NCEA L1 Digital Tech study plan

Write, run, and debug at least five short programs in a text-based language (e.g. Python), each using variables, input, and output

Trace the execution of a given program line by line and record the value of every variable after each step

Identify and fix three deliberately broken programs, stating in writing what each bug was and why the fix works

Explain the difference between a syntax error, a logic error, and a runtime error using one example of each that you wrote yourself

Construct programs that use selection (if/elif/else) and iteration (for and while loops) to solve three set tasks

Decompose one larger problem into at least four reusable functions, each with a single clear purpose

Test each function with normal, boundary, and invalid inputs, and record the expected versus actual results in a table

Refactor one working program to remove repetition and improve readability, then note what changed and why

Describe the roles of input, process, and output components in a simple embedded system, using a real example such as an automatic light

Distinguish between analogue and digital signals and explain why a sensor reading usually needs conversion before a microcontroller can use it

Identify the function of a microcontroller, sensor, actuator, and power supply within a block diagram you draw yourself

Explain what a flowchart and pseudocode are used for when designing an embedded routine, and produce both for one task

Write a program that reads a simulated sensor value, applies a threshold, and triggers an output action

Explain how the same logic would run on a physical microcontroller, naming the inputs and outputs involved

Compare two design choices for the same embedded task (for example polling versus interrupt-driven) and state one advantage and one drawback of each

Debug a faulty control routine by predicting the output for a set of inputs before running it

Explain the difference between data and information, and give three examples of raw data being turned into useful information

Describe how a database stores records and fields, and design a two-table schema for a scenario such as a school library

Write and test at least six queries or filters that retrieve specific information from a dataset you built

Explain at least three risks to digital information systems (unauthorised access, data loss, inaccurate input) and one control for each

Compare two types of digital information system (for example a spreadsheet model versus a relational database) and justify which suits a given scenario

Explain the purpose of validation and verification when entering data, with one concrete example of each

Describe how compression, file format, and resolution affect file size and quality, and demonstrate this by exporting one image at two settings

Identify the legal or ethical consideration (privacy, copyright, or accuracy) most relevant to a stated scenario and justify your choice

Plan a short digital media outcome by writing a brief that states the purpose, audience, and at least three specifications

Create the outcome using appropriate tools, applying at least three design principles such as contrast, alignment, and hierarchy

Produce and test two iterations, recording what feedback you used and what you changed as a result

Evaluate the finished outcome against your own specifications and identify one improvement you would make next

Answer at least 40 mixed practice questions spanning all four domains and log your accuracy per domain

Re-teach your two weakest topics by writing a one-page summary of each in your own words without notes

Re-attempt every question you previously got wrong and explain the correct reasoning aloud or in writing

Assemble a single reference sheet of key terms and structures for each domain to use during final revision