Computer Science Level 3 study plan

Decompose ten word problems into inputs, outputs, and step sequences before writing any code.

Trace three nested-loop and recursion snippets by hand, recording variable values at each step.

Rank algorithm growth rates from constant to exponential and justify each ordering in one sentence.

Write pseudocode for two search routines and state their worst-case time complexity.

Implement five classic algorithms from scratch in a language you know, without copying reference code.

Compare iterative and recursive versions of the same algorithm and record runtime differences.

Translate pseudocode into working code for sorting and searching tasks.

Explain to yourself, in writing, why an algorithm that looks correct can still fail on edge cases.

Refactor a messy script into functions with clear names, parameters, and return values.

Build and manipulate an array-based list and a linked structure, then compare their insertion costs.

Write unit tests that cover normal, boundary, and invalid inputs for two functions.

Identify and fix three deliberate bugs in code you wrote in week 2.

Implement a stack, a queue, and a hash table from scratch and document their operations.

Compare the time cost of searching a sorted list versus a hash-based lookup on generated data.

Choose the right structure for five short scenarios and defend each choice in two sentences.

Describe how collisions are handled and demonstrate one resolution strategy in code.

Convert numbers between binary, decimal, and hexadecimal and explain each step aloud.

Diagram how a request travels from a client through a network to a server and back.

Explain the difference between authentication and authorization with two concrete examples.

List four common attack types and one defensive measure against each.

Load a small dataset and compute summary statistics for at least three numeric columns.

Clean a messy dataset by handling missing values and inconsistent formats, documenting each decision.

Create two charts that answer a specific question and write one sentence interpreting each.

Distinguish correlation from causation using an example from your own analysis.

Summarize three computing innovations and state one benefit and one risk for each.

Draft a one-page code review checklist covering readability, testing, and security.

Apply the checklist to a peer-style review of your own week 3 module and log findings.

Explain what intellectual property and data privacy mean for a software project.

Take two timed practice sets weighted by domain percentages and score each by domain.

Re-teach your two weakest topics in writing without notes, then check against your materials.

Redo every missed practice question and record why the correct answer is correct.

Assemble a single reference sheet of formulas, complexities, and definitions for final review.