This is the official Waec GCE 2018 syllabus for computer studies. Are you using a phone for this? You are advised to rotate the screen of your phone to view the table better.

This examination syllabus is developed from the National Curriculum for Senior Secondary School Computer Studies. It highlights the scope of the course for Computer Studies examinations at this level. Its structuring revolves around conceptual approach. The major thematic areas considered in the entire syllabus include:

1. Computer fundamentals and evolution

2. Computer hardware

3. Computer Software

4. Basic Computer Operations

5. Computer Applications

6. Managing Computer files

7. Developing Problem-solving skills

8. Information and Communication Technology

9. Computer ethics and human issues

Each thematic area forms a concept which is further divided into sub-concepts. This examination syllabus is not a substitute for the teaching syllabus. Therefore, it does not replace the curriculum.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the syllabus are to test candidates’ understanding, knowledge and acquisition of

1. basic concepts of computer and its operations;

2. manipulative, computational and problem-solving skills;

3. application of software packages;

4. operation of computer – related simple devices;

5. on-line skills and their applications;

6. safe attitudes and good practices on effective use of computer;

7. potential for higher studies in Computer related areas.

EXAMINATION SCHEME

There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 shall be a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

Paper 1: will consist of 50 multiple-choice objective questions all which are to be answered in 1 hour for 25 marks.

Paper 2: will consist of five essay questions. Candidates will be required to answer any three in 1 hour for 30 marks.

Paper 3: will test actual practical skills of school candidates and knowledge of practical work for private candidates. It will consist of three questions to be answered in 2 hours for 45 marks.

DETAILED SYLLABUS

TOPIC CONTENT

COMPUTER EVOLUTION

(a) Computing Devices I (Pre-computing age- 19 century) (i) Features , components and uses of early computing devices:

– Abacus;

– Slide Rule ;

– Napier’s bone;

– Pascal’s calculator;

– Leibnitz multiplier;

– Jacquad loom;

– Charles Babbage’s analytical engine;

– Hollerith Census Machine;

– Burrough’s Machine.

(ii) Contribution of each of the founder of these devices to modern computers.

(b) Computing Devices II (20 century to date) Features, components and uses of:

-ENIAC

-EDVAC

-UNIVAC 1

-Desktop Personal

Computers

-Laptop and Notebook computers

-Palmtop.

FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTING

(a) Overview of Computing System – Definition of a Computer

– Two main constituents

of a Computer

– Computer hardware;

– Computer software

– Classification and

examples of

hardware and

software.

– Functional parts of a

computer

Characteristics of Computers

– Electronic in nature;

– Accuracy;

– Speed;

– Interactive etc.

(b) Data and Information – Definition and

examples of data and

information;

– Differences between data and information.

COMPUTER ETHICS AND HUMAN ISSUES

Security and Ethics 1. Sources of security breaches:

– Virus, worms and Trojan horses;

– Poor implementation of network;

– Poor implementation or lack of ICT policies;

– Carelessness- giving out personal and vital information on the net without careful screening.

– Hackers, spammers etc.

2. Preventive measures

– Use of antivirus software e.g. Norton, McAfee, Avast, etc

– Use of firewall;

– Exercising care in giving out vital and personal information

– Encryption

– Proper Network Implementation and Polies

– Using sites with web certificates

– Exercising care in opening e-mail attachments

3. Legal Issues

-Copyright (software copyright)

-ownership right to

-text;

-images;

-audio;

-video

-Privacy of audio and video software

-Cyber crimes

-identify theft;

-internet fraud

-Hacking

COMPUTER HARDWARE

(a) Input devices Definition and examples of input devices

The use of keyboard, mouse, scanner, joystick, light pen, etc

Classification of keys on the keyboard into Function, Numeric, Alphabetic

-Cursor keys

-Features, function and operation of the mouse

-Differences in keyboard, mouse, light pen and scanner

Output Devices -Definition and examples

-Output devices: monitor, printer, speaker, plotter – Type, features and uses.

-Differences between input and output devices

-Similarities and differences in inkjet, laser and line printer

Central Processing Unit Components of C.P.U.: Arithmetic and logic unit, control unit

Function of ALU and Control Unit

Memory Unit Types of Memory Unit: Primaryand Secondary memory

-Components of Primary memory unit: ROM and RAM

Differences and uses of ROM and RAM

Examples of Seconadry memory devices: floppy disk, hard disk, compact disk(CD), flash disk, digital-video-disk(DVD)

Unit of storage in memory devices: bits, nibble, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes

Interconversion of unit of storage.

