Here’s a complete and organized **IGCSE Computer Science (0478)** notes summary, based on the
**latest Cambridge 2025 syllabus**. These are **condensed revision notes** covering all the key
topics:
---
## 🧠 **IGCSE Computer Science 0478 Notes**
---
### 📘 **1. Data Representation**
* **Binary systems**: Convert between binary and decimal, binary addition, overflow.
* **Hexadecimal**: Convert between binary, decimal, and hex.
* **Data types**: Integer, real, Boolean, character, string.
* **Text representation**: ASCII and Unicode.
* **Images**: Pixels, resolution, colour depth, file size formula.
* **Sound**: Sampling rate, sample resolution, file size.
* **Compression**:
* **Lossy**: Removes data permanently (e.g. MP3, JPEG).
* **Lossless**: Keeps all original data (e.g. ZIP).
---
### 🧮 **2. Data Transmission**
* **Serial vs Parallel**: Serial = 1 bit at a time; Parallel = multiple bits.
* **Simplex, Half-duplex, Full-duplex**
* **Transmission methods**: USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.
* **Error detection**:
* **Parity check**, **Check digit**, **Checksum**, **ARQ**.
* **Packet switching**:
* Packets include header + data + checksum.
* Use of routers to send packets.
---
### 🖥️**3. Hardware and Software**
#### a) **Hardware**
* **Input Devices**: Keyboard, mouse, scanner, sensor, camera.
* **Output Devices**: Monitor, printer, speaker, actuator.
* **Storage Devices**: HDD, SSD, USB, DVD, cloud storage.
#### b) **Software**
* **System software**: OS, utilities, compilers.
* **Application software**: Word processor, spreadsheet, browser.
---
### 🧰 **4. Logic Gates and Circuits**
* **Logic gates**: AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR.
* **Truth tables**
* **Logic circuits**: Combine gates, simplify expressions.
* **Use logic gates in real-world applications**
---
### 💾 **5. Memory and Data Storage**
* **Primary storage**:
* RAM: Volatile
* ROM: Non-volatile
* **Secondary storage**:
* Magnetic: HDD
* Optical: DVD
* Solid-state: SSD, USB
* **Storage size units**: Bit, Byte, KB, MB, GB, TB
---
### 💻 **6. Operating Systems**
* Role of OS:
* **Memory management**
* **Multitasking**
* **Security**
* **File management**
* **User interfaces**: GUI, CLI
---
### 🧑💻 **7. High-Level Languages and Translators**
* **High-level languages**: Easy to read (e.g., Python)
* **Low-level languages**: Machine/assembly language
* **Translators**:
* Compiler: Translates whole program
* Interpreter: Line by line
* Assembler: Assembly → Machine code
---
### 🛠️**8. Security**
* **Threats**:
* Malware: Virus, worm, Trojan
* Phishing, pharming, spyware
* **Prevention**:
* Firewalls, anti-virus, encryption, 2FA, access levels
---
### 🌐 **9. Internet and Ethics**
* **Internet vs World Wide Web**
* **Web technologies**: HTML, CSS, URL, HTTP(S)
* **Online threats**
* **Cyber ethics**:
* Copyright, privacy, hacking, data misuse
---
### 🔎 **10. Databases**
* **Field**, **Record**, **Table**
* **Data types**: Text, number, Boolean, date
* **Validation checks**:
* Length, range, presence, type, format
* **Database terms**: Primary key, foreign key
* **SQL basics**:
```sql
SELECT name FROM students WHERE grade = 'A';
```
---
### 📜 **11. Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving**
* **Flowcharts**: Symbols and meaning (Start, Process, Decision, etc.)
* **Pseudocode basics**:
* `INPUT`, `OUTPUT`, `IF`, `WHILE`, `FOR`, `REPEAT`
* **Conditional statements**: `IF...THEN...ELSE`
* **Iteration**:
* Count-controlled: `FOR`
* Condition-controlled: `WHILE`, `REPEAT UNTIL`
* **Test data**:
* **Normal**, **Boundary**, **Invalid**
* **Errors**:
* Syntax, Logic, Runtime
---
### 🧮 **12. Programming Concepts**
* **Variables**, **Constants**
* **Data types**: Integer, Real, Boolean, Char, String
* **Operators**:
* Arithmetic: +, -, \*, /
* Relational: =, <>, <, >, <=, >=
* Logical: AND, OR, NOT
* **Subroutines**: `PROCEDURE` and `FUNCTION`
* **Arrays**: One-dimensional only
---
### ✅ **13. Practical Programming (Paper 2)**
* Apply:
* **Pseudocode**, **Flowcharts**
* Loops, conditions, inputs/outputs
* Dry-run traces, trace tables
* Identify errors
* Apply algorithms (e.g., find max, search, count)
---
Would you like a printable PDF or editable Google Doc version of these notes? I can also generate
topic-wise flashcards or practice questions.
