GCE A/L Information & Communication Technology study guide
GCE A/L Information & Communication Technology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The GCE Advanced Level Information and Communication Technology (A/L ICT) is a subject examination offered in Sri Lanka's General Certificate of Education Advanced Level programme. It is taken by students who have completed Ordinary Level studies and wish to specialise in ICT, often as preparation for university degrees in computing, engineering, or business information systems, or for direct entry into IT-related employment. The GCE A/L Information & Communication Technology study guide has 10 sections and about 2,683 words.
01ICT: Concepts, Evolution and Societal Impact
This section tests whether you can distinguish data, information and knowledge, describe ICT components, and evaluate ICT's effects on work, education and society. Data are raw symbols; information is processed data with meaning; knowledge applies information with judgement.
293 words, about 1 min02Computer Systems: Hardware, Software and Data Representation
Tests von Neumann architecture, CPU/memory/storage, system vs application software, and how text, images and sound are encoded. CPU fetch–decode–execute; registers include PC, MAR, MDR, CIR and accumulator; ALU, control unit, clock speed, cores and cache affect performance.
289 words, about 1 min03Number Systems, Logic Gates and Boolean Algebra
Tests conversions among binary/denary/octal/hex, signed arithmetic, truth tables and simplification. Positional value: each digit × base^position; group binary bits in 3 for octal, 4 for hex.
255 words, about 1 min04Data Communication and Computer Networking
Tests transmission, topologies, OSI/TCP-IP layers, devices, IP addressing and protocol choice. Data communication needs sender, receiver, medium, protocol and message.
274 words, about 1 min05The Internet, Web Technologies and E-Services
Tests Internet infrastructure, WWW protocols, web development and online service models. The Internet is interconnected networks; the WWW is a service using URLs, HTTP/HTTPS and HTML.
263 words, about 1 min06Databases and Information Systems
Tests relational design, keys, normalisation, SQL, transactions and data integrity. A DBMS controls storage, concurrent access, backup and security; a database reduces redundancy but does not automatically eliminate it.
256 words, about 1 min07Programming: Algorithms, Data Structures and Software Development
Tests algorithm design, tracing, data structures, programming constructs and the software life cycle. An algorithm has finite, unambiguous, effective steps with input and output.
244 words, about 1 min08System Analysis, Design and Project Management
Tests requirements gathering, process modelling, design tools and scheduling. Feasibility: technical, economic, legal, operational and schedule.
248 words, about 1 min09Information Security, Ethics, Legal and Social Issues
Tests CIA security, threats and controls, ethical conduct and Sri Lankan legal frameworks. CIA: confidentiality (authorised access), integrity (accuracy/completeness), availability (timely access).
279 words, about 1 min10New Trends: Cloud, Mobile, IoT, AI and Big Data
Tests service models, architecture and realistic benefits and limits of emerging technologies. Cloud service models: IaaS (virtual machines/storage), PaaS (runtime/platform), SaaS (ready application).
282 words, about 1 min