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GCSE Computer Science Flashcards
56 question-and-answer cards covering Computer Science as it is examined in GCSE. 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck — no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the Computer Science deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
How many different values can be represented using $n$ bits?
$2^{n}$ different values.
What is a byte, and how many bits does it contain?
A byte is a unit of storage made up of $8$ bits.
Convert the binary number $11111010$ into hexadecimal.
$FA$ (since $1111 = F$ and $1010 = A$).
Convert the hexadecimal value $2D$ into denary.
$2 \times 16 + 13 = 45$.
Why is hexadecimal used instead of binary by programmers?
It is more compact and easier for humans to read and write; one hex digit represents exactly four binary bits, so conversion is simple and errors are reduced.
How is a single character stored in a computer?
As a binary code using a character set such as ASCII or Unicode, where each character maps to a unique number.
How is an image stored as binary data?
As a grid of pixels, where each pixel's colour is represented by a binary code; more bits per pixel (colour depth) allow more colours.
Give the formula for the file size of an image in bits.
$\text{file size} = \text{width} \times \text{height} \times \text{colour depth (bits per pixel)}$.
How is sound stored digitally?
By sampling the analogue wave at regular intervals; each sample's amplitude is stored as a binary number, with sample rate and bit depth affecting quality and size.
What is the difference between lossy and lossless compression?
Lossy compression permanently removes some data to reduce size (quality can drop); lossless compression reduces size with no loss of data so the original can be perfectly restored.
What is the purpose of compression?
To reduce file size so files take up less storage space and transfer faster over networks.
What is the difference between hardware and software?
Hardware is the physical components of a computer; software is the programs and instructions that run on the hardware.
What is the difference between system software and application software?
System software (e.g. the operating system) manages and runs the computer; application software lets the user perform specific tasks such as writing documents.
State three functions of an operating system.
Managing memory, managing the processor and running processes, and managing input/output devices/peripherals (also file and user management).
What is the difference between RAM and ROM?
RAM is volatile read/write memory holding currently running programs and data; ROM is non-volatile read-only memory holding start-up instructions such as the boot program.
What is virtual memory?
Space on secondary storage used as extra RAM when main memory is full, allowing more programs to run at the cost of slower performance.
Name the three main types of secondary storage and give one example of each.
Magnetic (hard disk drive), optical (CD/DVD/Blu-ray), and solid state (SSD/USB flash drive).
Describe the fetch-decode-execute cycle carried out by the CPU.
The CPU fetches the next instruction from memory, decodes it to work out what is required, then executes (carries out) it; this repeats continuously.
Name three factors that affect CPU performance.
Clock speed, number of cores, and cache size.
What is the role of cache memory?
It is small, very fast memory close to the CPU that stores frequently used data and instructions to speed up processing.
Describe the star network topology.
All devices connect to a central switch or hub; if one cable fails only that device is affected, but failure of the central device disables the whole network.
Describe the mesh network topology.
Devices are interconnected with multiple paths between them, so data can be rerouted if one link fails, making it very reliable but expensive to cable.
Compare a LAN and a WAN.
A LAN (Local Area Network) covers a small geographic area such as one building and is usually owned by one organisation; a WAN (Wide Area Network) covers a large geographic area, such as the internet, often using third-party infrastructure.
What is the difference between wired and wireless network connections?
Wired connections (e.g. Ethernet cables) are typically faster and more secure and reliable; wireless (e.g. Wi-Fi) offers mobility and easier setup but can be slower and less secure.
What this deck covers
The Computer Science deck follows the GCSE Computer Science syllabus — 7 chapters and 29 topics — so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 8.0 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable — averaging about 122 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
Computer Science flashcards FAQ
How many Computer Science flashcards are in this GCSE deck?
56 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these GCSE flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 56-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the Computer Science cards cover?
They follow the GCSE Computer Science syllabus — 7 chapters and 29 topics — so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.