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ECAT Computer Science Syllabus

The Computer Science syllabus for ECAT in full: 8 chapters and 23 topics, every one listed below, plus 50 Computer Science flashcards with answers.

8Chapters
23Topics
50Flashcards

Computer Science syllabus: all 8 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Information and Number Systems

     3 topics
    • Data and information concepts
    • Binary, octal and hexadecimal systems
    • Number system conversions

  2. Computer Architecture and Hardware

     3 topics
    • CPU and memory hierarchy
    • Input and output devices
    • Storage devices

  3. Operating Systems and Software

     3 topics
    • System and application software
    • Operating system functions
    • Utilities and language processors

  4. Data Communication and Networks

     3 topics
    • Transmission media and modes
    • Network topologies and types
    • The Internet and protocols

  5. Programming Fundamentals in C

     4 topics
    • Data types, variables and operators
    • Control structures
    • Functions and arrays
    • Pointers and structures

  6. Databases and Data Management

     3 topics
    • Database concepts and DBMS
    • Tables, fields and records
    • Relationships and keys

  7. Boolean Algebra and Logic Gates

     2 topics
    • Logic gates and truth tables
    • Boolean expressions and simplification

  8. Security and Social Impacts

     2 topics
    • Computer viruses and threats
    • Data protection and ethics

ECAT Computer Science flashcards — 50 questions with answers

  1. What is the difference between data and information?

    Data is raw, unprocessed facts and figures with no inherent meaning; information is processed, organized data that is meaningful and useful for decision-making.

  2. Define a bit and a byte, and state how many bits are in a byte.

    A bit is the smallest unit of data, holding a single binary value (0 or 1). A byte is a group of 8 bits.

  3. List the data size units in ascending order from byte to terabyte.

    Byte, Kilobyte (KB), Megabyte (MB), Gigabyte (GB), Terabyte (TB) — each roughly 1024 times the previous (2^10).

  4. What is the base (radix) of the binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal number systems?

    Binary = base 2, Octal = base 8, Decimal = base 10, Hexadecimal = base 16.

  5. Which symbols/digits are used in the hexadecimal number system?

    0–9 and A, B, C, D, E, F (where A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15).

  6. How do you convert a binary number to decimal?

    Multiply each binary digit by 2 raised to the power of its position (starting at 0 from the right) and sum the results.

  7. How do you convert a decimal integer to binary?

    Repeatedly divide the number by 2, recording the remainders; the binary equivalent is the remainders read from bottom (last) to top (first).

  8. What is the binary equivalent of decimal 25?

    11001 (16 + 8 + 1 = 25).

  9. How do you convert binary to octal?

    Group the binary digits into sets of 3 (from the right, padding with leading zeros if needed) and convert each group to its octal digit.

  10. How do you convert binary to hexadecimal?

    Group the binary digits into sets of 4 (from the right, padding with leading zeros if needed) and convert each group to its hex digit.

  11. What is the decimal value of the hexadecimal number 1A?

    26 (1×16 + 10 = 16 + 10 = 26).

  12. What is the octal equivalent of binary 110101?

    65 (110=6, 101=5).

  13. What are the three main components of a CPU?

    The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), the Control Unit (CU), and the registers.

  14. What is the function of the ALU in the CPU?

    The Arithmetic Logic Unit performs all arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, etc.) and logical operations (AND, OR, NOT, comparisons).

  15. What is the function of the Control Unit (CU)?

    The Control Unit directs and coordinates the operations of the computer by fetching, decoding, and controlling the execution of instructions; it does not process data itself.

  16. What is a register in a CPU and why is it fast?

    A register is a small, very fast storage location inside the CPU used to hold data and instructions currently being processed; it is the fastest memory because it is built into the processor.

  17. Order the memory hierarchy from fastest/smallest to slowest/largest.

    Registers, Cache memory, Main memory (RAM), Secondary storage (hard disk/SSD) — speed and cost per bit decrease while capacity increases going down.

  18. What is the main difference between RAM and ROM?

    RAM is volatile read/write memory that loses its contents when power is off; ROM is non-volatile read-only memory that retains its contents permanently.

  19. Differentiate between SRAM and DRAM.

    SRAM (static RAM) uses flip-flops, is faster, more expensive, and needs no refreshing; DRAM (dynamic RAM) uses capacitors, is slower, cheaper, and must be refreshed periodically.

  20. What is cache memory and where is it located?

    Cache is a small, high-speed memory located between the CPU and main memory that stores frequently used data and instructions to speed up processing.

Show the other 30 Computer Science flashcards

  1. What is the purpose of an input device? Give three examples.

    Input devices feed data and instructions into the computer. Examples: keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, joystick.

  2. What is the purpose of an output device? Give three examples.

    Output devices present processed information from the computer to the user. Examples: monitor, printer, speaker, plotter.

  3. Classify a touchscreen and a modem as input, output, or both.

    A touchscreen is both an input and output device; a modem is also both (it sends and receives data).

  4. What is the difference between an impact and a non-impact printer?

    Impact printers (e.g., dot-matrix) strike the paper through an inked ribbon; non-impact printers (e.g., inkjet, laser) produce output without physical contact, are quieter and faster.

