition, anti-glare displays
» front- and back-facing cameras (which are used to take photos,
videos or act as a webcam when doing video calls over the internet)
» lower weight and longer battery life than laptops
» use Bluetooth for connection to printers and other devices
» make use of flash (solid state) memory and cloud storage facilities
to back up and synchronise (often just referred to as ‘sync’) data
sources
» they use a number of sensors to carry out the following functions:
– proximity sensors to detect if the device is close to, for example the
ear, which allows it to block unintended ‘touches’
– accelerometers, which detect movement and orientation of the
device (for example, move the display from portrait to landscape to
 view videos, or allow it to be used as a ‘steering wheel’ in-car racing
games)
– can use sophisticated speech recognitions systems (such as Siri) to
enable the user to ask the device to look for things (such as search
the address book).

- Tablets
Tablets are becoming an increasingly used type of mobile computer. They work in
a similar way to a smartphone. Tablets use touch screen technology and do not
have a conventional keyboard. The keyboard is virtual; that is, it is part of the touch
screen and keys are activated by simply touching them with a finger or a stylus.
However, it is possible to buy tablet cases which contain a normal-sized keyboard.
Internet access is usually through Wi-Fi or 3G/4G/5G (mobile phone) connectivity.
Like smartphones, tablets are equipped with a series of sensors which include
camera, microphone, accelerometer and touch screen.
 - Phablets
Some of the latest smartphones have been designed as a hybrid between a
tablet and a smartphone; these are referred to as a phablet. They have much
larger screens than a smartphone but are smaller than a tablet. All the
features of a smartphone (described earlier) also apply to phablets together
with the typical features of a tablet

The main uses of smartphones, tablets and phablets include:

» entertainment (streaming of music, videos and television programmes)
» gaming (including group games)
» as a camera or video camera (the quality of videos and photos now matches a
good digital cameras)
» internet use (online sales, social networks, using QR codes, and so on)
» sending/receiving emails
» global positioning system (use of maps to navigate to a location)
» calendar functions
» telephone banking (sending and receiving money using the banking apps)
» Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – telephone network using the internet
which also allows video calling
» instant access to social networks (social contact with friends no matter where
you are in the world)
» instant messaging
» office and business management (particularly the features that allow rapid
voice and video communication)
» education use (using interactive software to teach or learn from)
» remotely control devices (it is possible to remotely operate devices in the home,
such as microwave ovens, which contain embedded microprocessors; by using
internet-enabled smartphones or tablets, it is possible to start/stop the oven even
while several kilometres away from home by using an App and the internet)

Emerging technology

AI
Robotics
Extended reality

Chapter 2
Input devices
Types of input devices
DDE devices
Output devices
Types of Output devices

Chapter 3

Storage devices and media

Types of storage devices and storage media
SSD and HDD
Criteria for selecting storage devices
Future of Storage (Cloud)
Logic Gates:

👈Only some of them( first 6)

Computers use electrical circuits which have two states – on or off. This can also be
represented as 1 or 0 or True and False.

Logic gates take an input of True or False and give an output of True or False. Each
operator has a standard symbol that can be used when drawing logic gate circuits.
1. AND gate
 To get the output of an AND gate multiply A and B.

AND truth table

In the images, A and B(the inputs), were multiplied to get C(the output).
Instead of writing the multiplication sign(AxB), we write it as A.B

2. OR gate
 To get the output of OR gate add A and B which are the inputs

OR truth table

NOTE: in an OR gate 1+1(look at the last row) will give you one. Remember logic
gates are written in binary code so it is only made up of 1s and 0s.

3. NOT gate(inverter)
 This is the symbol for NOT gate

If the input is 1, the output will be 0, but if the input is 0, the output will be
1. So it means that whatever the input is, the output is the opposite because
it is just inverted.

NOT gate truth table

 A NOT gate is also known as an inverter as it inverts the input. The output is
always the opposite of the input.

This can be seen in the truth table. If input A is true then output Q is NOT
true, if input A is false then output Q will NOT be false (i.e., true). The
Boolean expression is Q = NOT A.

4. NAND gate
We can tell that this is the opposite of an AND gate because an ‘N’ was
added in front of ‘AND’ which tells us that it is the opposite of an AND gate.

