MATSEC AM Information Technology study plan
MATSEC AM Information Technology · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Information Technology
Map the full MATSEC AM Information Technology syllabus into a personal checklist of every assessable sub-topic and tick off what you already know
Define and distinguish the core vocabulary of data, information and knowledge, and explain how information systems turn raw data into decisions
Describe the main hardware components (CPU, memory hierarchy, input/output and storage devices) and state the function and typical unit of measurement of each
Classify software into system software and application software, giving a concrete example of each category
Your checkpoint
A one-page syllabus checklist with every sub-topic marked known, shaky or unknown, plus a 300-word glossary of at least 20 core IT terms written in your own words
Information Technology
Explain how data is represented in binary, converting between binary, denary and hexadecimal and justifying why computers use base 2
Compare the main number and character coding schemes, including two's complement for signed integers, ASCII, extended ASCII and Unicode
Compute storage and file sizes using the bit, byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte and terabyte scale, including the difference between base-2 and base-10 conventions
Describe the fetch-decode-execute cycle and the role of the control unit, ALU, registers and buses
Explain how data is stored in files and databases, covering records, fields, primary keys and the purpose of a database management system
Your checkpoint
A worked problem set of 15 binary/hex conversions and 5 storage-size calculations, all with full working shown, scoring at least 90 percent on self-marking
Information Technology
Compare the main data transmission media (twisted pair, coaxial cable, fibre optic and wireless) on bandwidth, cost, distance and susceptibility to interference
Distinguish circuit switching from packet switching and explain how packets are routed across a network
Define the roles of common network hardware, including hub, switch, router, modem, gateway and network interface card
Explain the TCP/IP model layers and match common protocols, such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, DNS and DHCP, to their layer and purpose
Contrast LAN, WAN, intranet and internet, and describe client-server versus peer-to-peer architectures
Your checkpoint
A labelled comparison table of at least 10 network technologies and protocols, each with its purpose, layer and one real-world use case
Information Technology
Identify the main threats to computer systems, including malware, phishing, social engineering, denial of service and physical theft
Explain the countermeasures for each threat, covering firewalls, antivirus, encryption, authentication factors and access control
Distinguish symmetric from asymmetric encryption and describe how public-key cryptography supports secure transactions
Describe the legal and ethical obligations that govern data handling, including data protection principles, intellectual property and acceptable-use policies
Explain the purpose of backups, disaster recovery plans and physical security controls in an organisation
Your checkpoint
A threat-and-countermeasure matrix covering at least 8 threats, each paired with two specific controls and a one-sentence justification, plus a 200-word summary of data protection principles
Information Technology
Describe the main phases of the systems development life cycle and state the key output of each phase
Compare waterfall, iterative, agile and prototyping approaches on flexibility, documentation and risk
Explain the purpose of feasibility studies, requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing and maintenance
Distinguish unit, integration, system and acceptance testing, and describe black-box versus white-box testing
Identify the roles and responsibilities of the people involved in a development project, including client, analyst, programmer and tester
Your checkpoint
A two-page case study analysis of a fictional organisation, selecting a development methodology, justifying the choice and listing the requirements and test types it would need
Information Technology
Explain what a database is and why a relational model is used to reduce redundancy and inconsistency
Design a normalised database schema from a written scenario, identifying entities, attributes and relationships
Distinguish primary, foreign and composite keys, and explain one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-many relationships
Write and interpret SQL statements for creating tables and for selecting, inserting, updating and deleting data, including WHERE and ORDER BY clauses
Explain the role of a DBMS in concurrency control, backup, recovery and security
Your checkpoint
A hand-drawn or text-based entity-relationship diagram for a given scenario, normalised to third normal form, with at least 6 working SQL statements that answer specific questions about the data
Information Technology
Write pseudocode and draw flowcharts for algorithms using sequence, selection and iteration
Trace and dry-run algorithms to predict their output, including loops with counters and accumulators
Compare linear search with binary search and bubble sort with insertion sort, stating the conditions under which each is appropriate
Explain the purpose of validation and verification, distinguishing range checks, format checks, presence checks and check digits
Interpret a simple algorithm and identify logical errors in it, proposing a correction
Your checkpoint
A portfolio of 10 solved algorithm problems, each with pseudocode, a trace table and the final output, including at least two search and two sort problems
Information Technology
Consolidate all earlier topics by re-attempting every item marked shaky or unknown on the week 1 checklist
Practise full-length past-paper-style questions under timed conditions and mark them against the official mark scheme
Explain the difference between a command word such as state, describe and discuss, and answer each with appropriately detailed responses
Identify recurring error patterns from marked practice and write a personal correction list
Review the glossary and comparison tables from earlier weeks, filling any remaining gaps
Your checkpoint
Two completed timed practice papers with self-marked scores, a written error log of at least 10 recurring mistakes and a final checklist showing every syllabus sub-topic as covered
Milestones
Week 2: You can convert between binary, denary and hexadecimal without notes and correctly size a file or storage device in the appropriate units
Week 4: You can name a threat and at least two specific countermeasures for it within 30 seconds, and state the key data protection obligations from memory
Week 6: Given an unfamiliar scenario, you can produce a normalised schema with correct keys and write working SQL to retrieve data from it
Week 8: You score at least 70 percent on two timed full-length practice papers and every syllabus sub-topic is marked as covered on your final checklist