Year 8 revision for Assessment

What topics are included in assessment?

Revision resources

This revision guide covers key concepts from your Year 8 Computer Science unit, helping you prepare for your upcoming assessment.

Understanding these core terms is essential:

Algorithm: A sequence of steps to solve a problem or task.
Selection: Choosing between different actions based on a condition.
Variable: A named place in memory that holds changeable data.
Iteration: Repeating code a certain number of times or until a condition is met.
Input: Data or commands entered into a program for processing.
Output: The final result or data produced by a program.

Familiarize yourself with Python functions and syntax:

Functions in Python: print() and input() are examples of functions in Python.
Identifying Errors: Pay attention to how variables are defined and used. For example, a string literal like "Smith" needs to be enclosed in quotes.
- Example Correction: last_name = "Smith" is the correct way to assign the string "Smith" to the last_name variable.
Defining and Calling Functions:
- A function is defined using def. For example,
  def rectangle_area(): defines a function named rectangle_area.
- To get input from the user within a function, you use
  input().
- The
  return statement specifies the value that a function will output. In the example provided,
  a is the variable that is returned.
- To use or "call" a function, you simply write its name followed by parentheses, e.g.,
  rectangle_area().

The Microbit uses visual block-based programming.

Inputs on a Microbit: An example of an input on a Microbit is pressing button 'A' or 'B', or shaking the microbit.
Understanding Microbit Code:
- The
  on shake block indicates actions that happen when the microbit is shaken. If a series of
  show leds blocks with pause commands are under on shake, shaking the microbit will display the sequence of LED patterns with pauses in between.
- The
  forever block indicates actions that continuously repeat as long as the microbit is powered on and not performing other tasks. If
  show string "Hello!" is under forever, the microbit will continuously display "Hello!" when left alone.

These are important techniques for problem-solving in computing:

Algorithmic Thinking Techniques:
- Sequence: Carrying out tasks in a specific, step-by-step order.
- Abstraction: The removal of unwanted or unnecessary information from a task or problem to provide focus.
- Decomposition: The process of breaking tasks into smaller tasks that are easier to understand and then solve.
Flowcharts: Flowcharts visually represent algorithms.
- A diamond shape usually represents a decision point.
- The example flowchart takes two numbers as input (
  a and b), compares them, and then outputs "The numbers match" if they are equal or "The numbers are different" if they are not.

Recall concepts related to hardware and networks:

Input Devices: Devices used to enter data into a computer. A keyboard, mouse, and microphone are input devices. A
monitor is an output device, not an input device.
CPU Components: The Control Unit in a CPU is responsible for controlling the flow of data.
Storage:
- Primary Storage: The purpose of primary storage (like RAM) is to store data and processes currently being carried out by the CPU.
- RAM vs. ROM: RAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile (data is lost when power is off), while ROM (Read-Only Memory) is permanent.
Networks:
- WAN: Stands for Wide Area Network.
- Routers: Their role is to connect networks together.
- NIC: Stands for Network Interface Controller.
- Peer-to-Peer Network Security: A potential security issue in a peer-to-peer network is that data can be added or deleted by any user, which may compromise security.
Malware:
- Malware: Stands for malicious software.
- Spyware: Secretly passes information to criminals.

What is a computer?

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