THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Practices and principles, core concepts and applied learning work together. The four classroom applied learning tasks are not the same thing as the separately assessed coursework project.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
This guide uses the syllabus for the 2027 examination. Curriculum Online also lists a replacement for a later cohort; do not switch to it simply because it appears first on the subject page.
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Computer Science assessed?
- End-of-course examination: 70%, including written and computer-based assessment.
- Coursework: 30%, a computational artefact with a report.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
These are broad revision groups shared across Higher and Ordinary Level, not identical lists of learning outcomes. Use the level-specific outcomes in the linked syllabus and questions from your own level. The checklist records each level separately.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Computational thinking
Decomposition, abstraction and problem representation.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Which details matter when designing a solution?
Write the inputs, outputs and constraints before choosing code.
Algorithms & programming
Designing, tracing, writing and modifying programs.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What happens to a loop when the input is empty?
Trace variables one step at a time and include boundary cases.
Data
Representing, collecting and using information.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How could poor input data lead to a misleading output?
Check the meaning and quality of data, not just its file format.
Computer systems
How system components support computation.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What happens between an input and a visible output?
Explain the role of each relevant component in the chain.
Computers & society
Social, ethical and environmental consequences.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Who could be disadvantaged by an automated decision?
Consider users, data and the limits of the system’s assumptions.
Applied learning contexts
Information systems, analytics, simulation and embedded systems.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What would a useful prototype demonstrate?
Build the smallest working version that tests the idea, then evaluate it.
Testing & coursework
Design evidence, implementation and evaluation.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How would you show that a program works beyond one successful run?
Record expected and actual outputs and explain how failures changed the design.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Trace a short program without running it.
- Implement and test a small change, including invalid inputs.
- Keep design, testing and reflection evidence throughout coursework.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Computer Science (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Computer Science: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Practices and principles, Core concepts, Computer science in practice and assessment.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.