©THESTAR 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Edexcel GCSE Computer Science(9-1) Exam
Study Guide 100% Verified.
Abstraction - ANS the process of removing or hiding unnecessary detail so that only the
important points remain.
Decomposition - ANS breaking a problem down into smaller, more manageable parts, which
are then easier to solve.
Back up - ANS a copy of files in another location so that they are still available if the original
copy is damaged or lost. Backing up is the process of making a backup copy.
Access control - ANS this determines which users have access to which data, and what they
are allowed to do with it.
Algorithm - ANS a precise method for solving a problem. It consists of a sequence of step by
step instructions.
Analogue - ANS using signals or information represented by a quantity (e.g. an electric
voltage or current) that is continuously variable. Changes in the information being represented
are indicated by changes in voltage. This method requires very accurate sending and receiving
mechanisms.
Application software - ANS software that performs a task that would otherwise be done by
hand, perhaps with pen and paper.
, ©THESTAR 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) - ANS the part of the CPU that performs calculations and logic
operations.
Arithmetic operator - ANS an operator that performs a calculation on two numbers.
Arithmetic shift - ANS used for signed binary numbers. When performing a right shift the bits
at the left are replaced by copies of the most significant bit.
Array - ANS an organised collection of related values that share a single identifier.
Ascending order - ANS this is arranging items from smallest to largest (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or a,
b, c, d, e, f).
Assembly language - ANS a low-level language written using mnemonics.
Assignment statement - ANS the SET. . .TO command is used tc initialise variables in pseudo-
code, for example, SET anotherGo TO 0 ,SET correct TO False
Attribute - ANS an item of data stored about an entity.
Audit trail - ANS a record of activities that have taken place on a computer system. This
record is generated automatically and will record what has happened and who or what made
the change.
Authentication - ANS the process of proving to a computer system who you are (e.g. using a
username and password).
, ©THESTAR 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Bandwidth - ANS the amount of data that can be carried on a network in a given period of
time.
Binary - ANS information represented by only two values (e.g. a voltage or no voltage, on or
off). There are no communication errors or misunderstandings because there are no small
differences.
Binary digit or bit - ANS the smallest unit of data that is represented in a computer. it has a
single binary value, either 1 or 0.
Binary prefix - ANS multiplies a unit by powers of 2.
Binary shift - ANS an operation done on all the bits of a binary value in which they are moved
by a specific number of places to either the left or right.
Bit depth - ANS the number of bits used to encode the information from each sample.
Increasing the number of bits used increases the amount of detail contained in each sample.
Boolean - ANS something that can take only the values True or False; named after English
mathematician George Boole.
Brute force - ANS an algorithm design that does not include any techniques to improve
performance, but instead relies on sheer computing power to try all possibilities until the
solution to a problem is found.
Built-in functions - ANS functions that are provided in most high-level programming
languages to perform common tasks.
Bus - ANS a group of connections between devices in a computer.
Edexcel GCSE Computer Science(9-1) Exam
Study Guide 100% Verified.
Abstraction - ANS the process of removing or hiding unnecessary detail so that only the
important points remain.
Decomposition - ANS breaking a problem down into smaller, more manageable parts, which
are then easier to solve.
Back up - ANS a copy of files in another location so that they are still available if the original
copy is damaged or lost. Backing up is the process of making a backup copy.
Access control - ANS this determines which users have access to which data, and what they
are allowed to do with it.
Algorithm - ANS a precise method for solving a problem. It consists of a sequence of step by
step instructions.
Analogue - ANS using signals or information represented by a quantity (e.g. an electric
voltage or current) that is continuously variable. Changes in the information being represented
are indicated by changes in voltage. This method requires very accurate sending and receiving
mechanisms.
Application software - ANS software that performs a task that would otherwise be done by
hand, perhaps with pen and paper.
, ©THESTAR 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) - ANS the part of the CPU that performs calculations and logic
operations.
Arithmetic operator - ANS an operator that performs a calculation on two numbers.
Arithmetic shift - ANS used for signed binary numbers. When performing a right shift the bits
at the left are replaced by copies of the most significant bit.
Array - ANS an organised collection of related values that share a single identifier.
Ascending order - ANS this is arranging items from smallest to largest (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or a,
b, c, d, e, f).
Assembly language - ANS a low-level language written using mnemonics.
Assignment statement - ANS the SET. . .TO command is used tc initialise variables in pseudo-
code, for example, SET anotherGo TO 0 ,SET correct TO False
Attribute - ANS an item of data stored about an entity.
Audit trail - ANS a record of activities that have taken place on a computer system. This
record is generated automatically and will record what has happened and who or what made
the change.
Authentication - ANS the process of proving to a computer system who you are (e.g. using a
username and password).
, ©THESTAR 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Bandwidth - ANS the amount of data that can be carried on a network in a given period of
time.
Binary - ANS information represented by only two values (e.g. a voltage or no voltage, on or
off). There are no communication errors or misunderstandings because there are no small
differences.
Binary digit or bit - ANS the smallest unit of data that is represented in a computer. it has a
single binary value, either 1 or 0.
Binary prefix - ANS multiplies a unit by powers of 2.
Binary shift - ANS an operation done on all the bits of a binary value in which they are moved
by a specific number of places to either the left or right.
Bit depth - ANS the number of bits used to encode the information from each sample.
Increasing the number of bits used increases the amount of detail contained in each sample.
Boolean - ANS something that can take only the values True or False; named after English
mathematician George Boole.
Brute force - ANS an algorithm design that does not include any techniques to improve
performance, but instead relies on sheer computing power to try all possibilities until the
solution to a problem is found.
Built-in functions - ANS functions that are provided in most high-level programming
languages to perform common tasks.
Bus - ANS a group of connections between devices in a computer.
