WACE Applied IT study plan

WACE Applied IT · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Project management and the design process

Map the design process into a personal flowchart covering problem definition, research, ideation, prototyping and evaluation
Explain the stages of a project lifecycle and match each stage to its typical documentation artefact
Draft a one-page project charter for a small scenario, including scope, constraints and success criteria
Identify three common causes of project failure and describe a control that mitigates each

A one-page project charter plus annotated design-process flowchart for a self-chosen scenario

Week 2

Build a work breakdown structure of at least 15 tasks for the scenario and sequence them with dependencies
Produce a Gantt-style schedule with milestones and identify the critical path
Classify the hardware needed for the scenario into input, processing, output and storage categories
Compare two software options for the scenario against stated criteria and justify a recommendation

A Gantt chart with at least 15 tasks, dependencies, milestones and a written hardware/software justification

Week 3

Explain the fetch-decode-execute cycle and relate each stage to CPU components
Compare RAM, ROM, cache and secondary storage by speed, volatility and typical use
Describe operating system functions including process, memory and file management
Distinguish proprietary from open-source and application from system software with examples
Diagnose three simple hardware or software faults from described symptoms

A two-page illustrated summary sheet of computer architecture and software types with 10 self-test questions

Week 4

Compare flat-file and relational databases and explain primary, foreign and composite keys
Normalise a supplied dataset to third normal form and document each step
Write at least eight SQL statements covering selection, filtering, sorting, joining and aggregation
Describe backup strategies including full, incremental and differential, and recommend a schedule
Explain at least four threats to data and a matching control for each

A normalised schema diagram, a working SQL script of at least eight queries and a one-page security/backup policy

Week 5

Explain the roles of IP, TCP, HTTP and DNS in a single page request
Compare LAN, WAN, client-server and peer-to-peer topologies by cost, speed and suitability
Distinguish wired and wireless transmission media and select one for a given scenario
Configure or describe a basic wireless network with appropriate security settings
Evaluate synchronous and asynchronous communication tools against collaboration needs

A network diagram for a small office with a written justification of topology, media and security choices

Week 6

Build a spreadsheet with formulas, functions, absolute references, validation and conditional formatting
Create charts appropriate to three different data types and explain each choice
Produce a mail-merged document from a data source and verify at least 10 merged records
Apply styles, templates and consistent formatting to a multi-page document
Automate a repetitive task using a macro or equivalent feature and document the steps

A spreadsheet workbook with formulas, validation and charts, plus a mail-merged document and macro notes

Week 7

Analyse three positive and three negative impacts of IT on individuals, citing evidence
Evaluate a social issue such as digital divide, privacy or screen time and argue two positions
Assess the environmental impact of hardware manufacture, use and disposal
Explain relevant legal and ethical obligations including privacy, copyright and accessibility
Recommend and justify two policies for an organisation adopting a new system

A 600-word evidence-based impact report covering one social issue and one environmental issue with recommendations

Week 8

Describe four emerging technologies and the problem each addresses
Assess the risks and benefits of one emerging technology for a specified industry
Review all seven domains against the syllabus and list three weakest areas
Complete a timed practice paper under exam conditions and mark it against criteria
Revise the three weakest areas using targeted notes and re-test those areas

A completed timed practice paper with self-marked score, error log and a one-page emerging technology briefing

Week 2: Can produce a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart unaided and justify hardware and software choices against criteria

Week 4: Scores at least 70% on a self-made 20-question test covering domains 1 to 3, including one normalisation exercise and five SQL queries

Week 6: Can explain the full path of a web request and build a spreadsheet using functions, validation and charts without notes

Week 8: Achieves at least 65% on the timed practice paper with no domain scoring below 50%