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Computer ScienceQ&A by dot point
A short Q&A bank for every Singapore Computer Science syllabus dot point. Each question and answer is drawn directly from our worked dot-point page, so you can scan key concepts before opening the long-form answer.
Algorithms and Problem Solving
- Define an algorithm and represent its sequence, selection and iteration using standard flowchart symbols4Q&A pairs
- Write algorithms in pseudocode using input, output, assignment, selection (IF) and iteration (WHILE, FOR)6Q&A pairs
- Describe and trace linear search and binary search, and explain why binary search needs a sorted list6Q&A pairs
- Describe and trace the bubble sort, explaining how repeated passes of comparisons and swaps sort a list3Q&A pairs
- Use a trace table to follow variable values through an algorithm, and choose normal, boundary and invalid test data4Q&A pairs
Computer Systems and Architecture
- Distinguish hardware from software, and system software (operating system) from application software, with examples7Q&A pairs
- Classify peripherals as input, output or storage devices, and explain the input-process-output model of a computer system8Q&A pairs
- Distinguish RAM, ROM and secondary storage, explaining volatility and the purpose of each in a computer6Q&A pairs
- Describe the role and main parts of the CPU, the fetch-execute cycle, and how clock speed and cores affect performance5Q&A pairs
Data Representation
- Perform binary addition showing carries, and explain overflow when a result exceeds the fixed width of a register9Q&A pairs
- Convert whole numbers between denary, binary and hexadecimal using place value, repeated division and nibble grouping6Q&A pairs
- Use units of storage from bit to terabyte, and explain lossless and lossy compression and why files are compressed7Q&A pairs
- Explain why computers use binary, describe place value in binary and hexadecimal, and state why hexadecimal is used as shorthand for binary5Q&A pairs
- Explain how text (ASCII), sound (sampling) and images (pixels and colour depth) are represented as binary in a computer6Q&A pairs
Networks and the Internet
- Explain the purpose of IP addresses and protocols, describe how data is sent in packets, and give examples of common protocols4Q&A pairs
- Describe protection measures including strong passwords, firewalls, encryption, antivirus software and user access levels7Q&A pairs
- Describe common network security threats including unauthorised access, interception, phishing and denial of service6Q&A pairs
- Define a computer network, distinguish a LAN from a WAN, and state the benefits and drawbacks of networking computers5Q&A pairs
- Distinguish the internet from the World Wide Web, and describe the roles of browsers, web servers, URLs and HTTP in loading a page6Q&A pairs
Programming in Python
- Define and call Python functions with parameters and return values, and explain the benefits of using functions6Q&A pairs
- Use Python lists and strings, including indexing, length, looping over items, and basic operations like append and slicing8Q&A pairs
- Use Python for loops with range and while loops with a condition, including accumulators and avoiding infinite loops8Q&A pairs
- Use Python selection with if, elif and else, build conditions with comparison and logical operators, and order branches correctly6Q&A pairs
- Declare and use Python variables, identify the core data types (int, float, str, bool), and convert between them6Q&A pairs
Security, Ethics and the Impact of Computing
- Explain computer ethics including intellectual property, copyright, plagiarism and acceptable use, and the difference between legal and ethical5Q&A pairs
- Describe types of malware (virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, spyware), how they spread, and how to protect against them3Q&A pairs
- Explain why personal data must be protected, the risks of misuse, and measures and good practice for keeping data private4Q&A pairs
- Discuss the social and environmental impact of computing, including benefits, the digital divide, e-waste and energy use6Q&A pairs
Spreadsheets and Data Processing
- Choose an appropriate chart type for data, and use sorting and filtering to organise and find records6Q&A pairs
- Use common spreadsheet functions (SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, COUNT) with cell ranges to summarise data4Q&A pairs
- Use the IF function for conditional results and lookup functions such as VLOOKUP to find values in a table6Q&A pairs
- Distinguish relative and absolute cell references, use the dollar sign to fix a reference, and predict how references change when a formula is copied5Q&A pairs
- Describe how a spreadsheet is organised into cells, rows and columns, and write formulae using cell references and operators3Q&A pairs