ICTP1-2025X01 – Complete IGCSE ICT Paper 1 Key
Concepts, Definitions, Devices, Networks, and Storage
Everything you need to know for IGCSE ICT Paper 1 (Important definitions written with
'***') - Everything you need to know for IGCSE ICT Paper 1 (Important definitions written
with '***')
Random Access Memory (RAM) - Temporary memory a computer uses to store information
while it is processing.
Motherboard - A circuit board that contains all of the computer system's main
components
Read Only Memory (ROM) - memory chips where the contents can be read but not written to
and where the contents are retained when the power is removed
Video Card - An expansion card that generates the signals so that a video output device can
display computer data such as text and graphics
Sound Card - an expansion card that allows a computer to send audio signals to audio devices
such as speakers and headphones. Most computers now have the sound card integrated into
the motherboard
Internal hard disk drive - a rigid magnetic material coated disk onto which programs and data
can be stored and situated inside the casing of the computer
Examples of external hardware devices - • Monitors / screens
• Keyboards and mice
,• External storage devices (HDD, pen drive, memory sticks)
• Printers
• Scanners
• Speakers and microphones
Software - Programs for controlling the operation of a computer or for processing electronic
data
Software consists of sets of instructions that tell the computer hardware what to do. Software
is written in a computer language, and there are quite a few different ones. Computer
hardware is useless without software. Software is of two main types: applications software
and system software
Applications software - Programs that are designed to carry out certain operations for a
particular application. The formatting of text and the organisation of page layout can be
performed using word-processing software, which is an example of this type software
This type software cannot run on its own, it is dependent on the other type of software,
system software.
Examples of Applications software - • Word processing software
• Photo / video editing software
• Database management systems
• Spreadsheet software
• Control software
• Measuring software
,• Applets and apps
• Graphics manipulation software
Applets - small application software that performs one specific task
System software - Programs that control the computer hardware directly by giving step-by-
step instructions that tell the computer hardware what to do. It therefore operates and controls
the computer hardware.
Examples of system software - • Operating Systems
• Device Drivers
• Compilers
• Linkers
• Utilities
Operating systems - A program or a suite of programs that controls the system resources and
the processing using these resources on a computer.
Compilers - Programs that change the instructions written in certain programming languages
such as BASIC into binary numbers. It converts the whole of a program written in the
programming language into binary in one go. The program is then stored in binary and. when
it runs, it runs much faster because no time is wasted translating it.
Device Drivers - Software used to supply instructions to the hardware on how to operate
equipment that may be connected to the computer, such as printers, scanners, keyboard, mice,
external hard disk drives, etc.
, Linkers - Programs that are usually part of compiler. They take care of the linking between
the code the programmer writes and the resources and libraries that make up the whole
program file that can be executed.
Utilities - Programs that are provided as part of the system software and they help the user
with everyday tasks
Examples of Utilities - • File maintenance
• Creating new folders, copying files, renaming files, deleting files
• Compressing files so that they take up less storage space, or can be transferred quickly over
the internet
• Compacting files on the hard drive so they can be found faster
• Checking for and removing viruses
• Formatting a disk ready for use
• Burning CDs and DVDs
4 main components of a computer - • Input devices
• Processor and internal memory
• Output devices
• Secondary storage devices
Main features of a GUI - W.I.M.P
• Windows
• Icons
Concepts, Definitions, Devices, Networks, and Storage
Everything you need to know for IGCSE ICT Paper 1 (Important definitions written with
'***') - Everything you need to know for IGCSE ICT Paper 1 (Important definitions written
with '***')
Random Access Memory (RAM) - Temporary memory a computer uses to store information
while it is processing.
Motherboard - A circuit board that contains all of the computer system's main
components
Read Only Memory (ROM) - memory chips where the contents can be read but not written to
and where the contents are retained when the power is removed
Video Card - An expansion card that generates the signals so that a video output device can
display computer data such as text and graphics
Sound Card - an expansion card that allows a computer to send audio signals to audio devices
such as speakers and headphones. Most computers now have the sound card integrated into
the motherboard
Internal hard disk drive - a rigid magnetic material coated disk onto which programs and data
can be stored and situated inside the casing of the computer
Examples of external hardware devices - • Monitors / screens
• Keyboards and mice
,• External storage devices (HDD, pen drive, memory sticks)
• Printers
• Scanners
• Speakers and microphones
Software - Programs for controlling the operation of a computer or for processing electronic
data
Software consists of sets of instructions that tell the computer hardware what to do. Software
is written in a computer language, and there are quite a few different ones. Computer
hardware is useless without software. Software is of two main types: applications software
and system software
Applications software - Programs that are designed to carry out certain operations for a
particular application. The formatting of text and the organisation of page layout can be
performed using word-processing software, which is an example of this type software
This type software cannot run on its own, it is dependent on the other type of software,
system software.
Examples of Applications software - • Word processing software
• Photo / video editing software
• Database management systems
• Spreadsheet software
• Control software
• Measuring software
,• Applets and apps
• Graphics manipulation software
Applets - small application software that performs one specific task
System software - Programs that control the computer hardware directly by giving step-by-
step instructions that tell the computer hardware what to do. It therefore operates and controls
the computer hardware.
Examples of system software - • Operating Systems
• Device Drivers
• Compilers
• Linkers
• Utilities
Operating systems - A program or a suite of programs that controls the system resources and
the processing using these resources on a computer.
Compilers - Programs that change the instructions written in certain programming languages
such as BASIC into binary numbers. It converts the whole of a program written in the
programming language into binary in one go. The program is then stored in binary and. when
it runs, it runs much faster because no time is wasted translating it.
Device Drivers - Software used to supply instructions to the hardware on how to operate
equipment that may be connected to the computer, such as printers, scanners, keyboard, mice,
external hard disk drives, etc.
, Linkers - Programs that are usually part of compiler. They take care of the linking between
the code the programmer writes and the resources and libraries that make up the whole
program file that can be executed.
Utilities - Programs that are provided as part of the system software and they help the user
with everyday tasks
Examples of Utilities - • File maintenance
• Creating new folders, copying files, renaming files, deleting files
• Compressing files so that they take up less storage space, or can be transferred quickly over
the internet
• Compacting files on the hard drive so they can be found faster
• Checking for and removing viruses
• Formatting a disk ready for use
• Burning CDs and DVDs
4 main components of a computer - • Input devices
• Processor and internal memory
• Output devices
• Secondary storage devices
Main features of a GUI - W.I.M.P
• Windows
• Icons
