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Exam Revision 2026

Paper 1 Principles Review

Comprehensive preparation for Principles of Computer Science (1CP2/01).

Topic 1: Data Representation

1.1 Numbers & Shifts

Task: Convert denary -18 to 8-bit Two's Complement.

Task: Apply a Logical Left Shift by 3 to 0000 1101.

1.2 Text & Media

Topic 2: Computer Systems

2.1 The CPU Cycle

The instruction is decoded by the Control Unit (CU).
The Program Counter (PC) increments by 1.
Memory address is copied from PC to MAR.
The ALU executes logical or mathematical operations.

2.2 Hardware & Soft

Topic 3: Networks & Protocols

Topology & Hardware

Reliability of Mesh vs Star?
Hardware used to connect LANs?

Protocols & Layers

SMTP / IMAP layer?
Ethernet / Wi-Fi layer?

Topic 4: Algorithmic Tracing

x = 0
FOR i = 1 TO 3:
  FOR j = 1 TO 2:
    x = x + (i * j)
  NEXT j
NEXT i
i j x
- - 0

Topic 5: Algorithms & Logic

5.1 Logic Gates

A B C Q
0 0 0
0 1 0
1 1 0
1 1 1
0 0 1

5.2 Search & Sort