Basic Computer Knowledge and Information Technology
Basic Computer Knowledge and Information Technology tests hardware, software, operating systems, memory, internet services, email, shortcuts, cyber safety and emerging technologies such as AI and cloud computing.
Core rules
- Hardware is physical; software is instructions. System software includes OS; application software includes browsers and editors.
- RAM is volatile working memory; ROM is non-volatile. Storage units: 1 byte = 8 bits; 1 KB = 1024 bytes; 1 MB = 1024 KB.
- OS manages files, memory, processes and devices; examples include Windows, Linux, Android.
- Internet: IP address identifies a device; URL locates a resource; HTTP/HTTPS transfers web pages; HTTPS adds encryption.
- Email: To, Cc, Bcc; attachment; spam and phishing.
- Shortcuts: Ctrl+C copy, Ctrl+V paste, Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+Y redo, Ctrl+S save.
Worked example
Convert binary 1011 to decimal. Reasoning: write place values 8, 4, 2, 1; 1011 = 1×8 + 0×4 + 1×2 + 1×1 = 8 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 11. So 1011 in base 2 equals 11 in base 10.
Traps
Do not call RAM permanent storage. Do not use 1 KB = 1000 bytes in standard computer-science questions; the binary convention is 1024. Ctrl+Z is undo, not redo. Phishing is a social-engineering attack, not a hardware fault.