GCSE Computer Science, Computer systems. Usually met in years 9 to 11.
Learn the parts of the CPU, how the fetch-execute cycle works, and the difference between kinds of memory and storage.
What you practise
The ALU, control unit, cache and registers
RAM, ROM and virtual memory
Kinds of secondary storage
Starts with the CPU and RAM and builds to the registers used in the fetch-execute cycle. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.
Sample questions
Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.
Sample question, level 2 of 5
What does ‘clock speed’ mean?
The number of fetch-execute cycles the CPU can carry out each second, measured in hertz
Memory that keeps its contents without power and holds the instructions to start the computer
Storage that keeps files and programs when the power is off, such as a hard disk or SSD
The part of a computer that fetches, decodes and executes instructions
Storage that a laser reads and writes, such as a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc
Show the answer and method
Answer: A, The number of fetch-execute cycles the CPU can carry out each second, measured in hertz
The method: Clock speed means the number of fetch-execute cycles the CPU can carry out each second, measured in hertz.
Why the other options are wrong:
B, Memory that keeps its contents without power and holds the instructions to start the computer: That describes ROM.
C, Storage that keeps files and programs when the power is off, such as a hard disk or SSD: That describes secondary storage.
D, The part of a computer that fetches, decodes and executes instructions: That describes CPU.
E, Storage that a laser reads and writes, such as a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc: That describes optical storage.
Sample question, level 4 of 5
Which term means: the repeated steps the CPU follows: get an instruction from memory, decode it, then carry it out?
Core
CPU
Secondary storage
Fetch-execute cycle
Virtual memory
Show the answer and method
Answer: D, Fetch-execute cycle
The method: Fetch-execute cycle means the repeated steps the CPU follows: get an instruction from memory, decode it, then carry it out.
Why the other options are wrong:
A, Core: Core means one processing unit in a CPU; more of them let the CPU work on several instructions at once.
B, CPU: CPU means the part of a computer that fetches, decodes and executes instructions.
C, Secondary storage: Secondary storage means storage that keeps files and programs when the power is off, such as a hard disk or SSD.
E, Virtual memory: Virtual memory means part of secondary storage used as extra RAM when main memory is full.
