PREAMBLE

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:
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.

OBJECTIVESThe objectives of the syllabus are to test candidates’ understanding, knowledge and acquisition of:
I.    basic concepts of computer and its operations; II.  manipulative, computational and problem-solving skills; III. application of software packages; IV. operation of computer - related simple devices;V.   on-line skills and their applications; 
 VI. safe attitudes and good practices on effective use of computer.   VII. potential for higher studies in Computer related areas.  
SCHEME OF EXAMINATIONThere will be three papers, Paper 1, 2 and 3, all which should be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be combined in a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.
 Paper 1 - Will consist of 50 multiple-choice objective questions to be    answered in 1 hour for 25 marks.   Paper 2 - Will consist of five essay questions. Candidates will be required    to answer three questions within 1 hour for 30 marks.   Paper 3 - The paper shall test actual practical skills of school candidates and    knowledge of practical work for private candidates. It will consist of three questions to be answered within 2 hours for 45 minutes.  

DETAILED SYLLABUS

 TOPIC CONTENT NOTE      COMPUTER EVOLUTION (i) Features , components and Trend of   (a) Computing Devices I (Pre- uses of early computing development     devices: in computing   computing age- 19th century) - Abacus;     devices from    - Slide Rule ;    one to the    - Napier’s bone;    other.    - 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 (20th Features, components and Sizes and basic   century to date) uses of: components    -ENIAC should be    -EDVAC considered in    -UNIVAC 1 a comparative    -Desktop Personal form.    Computers    -Laptop and Notebook        computers    -Palmtop.      FUNDAMENTALS OF - Definition of a Computer;   COMPUTING - Two main constituents   (a) Overview of Computing System of a Computer Differences     between    - Computer hardware;    hardware and    - Computer software    software    - Classification and    should be    examples of    treated.    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 Definition and     effects of    breaches:    viruses and    - Virus, worms and    worms should    Trojan horses;       - Poor implementation of be treated    network;    - Poor implementation or    lack of ICT policies;    -   Carelessness- giving out    personal and vital    information on the net    without careful    screening.    - Hackers, spammers etc. Definition of    hackers and    spammers    should be    treated       2. Preventive measures    - Use of antivirus    software e.g. Norton,    McAfee, Avast, etc    - Use of firewall; Explanation of    -   Exercising care in giving    firewall is    out vital and personal       information required    - Encryption    - Proper Network    Implementation and Definition of    Polies    encryption    -   Using sites with web    should be    certificates    treated    - 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 Examples and    and output devices types of    -Similarities and printers and    differences in inkjet, laser monitors    and line printer should be        treated.      Central Processing Unit Components of C.P.U.: Combination    Arithmetic and logic unit, of the CPU and    control unit Memory Unit    Function of ALU and as system unit    Control Unit should be    mentioned.      Memory Unit Types of Memory Unit:    Primary and Secondary Physical    memory identification    -Components of Primary of RAM and    memory unit: ROM and ROM devices    RAM required.    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 Simple    storage. calculation    -Comparative study of involving the    auxiliary storage devices in conversion    respect of their size, speed from a unit to    and technology another    Size and shape    variation of    floppy,    flask/USB and    compact disks    should be    noted       Logic Circuits -Definition, types and uses Logic equation    of standard logic gate: for AND, NOT,    AND, NOT, OR OR gate    Symbols of AND, NOT, OR should be    gates treated.    -Construction of truth table Uses of logic    for standard logic gates gates are    -Differences between AND, required.    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) Simple    -NOR gate definition of a    comparator is    required.      COMPUTER SOFTWARE   (a)   System Software (i) Definition and types of Differences     between    software    system and    - System software    application    - Application software       (ii) System software and their software is    examples required    - Operating System e.g.    MS Windows    - Translator e.g. Compiler    -   Tools/ Utility e.g. Anti-    virus    (iii) Examples of Operating    System Operating    - MS Windows       - Linux systems of    - UNIX phones, ipad    -   MS-DOS etc and other           computerized    (iv)  Examples of Translators devices should    - Assemblers be treated.    - Compilers    E.g. Android,    - Interpreters    Blackberry,    (v) Examples of Utility    etc.    Programs       - Editor    - Anti-virus etc Differences   (b) Operating System among the     (i) Definition, types, translators       examples and function    should be    of Operating System    noted    - Graphic User       Interface(GUI)    - GUI (MS Windows,    Linux, etc)    - Command line (MS    DOS, UNIX, etc) Differences       between GUI    and Command    line Operating    Systems are    required.      (c) Application Software (i) Definition and types of Differences    application software between user    (ii) Common Application application    Packages and their    program and    examples    application    - Word processing(MS    packages are    Windows)    required    - 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   (i) Definition and   (a) Word Processing 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 Definition of     each   -Create       - Edit operational       - Save term is   -Retrieve required.   -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    calculatio    n    -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       (vii)Basic operation in   Excel   -Data Entry Simple   -Saving calculations   -Retrieve with and   Copy without built-   -Move in function e.g.   (viii)Arithmetic sum, average,   calculations using etc   formula and built-in   function   (ix)Additional operation   in Excel   -Editing   -Formatting   -Printing   -Drawing charts, etc     Pie chart,    histogram, bar    chart, 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 (i)Definition of some     terms       -computer file    -record    -field    -data item    (ii)Types of data item    -numeric    -alphabetic    -alphanumeric    (iii)File structure Differences    organisation among the    (Data item—record— organization    file—database) methods are    (iv)Types of file required    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   (b) Handling Computer Files computer files File processing    -file using BASIC    -delete programming    -retrieve is required.    -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 (i) Description and types Difference     of booting process between cold   down process     (ii) Types of booting and warm       process booting should    -cold booting be treated    -warm booting    (iii)Steps involved in :    -booting a    computer;    -shutting down a    computer    (iv)Identification of    features on a desktop    (b) Computer Data (i) Definition of registers,     Fetch-execute   Conversion address, bus    (ii) Types and functions cycle is not    of registers: MDR, required    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    Telecommunicatio    n    -Public Switched    Telephone Network(PSTN)-     -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 (i)Application Areas of ICT Definition and    include description of    the following: these terms    -Teleconferencing are required    -Video conferencing    -Telecommuting        -Telecomputing    -Messaging    -Information search,    retrieval    and archival.    (ii)ICT based gadgets    and their Knowledge on    operations the operations    -Mobile phones on these ICT-    -Computers based gadgets    -Fax machines is required.    -Automated Teller    Machines(ATM)    -Dispensing    machines    -Point of Sale    Machines    - Automated Cash    Register(ACR)    -Radio sets    -Television sets, etc   (c)Internet (i)Definition of Internet    and some    Internet terms:    -Homepage Demonstratio    -Browse n of these    -Browser terms through    -Chatroom Internet    -Cybercafe access is    -HTTP required    -HTML    -ISP    -Webpage    -Website,etc    (ii)Types of internet    browsers    -Internet explorer Access        -Netscape navigator Internet    -Opera through these    -Firefox browsers.    -Cometbird ,etc    (iii)Features of Internet    browsers:    -Title bar    -Menu bar Application of    -Tool bar the features of    -Address bar,etc Internet    (iv)Types of Internet browser    services window is    -Electronic mail (e- required    mail)    -e-mail discussion    group Benefits of    -Instant messaging Internet to our    -Telnet society should    -Usenet be stressed    -File Transfer    Protocol(FTP)    -Worldwide    web(www)    -Chatting, etc   (d) Electronic Mail(e- (i)Definition of electronic   mail)Services mail    (ii)E-mail Services:    -sending/receiving e-    mail    -chatting, etc    (iii)Steps involved in    creating e-mail    account Procedure for    (iv) Steps involved in sending and    opening mail box receiving e-    (v) Features in an e-mail mail is    address e.g. required    fmemail@fmegovng.org     
(vi)Definition and steps involved in chatting
 (e)Networking (i) Definition of a    Computer Network    (ii)Types of Network    -PAN    -LAN    -WAN    -MAN    -Internet    (iii) Network topology Differences in    -Star the various    -Bus topologies    -Ring should be    (iv)Network devices treated    -Hub    -Modems    -Switches Knowledge of    -Routers “Bridge” as a    -Network Interface networking    Card(NIC) device is   (f) Introduction to Worldwide (v)Advantages of required.   web (W.W.W.) 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 Nigeria’s    (iv)Protocol contribution    -HTTP to www  
   -HTML should be    (v)Uses/benefits of www mentioned    (vi)Navigating through    websites    www.waeconline.org    -www.itbeginswithu.org    -www.servenigeria.com    -    www.phillipemeagwali.co Use of HTTP    m and HTML    -www.jambonline.org should be    (vii)Difference between mentioned    e-mail and website    address features:    e.g.www.waeconline.org    and waec@yahoo.com Visits to these    (viii)Software for web websites are    development essential    -Frontpage    - etc      (g) Cables and Connectors (i) Types of Network Cables and Identification    Connectors of different    -Cables: Twisted pair, Network    coaxial, fibre optic, Cables    telephone Connectors    -Connectors: RJ45, RJ11, T- should be    connectors treated    (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 (i) Programming Language:   Language(PL)     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 (i) Definition and Other   Languages examples programming    (ii) Classification of HLL languages    as such as Java,    -Scientific Python, etc.    -Gen-purpose should be    -Business mentioned.    -AI    -String processing    language(SPL)    (iii) Features of BASIC,    C, PASCAL,    COBOL –     
   Comparative study      (c)Algorithm and (i) Definition of :   Flowchart 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)2/(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    (d)BASIC Programming (i)What BASIC acronym    stands for    (ii)BASIC characteristics    (iii)Types of data Types of data   -variable should be   -constant/literal treated   -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 Program to    calculate    -Area of    triangle    -Area of a    rectangle   (ix) Running Simple -Average of 3   Programs numbers,etc    The simple    BASIC program    developed    should be    executable on    the computer.  
(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
-ex+y – 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
Numbers of iterations should not exceed eight
(8).
  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 (i)Definition of program Flow diagram   Development (ii)Characteristics of a on how a   Cycle good compiler and    Program interpreter    -Accuracy works is    -Readability required    -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    compilatio    n    -Program    testing/debugging    -Program    documentation    (v) Description of each of    stages in program    development     

-Interpreted program (BASIC)
-Compiled program (COBOL, FORTRAN)
LIST OF FACILITIES AND MAJOR EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS REQUIRED: 
(1) Computer set 
(2) Laptops 
(3) Scanners 
(4) Printers 
(5) Fax Machine 
(6) GSM Phone 
(7) Memory chips 
(8) Hard disks 
(9) Flash drives 
(10) Internet connectivity 
(11) DVD 
(12) Compact disks 
(13) Cables (power and data) 
(14) Word processing packages, database package, BASIC program and CorelDraw