-Comparative study of auxiliary storage devices in respect of their size, speed and technology

Logic Circuits -Definition, types and uses of standard logic gate: AND, NOT, OR

Symbols of AND, NOT, OR gates

-Construction of truth tabl for standard logic gates

-Differences between AND, NOT, OR gates

-NAND and NOR as alternative logic gates should be treated

Construction of Truth Table for NAND and NOR

Construction of a simple comparator with -XOR( Exclusive OR)

-NOR gate

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

(a) System Software

(b) Operating System (i) Definition and types of software

– System software

– Application software

(ii) System software and their examples

– Operating System e.g. MS Windows

– Translator e.g. Compiler

– Tools/ Utility e.g. Anti-virus

(iii) Examples of Operating System

– MS Windows

– Linux

– UNIX

– MS-DOS etc

(iv) Examples of Translators

– Assemblers

– Compilers

– Interpreters

(v) (v) Examples of Utility

(vi) Program

– Editor

– Anti-virus etc

(i) Definition, types, examples and function of Operating System

– Graphic User Interface(GUI)

– GUI (MS Windows, Linux, etc)

– Command line (MS DOS, UNIX, etc)

(c) Application Software (i) Definition and types of application software

(ii) Common Application

Packages and their

examples

– Word processing(M Windows)

– Spreadsheet(MS Excel)

– Database(MS Access)

– Graphics

(iii) Packages for spreadsheet purpose

– Accounting software

– Payroll program

– Banking software

– Education management software

– Statistical packages

– Hospital management software

COMPUTER APPLICATION

(a) Word Processing (i) Definition and examples of word processing and word processor

-MS Word

-Wordstar

-WordPerfect

(ii) Features of Word Processing programs in general.

(iii) Application areas of Word Processing programs

-Office

-Publishing

-Journalism

-Education, etc.

(iv) Features of MS

Word

(v) Steps in activating and exiting MS Word

(vi) Basic operations in MS Word

-Create

– Edit

– Save

-Retrieve

-Print

– Close

(vii) Further operations

in MS Word

-move

-copy

-cut

-use of different

Types

and sizes of fonts

-formatting

-justifying

-search/explore

-spell checking

-file merging, etc

(b) Spreadsheet (i) Definition and examples of spreadsheet program

-VisiCALC

-MS Excel

-SuperCALC

-Autocad, etc

(ii) Feature of

spreadsheet program

(iii)Application areas of

Spreadsheet

programs:

-Accounting

-Statistical

calculation

-Student result, etc

(iv)Features of MS Excel

Environment

-status bar

-menu bar

-formula bar, etc

(v)Definition of basic

terms in MS

Excel

-worksheet

-workbook

-cells

-cell ranges

(vi)Data types in Excel

-Number

-Labels

-Formula

(vii)Basic operation in

Excel

-Data Entry

-Saving

-Retrieve

Copy

-Move

(viii)Arithmetic

calculations using

formula and built-in

function

(ix)Additional operation

in Excel

-Editing

-Formatting

-Printing

-Drawing charts, etc

(c) Database (i)Definition of database

and database packages

(ii)Examples of database

packages

-Dbase IV,

-Foxbase

-MS Access

-Oracle, etc

(iii)Basic terms in

Database

-File

-Record

-Field

-Key

(iv)Types of database

organization

methods and their

features

-Hierarchical

-Network

-Relational

(v)Features of database

format

-Files designed as

tables

-Tables comprise

row and

columns

-Row containing

related

information

about a record.

-Column

containing

specific type of

information

about a field.

(vi)Steps in creating

database

-define the structure

-indicate field

type(numeric,

character, data,

text, etc)

-enter data

-save data

(vii)Basic operations on

already

created database.

Database

-searching

-modifying

-sorting

-reporting

-selecting

-inserting, etc

(d) Graphics (i)Definition of Graphics

(ii)Examples of Graphics

packages

-Paint

-Harvard graphics

-Photoshop

-Coreldraw, etc

(iii)Features in activating

and existing

Coreldraw

(iv)Simple design using

Coreldraw

-Business card

-School logo

-National flag

-Invitation card

-Certification, etc

(e) Presentation package (i)Definition of presentation

package

(ii)Examples of presentation package

-MS PowerPoint, etc

(iii)Features of

PowerPoint

environment

(iv)Steps in activating

and exiting

PowerPoint

(v)PowerPoint operation

-create new

presentation

-insert pictures, text,

graphs

-animated contents

-add new slide

-save presentation

-run slide show

-print presentation

-close presentation

MANAGING COMPUTER FILES

(a) Concept of Computer Files

(b) Handling Computer Files (i)Definition of some

terms

-computer file

-record

-field

-data item

(ii)Types of data item

-numeric

-alphabetic

-alphanumeric

(iii)File structure

organisation

(Data item—record—

file—database)

