SQU IT Exit study plan

Write 20 short programs from scratch covering variables, conditionals, loops, and functions without looking at reference solutions, then compare against a self-written checklist of expected behavior.

Trace 10 code snippets by hand on paper, predicting exact output line by line before running them, and log every mismatch with the reason for the error.

Explain the difference between pass-by-value and pass-by-reference in two languages you know by writing a working example of each that demonstrates the observable difference.

Build a personal error log of at least 8 bug types you personally produced (off-by-one, uninitialized variable, wrong operator precedence) with a one-line prevention rule for each.

Solve 15 progressively harder problem-solving exercises (pseudocode first, then code) and record the decomposition steps you used for each.

Implement array and string manipulation routines by hand: reverse, rotate, deduplicate, and search, without using built-in library helpers.

Draw the memory layout of a stack and a queue after a sequence of 10 push/pop and enqueue/dequeue operations and verify against actual output.

Analyze 5 short algorithms and state their time and space complexity in Big-O notation with a one-sentence justification each.

Implement singly linked lists, stacks, and queues from scratch with insert, delete, and traverse operations, then test each with at least 5 edge cases including empty and single-element structures.

Implement binary search and at least two sorting algorithms (one O(n log n), one O(n^2)) and count comparisons on best, average, and worst-case inputs.

Implement a hash table with collision handling and measure lookup performance as load factor increases.

Compare linear search versus binary search empirically on sorted inputs of 100, 10,000, and 1,000,000 elements and record the timing table.

Write 25 SQL queries against a self-created sample schema, covering SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING, ORDER BY, and aggregate functions.

Write and execute queries using INNER, LEFT, and SELF joins, and explain in writing why each returns the row set it does.

Design a normalized (3NF) schema for a small library or booking system and justify each table split against a denormalized alternative.

Implement 5 tree or graph traversals (BFS, DFS, and one recursive tree walk) and trace their visit order by hand before running.

Define primary, foreign, unique, and check constraints on your schema and demonstrate that each one rejects invalid data.

Write transactions that demonstrate COMMIT and ROLLBACK behavior, and explain ACID properties using your own examples.

Subnet 5 given IPv4 addresses into required host counts and verify each calculation against a subnet calculator.

Trace the path of an HTTP request from browser to server, naming the role of DNS, TCP handshake, TLS, and HTTP at each hop.

Identify and explain 5 common web vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, weak hashing, misconfigured permissions) and write one mitigation for each.

Describe process states and scheduling by drawing a state diagram and walking 4 processes through a round-robin schedule with a time slice.

Explain virtual memory, paging, and thrashing in your own words and give one scenario where each causes visible performance problems.

Practice 3 Linux command-line tasks (file permissions, process inspection, disk usage) and record the exact commands used.

Draft a requirements specification for a small system with 10 functional and 5 non-functional requirements, each testable and unambiguous.

Draw a use case diagram and one sequence diagram for your specified system and check that every functional requirement maps to at least one use case.

Build a small CRUD web application (front end, back end, and database) that consumes at least 3 REST endpoints and handles one error case visibly.

Implement client-side and server-side input validation and demonstrate that the server rejects a request the client would have blocked.

Explain the difference between responsive web layout and native mobile constraints, and apply one responsive breakpoint to your app.

Write a project charter for your app covering scope, 5 milestones, a risk register of 3 risks, and a simple effort estimate with assumptions stated.

Prepare and deliver a 5-minute verbal explanation of one technical decision from your project, recorded and reviewed for clarity and structure.

Write 3 short professional email or status-update drafts covering a delay, a disagreement, and a handover, each under 150 words.

Complete a timed 60-question mixed mock exam across domains 1-3 and review every wrong answer to a root cause.

Resolve 2 ethical scenarios (data privacy conflict, credit for shared work) in writing using a stated decision framework.

Re-run your week 1 error log against your mock exam mistakes and update the prevention rules.