  5. What is the difference between primary and secondary storage?

    Primary storage (RAM/ROM) is directly accessible by the CPU, fast, and mostly volatile; secondary storage (disks) is non-volatile, slower, and used for permanent long-term storage.

  6. What is the key difference between a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and a Solid State Drive (SSD)?

    An HDD stores data on rotating magnetic platters with moving read/write heads; an SSD uses flash memory with no moving parts, making it faster, more durable, and quieter.

  7. Name the three categories of storage technology with an example of each.

    Magnetic (hard disk, magnetic tape), Optical (CD, DVD, Blu-ray), and Solid-state/Flash (SSD, USB flash drive, memory card).

  8. What technology do CDs and DVDs use to read and write data?

    Optical technology — a laser beam reads and writes data by detecting reflections from pits and lands on the disc surface.

  9. What is the difference between system software and application software?

    System software manages and controls the computer hardware and provides a platform for other software (e.g., OS, utilities); application software performs specific user tasks (e.g., word processor, browser).

  10. Give two examples each of system software and application software.

    System software: operating system, device drivers, utilities. Application software: MS Word, web browser, games, media players.

  11. What is an operating system?

    An operating system is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services and an interface for the user and programs.

  12. List four major functions of an operating system.

    Process management, memory management, file management, device (I/O) management — plus providing a user interface and security.

  13. What is the difference between a single-user and a multi-user operating system?

    A single-user OS allows only one user at a time (e.g., MS-DOS, Windows desktop); a multi-user OS allows many users to access the system simultaneously (e.g., UNIX, Linux servers).

  14. What is multitasking in an operating system?

    Multitasking is the ability of an operating system to execute multiple tasks (processes) seemingly at the same time by rapidly switching the CPU among them.

  15. What is a utility program? Give two examples.

    A utility program is system software that performs maintenance and optimization tasks. Examples: antivirus, disk defragmenter, file compression tool, backup utility.

  16. What are the three main types of language processors (translators)?

    Compiler, Interpreter, and Assembler.

  17. What is the difference between a compiler and an interpreter?

    A compiler translates the entire source program into machine code at once before execution; an interpreter translates and executes the program line by line.

  18. What is the function of an assembler?

    An assembler translates assembly language (low-level mnemonics) into machine code (binary).

  19. What is the difference between guided and unguided transmission media?

    Guided (wired) media transmit signals through a physical path such as cables (twisted pair, coaxial, fiber optic); unguided (wireless) media transmit through air using radio, microwave, or infrared signals.

  20. Name the three main types of guided (wired) transmission media.

    Twisted pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber optic cable.

  21. What are the advantages of fiber optic cable over copper cable?

    Fiber optic offers much higher bandwidth and speed, longer transmission distances, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and greater security.

  22. What are the three modes of data transmission? Define each.

    Simplex (one direction only, e.g., keyboard), Half-duplex (both directions but one at a time, e.g., walkie-talkie), Full-duplex (both directions simultaneously, e.g., telephone).

  23. List four common network topologies.

    Bus, Star, Ring, and Mesh topology (also Tree/Hybrid).

  24. Describe the star topology and its main advantage.

    In a star topology all devices connect to a central hub or switch. Advantage: failure of one cable/node does not affect others, and it is easy to manage; disadvantage: if the central hub fails, the whole network fails.

  25. What is the main disadvantage of a bus topology?

    In a bus topology all devices share a single central cable (backbone); if the main cable fails, the entire network goes down, and performance degrades with heavy traffic.

  26. Differentiate between LAN, MAN and WAN by geographic coverage.

    LAN (Local Area Network) covers a small area like a building; MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) covers a city; WAN (Wide Area Network) covers large areas such as countries (e.g., the Internet).

  27. What is the Internet?

    The Internet is a global network of interconnected computer networks that communicate using the TCP/IP protocol suite to share information and resources.

  28. What do the protocols HTTP and HTTPS stand for, and how do they differ?

    HTTP = HyperText Transfer Protocol; HTTPS = HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure. HTTPS adds encryption (SSL/TLS) for secure data transmission, while HTTP is unencrypted.

  29. What is the role of TCP/IP on the Internet?

    TCP/IP is the core protocol suite: IP handles addressing and routing of data packets to their destination, while TCP ensures reliable, ordered, error-checked delivery of those packets.

  30. What is an IP address and what does DNS do?

    An IP address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each device on a network. DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into IP addresses.

ECAT Computer Science FAQ

What is in the ECAT Computer Science syllabus?

ECAT Computer Science is split into 8 chapters: Information and Number Systems, Computer Architecture and Hardware, Operating Systems and Software, Data Communication and Networks, Programming Fundamentals in C, Databases and Data Management, Boolean Algebra and Logic Gates and Security and Social Impacts. Together they contain 23 topics.

How many chapters are in ECAT Computer Science?

8 chapters, containing 23 topics. The largest chapter is Programming Fundamentals in C, with 4 topics.

Are there flashcards for ECAT Computer Science?

Yes — a 50-card Computer Science deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.