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AIMS
After you have taken this course, you should be able to name the principal components of a computer system (both hardware and software) and be able to describe: what they do, how they operate, and how they contribute to the overall performance of the computer.
Consider the CPU. You should be able to describe a processor at the level of its registers, its internal buses and its functional units (e.g., the ALU). In particular, you should be able to draw a block diagram of the internal organization of a CPU at the level of buses, registers, ALU, and memory. You should be able to explain how the CPU carries out a fetch/execute cycle and how information is moved around the processor in order to execute (or interpret) instructions.
Your knowledge of the CPU should extend to a basic understanding of assembly language (this includes: instruction format, addressing modes, and instruction types). You should be able to write very simple assembly language programs. However, you are not required to know any specific assembly language. In any exam, you would are permitted to use any processor to illustrate an answer or you can even use your own 'hypothetical' computer to illustrate answers.
You are expected to be familiar with the basic building blocks of the computer system such as disk drives, CDs and DVDs. You should be able to describe such peripherals and be aware of their characteristics and performance (e.g., capacities, data transfer rates etc).
An important aim of the course is an awareness of trends in the computing industry. Based on the way the industry has progressed in the recent past and on articles on the Web and in magazines and journals, you should be able to intelligently speculate on how computing will progress in the next two years or so.
Load a sample exam paper here