STPM ICT 958 study plan

Diagram the fetch-decode-execute cycle and label the roles of PC, MAR, MDR, and ALU without notes

Convert between binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal, and perform two's complement subtraction on 8-bit values

Compare primary and secondary storage technologies by capacity, access time, and volatility in a written table

Model a small library scenario as entities, attributes, and relationships, then draw the resulting ER diagram

Normalise a given unnormalised relation through 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF, justifying each decomposition step

Write SQL statements using SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, and HAVING against a three-table schema

Translate a word problem into pseudocode using sequence, selection, and iteration constructs

Trace a short pseudocode algorithm by hand and record variable values at each iteration

Map the OSI and TCP/IP layers to each other and state one protocol and one device per layer

Subnet a given IPv4 address block into a required number of hosts and verify each subnet's usable range

Explain how a switch builds its MAC address table versus how a router forwards between networks

Describe the role of DNS, DHCP, and HTTP in loading a single web page, in order

Implement a program with functions, arrays, and file input/output in a language of choice

Write and trace a search and a sort algorithm, stating the time complexity of each

Build a valid HTML page that uses semantic elements, a form, and an external stylesheet

Explain how CSS box model, selectors, and specificity determine the rendered layout

Compare lossy and lossless compression and select an appropriate format for image, audio, and video cases

Calculate file size for an uncompressed image and audio clip from resolution, bit depth, and sample rate

Explain how digitisation, sampling rate, and bit depth affect fidelity and file size

Discuss two social impacts of ICT adoption (for example digital divide or automation of work) with evidence-based arguments

Classify threats (malware, phishing, SQL injection, denial of service) and match each to a specific countermeasure

Explain symmetric versus asymmetric encryption and where each fits in TLS

Apply a professional code of conduct to three short ethical scenarios and justify each decision

Describe firewall, IDS, and access-control roles in defending a small network

Explain cloud service and deployment models and give one realistic use case for each

Describe how IoT, big data, and AI/ML systems collect, store, and use data, noting one risk each

Compare relational and non-relational (NoSQL) data stores for a stated scenario and justify a choice

Outline how a data warehouse and data mining differ from routine transaction processing

Complete two full-length timed mock papers under exam conditions and mark them against the scheme

Re-derive the five weakest topics identified from mock errors and rewrite corrected notes for each

Practise structuring extended answers: define, explain, compare, and evaluate, with a worked example of each command word

Build a one-page formula and definition sheet covering number systems, file size, subnetting, and normal forms