NYSTCE Computer Science study plan

Map every subarea named in the official 194 framework to a personal checklist and rate current confidence 1-5 on each

Write working pseudocode for iteration, recursion, and nested control flow without reference material

Trace variable scope, parameter passing, and return values through a 20-line program by hand on paper

Define algorithm, program, and computation precisely enough to distinguish them in a short written answer

Implement search (linear, binary) and sort (selection, insertion, merge) routines from memory in one language

Compare time and space complexity of each implemented algorithm using Big-O notation with justification

Distinguish abstract data types from their implementations for list, stack, queue, and map

Solve five short trace problems involving stacks and queues by hand

Convert between binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal by hand for 20 values including negatives in two's complement

Perform binary addition and subtraction and identify signed overflow

Explain how characters, integers, and floating-point values are encoded at the bit level

Compute the address of an array element given a base address and element size

Diagram the fetch-decode-execute cycle and label registers, buses, and memory roles

Trace a short instruction sequence through registers and memory to a final state

Explain the memory hierarchy and predict which level serves a given access pattern

Differentiate compiled, interpreted, and hybrid execution models with examples

Write and debug programs using conditionals, loops, functions, and arrays in one language

Apply top-down design by decomposing a stated problem into named functions before coding

Identify and fix five seeded logic and off-by-one errors in provided-style code you write yourself

Explain the difference between syntax, runtime, and logic errors with an example of each

Model a small problem as entities, attributes, and relationships and derive a normalized table design

Write select, join, and aggregate queries against your own schema

Explain primary keys, foreign keys, and referential integrity with concrete examples

Describe how the internet layers (link, network, transport, application) cooperate to deliver a request

Outline the social, legal, and ethical issues named in the framework, including privacy, security, equity of access, and intellectual property

Explain how encryption, authentication, and hashing differ and when each is appropriate

Describe impacts of computing on society and identify a defensible position on one current issue

Recognize common network and software vulnerabilities and their mitigations

Re-rate every framework subarea and close remaining gaps with targeted practice

Complete two timed 60-question practice sets and analyze every error by cause

Rehearse written explanations of ten core concepts aloud in under two minutes each

Finalize a one-page formula and terminology sheet for last-minute review