NAND gate truth table

On the truth table since NAND is the opposite of AND whatever you get for
AND(multiplication) do the opposite.
 For example, the first row. On the AND gate truth table, we multiply 0 and
0 which gave us 0, so for the NAND gate the opposite of 0 is 1 so the output
will be 1. It is the opposite of AND.

Assumption Principles for each logic gate.

Practical Exam
AREA OF CONCENTRATION:
Document production:
● Formatting Document page layout
● House style specification
● Tables
● Chart
● Images
● printing to pdf

Tables and charts carry the most marks so do not forget to do them.

Topic: Document Production

Learning Objectives:
To Analyze a question and format a document based on the instructions

Success Criteria:
I should be able to:

· Open the document using the appropriate software

· Saving the document using the appropriate file format
· Take appropriate screenshot evidence
· Format the Header and Footer
· Create and Modify House style specifications
· Appropriately carry out paragraph formatting
· Add and format images appropriately
· Insert and format tables.
· Create and insert a chart
· Proofread the document
Good luck!

Document production:

Serif – with flicks, e.g. Cambria, Times New Roman(preferred)

Sans-serif – without flicks, e.g. Calibri or Arial(preferred)

One part of the document is 1 column, and the rest is in two columns. a → section
break.

When you want to move text to the next column, a → column break.

To force all further text onto the next page → page break

A widow= single line that appears on the next page or column, separated from the
rest of the paragraph
An orphan = a single line that appears on the previous page or column, separated
from the rest of the paragraph.

To add page numbers in the header/footer ------→ Place your cursor where you
want to put the number → Go to insert tab → Quick parts → Select Numbering
category

→ Select Page in field names → Click Ok

Add the file size/name (including file path) → click on Quick Parts in the Insert tab →
click on Field → select File Size or File name. For file path →, check the box to include
file path. For file size →, choose whether Kilobytes or Megabytes.

Include date → click on Date & Time in Insert tab → choose an appropriate format as
specified. (If the date/month format is flipped →, change your region/ language
settings on your computer to the United Kingdom.)

Update fields if required (select auto-update while inserting fields.)

House Styles
● Remember to follow all the instructions given to avoid losing easy marks
● Type in the name of the style exactly as it is in the paper
● Click on the drop-down arrow in the Styles section → select Create a new
style
● Always base your styles on the Normal font
● ­Setting the line spacing → click on format → then paragraph → select
required options
● From the same tab, you can change the spacing before and after the
paragraph
 ●
Setting all capital letters → click on format → font → tick the option All Caps

● To set certain bullets to a list style → click on format → click on Numbering →

Bullets tab → choose the required option
● To indent text for a style → click on format → Paragraph and input required
indents under the Indentation section. Choose hanging indents to indent the
whole paragraph and the first line indents to indent only the first line of a
paragraph.

Know how to do the following skills:

● Formatting Document page layout
Advanced Microsoft Word - Formatting Your Document
 Word: Page Layout

Document production - Page layout.mp4

https://www.youtube.com/@henryemmanuel4015

● House style specification-

Mastering Styles in Microsoft Word for Professional Formatting

How to Use Word Styles in Microsoft Word

Document production - Styles.mp4

https://www.youtube.com/@henryemmanuel4015

● Tables
Microsoft Word Tutorial: Using Tables in Word

Mastering Tables in Microsoft Word: A Comprehensive Guide

Document Production - Tables.mp4

https://www.youtube.com/@henryemmanuel4015

● Chart
How to create a table or chart in MS Word

How to Create and Customize Charts in Microsoft Word

Document Production - Graph and Charts.mp4

https://www.youtube.com/@henryemmanuel4015

● Images
Word: Formatting Pictures

How to Insert and Modify Images in Microsoft Word

Document Production - Images.mp4

https://www.youtube.com/@henryemmanuel4015

● printing to pdf
 How to Print a Document as PDF in Word

Microsoft Word to Print Ready PDF

Practice papers:

Download these practice papers and practice:

ICT practical prctice papers

. IGCSE ICT 0417/2018/P21/May - June (Document Production)

IGCSE ICT MAY JUNE 2017 Paper 21 Document Production Part 1

IGCSE ICT MAY JUNE 2017 Paper 21 Document Production Part 2

IGCSE ICT MAY JUNE 2017 Paper 21 Document Production Part 3

IGCSE ICT MAY JUNE 2017 Paper 21 Document Production Part 4