(iv)Types of file

organization

-serial

-sequential

-index

-random

(v) Methods of accessing

files

-serial

-sequential

-random

(vi) File classification

-master file

-transaction file

-reference file

(vii)Criteria for

classifying files:

-nature of

content(program

and data)

-organisation

method

-storage medium

(i)Basic operation on

computer files

-file

-delete

-retrieve

-insert

-copy

-view

-update

-open

-close

(ii) Effect of file

insecurity

-data loss

-data corruption

-data becomes

unreliable

(iii)Causes of data loss

-over-writing

-inadvertent

deletion

(iv)Methods of file

security

-use of backup

-use of antivirus

-password

-proper labelling

of storage

devices, etc

(v)Differences between

computer files and

manual files

(vi)Advantages of

computer files

-more secure

-fast to

access,etc

(vii)Disadvantages of

computer files

-expensive to set up

-irregular supply

of electricity

BASIC COMPUTER OPERATIONS

(a) Booting and shutting down process

(b) Computer Data Conversion (i) Description and types

of booting process

(ii)Types of booting

process

-cold booting

-warm booting

(iii)Steps involved in :

-booting a

computer;

-shutting down a

computer

(iv)Identification of

features on a desktop

(i)Definition of registers,

address, bus

(ii)Types and functions

of registers: MDR,

CIR, SCR

(iii)Differences between

register and main

memory

(iv)Steps involved in

how a computer

converts data to

required information (Input-Process-Output)

(v)Factors affecting

speed of data transfer:

-bus speed;

-bus width.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY(ICT)

(a) Communication Systems (i)What‘ICT’ acronym

stands for.

(ii) Types of ICT

-Broadcasting

-Telecommunication

-Data Network

-Information

Systems

-Satellite

Communications

-Examples of

Broadcasting

-Radio

broadcasting

-Television

broadcasting

-Satellite system

-Examples of

Telecommunication

-Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN)-Landline

-Mobile phone

systems

-Circuit Switched

Packet

Telephone

System(CSPT)

-Satellite telephone

system

-Fixed wireless

telephone

system

-Examples of data

networks

-Personal Area

Network(PAN)

-Local Area

Network(LAN)

-Metropolitan Area

Network(MAN)

-Wide Area

Network(WAN)

-Internet

-Examples of

Information Systems

-Data Processing

System

-Global Positioning

System(GPS)

(b) Application areas of ICT

(c)Internet

(d) Electronic Mail(e-

mail)Services (i)Application Areas of ICT include

the following:

-Teleconferencing

-Video conferencing

-Telecommuting

-Telecomputing

-Messaging

-Information search, retrieval

and archival.

(ii)ICT based gadgets

and their

operations

-Mobile phones

-Computers

-Fax machines

-Automated Teller

Machines(ATM)

-Dispensing

machines

-Point of Sale

Machines

– Automated Cash

Register(ACR)

-Radio sets

-Television sets, etc

(i)Definition of Internet

and some

Internet terms:

-Homepage

-Browse

-Browser

-Chatroom

-Cybercafe

-HTTP

-HTML

-ISP

-Webpage

-Website,etc

(ii)Types of internet

browsers

-Internet explorer

-Netscape navigator

-Opera

-Firefox

-Cometbird ,etc

(iii)Features of Internet

browsers:

-Title bar

-Menu bar

-Tool bar

-Address bar,etc

(iv)Types of Internet

services

-Electronic mail (e-

mail)

-e-mail discussion

group

-Instant messaging

-Telnet

-Usenet

-File Transfer

Protocol(FTP)

-Worldwide

web(www)

-Chatting, etc

(i)Definition of electronic

mail

(ii)E-mail Services:

-sending/receiving e-

mail

-chatting, etc

(iii)Steps involved in

creating e-mail

account

(iv)Steps involved in

opening mail box

(v)Features in an e-mail

address e.g.

fmemail@fmegovng.org

(vi)Definition and steps

involved in chatting

(e)Networking

(f) Introduction to Worldwide web (W.W.W.) (i)Definition of a

Computer Network

(ii)Types of Network

-PAN

-LAN

-WAN

-MAN

-Internet

(iii) Network topology

-Star

-Bus

-Ring

(iv)Network devices

-Hub

-Modems

-Switches

-Routers

-Network Interface

Card(NIC)

(v)Advantages of

Networking

(i)What is the ‘W.W.W.’

acronym stands for

(ii)Brief history of W.W.W.

(iii)Basic terminologies:

-W.W.W.

-website

-webpage

-homepage

-protocol, etc

(iv)Protocol

-HTTP

-HTML

(v)Uses/benefits of www

(vi)Navigating through

websites

www.waeconline.org

-www.itbeginswithu.org

-www.servenigeria.com

-www.phillipemeagwali.co

-www.jambonline.org

(vii)Difference between

e-mail and website

address features:

e.g.www.waeconline.org and waec@yahoo.com

(viii)Software for web

development

-Frontpage

– etc

(g) Cables and Connectors (i)Types of Network Cables and

Connectors

-Cables: Twisted pair,

coaxial, fibre optic,

telephone

-Connectors: RJ45, RJ11, T-

connectors

(ii)Types of Computer Cables

and Connector

-Cables:Power cables

Data cables

– Printer

Cable,universal serial

bus(USB), monitor

cable, serial cable

-Connectors: Male and

female

DEVELOPING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

(a) Programming Language(PL)

(i) Programming Language: Definition, examples, levels and features:

(ii)Levels and examples of programming language

-Machine Language(ML) ,

e.g.100011001

-Low Level Language(LLL),

e.g. Assembly Language

-High Level Language(HLL)

e.g. BASIC,C++, FORTRAN, etc.

(iii)Comparison of ML,

LLL, HLL.

(iv)Advantages and

disadvantages of ML,

LLL and HLL.

(b)High Level

Languages (i) Definition and

examples

(ii)Classification of HLL

as

-Scientific

-Gen-purpose

-Business

-AI

-String processing

language(SPL)

(iii)Features of BASIC,

C, PASCAL,

COBOL –

Comparative study

(c)Algorithm and

Flowchart

(d)BASIC Programming (i)Definition of :

Algorithhm and

Flowchart

(ii)Functions of

Algorithm

(iii)Characteristics of

Algorithm:

-Finite

-Effective

-Unambiguous

(iv)Writing algorithm

for:

-Computing average

of a given

set of numbers

-Evaluation of

equation:

y=a(b-c) /(d+2)

-Computing out the

first ten odd

numbers, etc

(v)Flowchart symbols:

– I/O, Process, decisions, etc

(vi)Use of each flowchart symbol

(vii)Flowchart diagrams for given programming problem

(i)What BASIC acronym stands for

(ii)BASIC characteristics

(iii)Types of data

-variable

-constant/literal

-numeric

-string/alphanumeric

(iv)BASIC Statements

INPUT

PRINT, LPRINT

LET

END

REM

READ

DATA

(v)Arithmetic operators

(-,+,*,/)

(vi)Arithmetic

Expressions

(vii)Evaluation of

Arithmetic

expressions

(viii)Simple BASIC

Programs

(ix)Running Simple

Programs

(i)Built-in functions in

BASIC

-SQR(X)

-INT(X)

-SIN(X)

-ABS(X)

-RND(X)

-COS(X)

-TAN(X)

-LOG(X)

-EXP(X)

(ii)BASIC Notation of

–

-(x-y)/(x+y)

-(a+b) +c/sind

-e – sin(x+ny), etc

(iii)BASIC program to

-find the square root

of numbers

-find square root of S,

round up to an

integer

-find the cosine of

known values

-find the tangent of

given angles.

-plot sine wave curve

(iv)Additional BASIC

Statements

-DIM Statement

-FOR – NEXT

statement

-WHILE-END

statement

(v)Defining one-

dimensional array ,

using DIM statement.

(vi)Operating on Array

elements

-Input of array

-Output of array

-Arithmetic

operations on array

(vii)Write BASIC

program to :

-store a vector of 10

numbers

-calculate the mean

of 100 numeric

values

-calculate area of 10

different

rectangles

-Compute the sum of

the first 100 integers

(f) Systems Development Cycle (i)Definition of system

development cycle

(ii)Description of system

development cycle

(iii)Stages in system development

Cycle

-Preliminary study

-Feasibility

-Investigate study

-Analysis

-Design

-Implementation

-Maintenance

-Study review

(iv)Description of each

stage of

system development

cycle

(v)Diagram of system

development

cycle

(e)Program

Development

Cycle (i)Definition of program

(ii)Characteristics of a

good

Program

-Accuracy

-Readability

-Maintainability

-Efficiency

-Generality

-Clarity

(iii)Precautions in

developing a

program

-Be stable, steady

and patient

-No step skipping

-Follow order of

execution

(iv)Steps involved in

program

development

-Problem definition

-Problem analysis

-Flow chatting

-Desk checking

-Program coding

-Program

compilation

-Program

testing/debugging

-Program

documentation

(v)Description of each of

stages in program

development

(vi)Examples of :

-Interpreted

program

(BASIC)

-Compiled program

(COBOL,

FORTRAN)

1. LIST OF FACILITIES AND MAJOR EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Computer set

Laptops

Scanners

Printers

Fax Machine

GSM Phone

Memory chips

Hard disks

Flash drives

Internet connectivity

DVD

Compact disks

Cables (power and data)

Word processing packages, database package, BASIC program and

CorelDraw

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