The Big List Of All OCR A Level Computer Science Resources On This Blog: 1.4

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

These are the last set of resources for Component 1 on this blog. I know what you're thinking, what about section 1.5? Well, somehow I haven't even shared a single resource on that section ever because it's very rare to find a resource for that topic. 

Anyways, you can always use the resource made by me which cover the entire spec here.

Here's the link: 1.4 Data types, data structures & algorithms

Hope this helps!

Road To 200 OCR A Level Computer Science Resources: Linked Lists Presentation

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

It's finally done, the road has ended and the target has been reached. The 200th resource on this blog may not be the best one, but it's definitely one of significance as it marks the end of a very long series indeed.

I've completed the summary presentations for Component 1 which I can finally start sharing from tomorrow InShaAllah. I don't know when I'll make another big list for these so don't ask me.

Here's the link: Linked Lists Presentation

Hope this helps!

Road To 200 OCR A Level Computer Science Resources: 3 Hash Table Presentations

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

Resources # 196-199 are on hash tables. Honestly got nothing else to say except that I can't wait to end this series tomorrow InShaAllah.

Here's the links:

• Hash Table 1
• Hash Table 2
• Hash Table 3

Hope this helps!

Road To 200 OCR A Level Computer Science Resources: Graph Presentation

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

Here's the second of 6 data structures presentations that are the last resources in this series. This brings the count up to 196 so there's only 4 more to go! Oh and I just finished doing the summary presentation for Boolean algebra so keep an eye out for that after I hit this target InShaAllah.

Here's the link: Graph Presentation

Hope this helps!

Road To 200 OCR A Level Computer Science Resources: Binary Search Tree Presentation

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

I just found 6 sort of decent/OKish presentations on data structures which I will use for the last 6 resources before finally reaching the target of 200 InShaAllah. Today's one is on BSTs or Binary Search Trees if you're not acquainted with the abbreviated form. 

Oh and I've also completed the summary presentations for section 1.5 which I will start sharing in due course InShaAllah. 

Here's the link: BST Presentation

Hope this helps!

Road To 200 OCR A Level Computer Science Resources: Karnaugh Maps Presentation

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

I can't believe this is actually the first resource on Boolean algebra on this blog despite having already shared 185 resources and a good amount of Binary ones. Anyway, this presentation does go a bit overboard in terms of what you need to know but is still has some useful info that you should take full advantage of.

Here's the link: Karnaugh Maps Presentation

Hope this helps!

Road To 200 OCR A Level Computer Science Resources: Hash Table Presentation

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

Resource # 171 takes the form of a presentation on hash tables which is the first of it's kind on this blog. It isn't great to say the least but I still think it can be of some use since it's related to the OCR spec. Anyway, 29 resources to go so if I share one a day, i'll be finished in a month InShaAllah.

Here's the link: Hash Tables Presentation

Hope this helps

Road To 200 OCR A Level Computer Science Resources: Character Sets PDF

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

# 167 is the first character sets resource on this blog, weird huh? To be honest, it's not too hard as it's basically just theory but this PDF summarizes both the character sets (ASCII & UNICODE) quite nicely.

For section 1.4.1, there's loads of binary resources on this blog but none for Boolean algebra or data structures which is something I need to change soon. It's just a matter of time really and i'll have resources for every topic InShaAllah

I guess I should also add that this is the easiest topic in section 1.4.1 because it's purely theoretical. The other topics such as binary, data structures and Boolean algebra have a bit of technical parts to them so they can be a bit harder.

Anyway, 33 resources to go and I can't wait to start making my own resources again. I've put everything including the revision guide on hold for now to reach this target and from then on I don't think I'll post any resources not made by me.

Besides, if I did this blog would turn out to be sort of unoriginal and that's something I definitely want to avoid. 

Here's the link: ASCII & UNICODE PDF

Hope this helps!

Road To 200 OCR A Level Computer Science Resources: Bitwise Operators Presentation

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

Resource # 165 is the first ever resource on Bitwise manipulation albeit a short one. Judging solely by the name, this may seem like a complicated topic but trust me, it's not.

Suffice to say this presentation doesn't go into all the stuff you need to know specifically for the OCR spec, but it does touch on some elements. Obviously this being a mathematical part of the spec, the only way to get good at it is to practice practice practice.

I still need to find resources for sections 1.3, 1.5, 2.1 and 2.2 of the spec so I'm hoping to get a couple for each before I hit 200. Anyways, the presentation is really short but make use of way you have. 

Here's the link: Bitwise Operators Presentation

Hope this helps!

A Ton Of Resources For Learning The "Number Systems" Part Of The H046/H446 Spec

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

I was originally intending to make today's post another "top 10 tips" post for writing a computer science personal statement but then decided to go with this instead. Don't worry, i'm saving the personal statement post for another day InShaAllah.

Anyway, I found a bunch of resources for learning nearly all the number systems stuff you need to know for OCR A level Computer Science. They're not made specifically for the H046/H446 spec so they're probably applicable to other exam boards as well.

It seems like I've made quite a few posts on binary but that's probably because it's that easy topic in the spec that people initially find really confusing. As for my own revision guide which is currently still in the making for those who don't know, I still need to cover pretty much all the binary content.

I suppose another reason i'm sharing so many of these resources is because this part of the spec needs a lot of practice. You won't get any good at this by simply memorising the rules and stuff. The best way to get good at this is use all the past paper questions on this topic (and yes that includes the old spec papers as well) and then if you've run out of questions you can use the resources i'm posting here or try other revision materials like textbooks.

Anyway, you know the drill: practice, practice, practice. I've put all the number systems resources I've ever shared on this blog including the ones i'm posting today in a neat folder to make it nice and easy to find them.

Here's the link: Binary Folder

Oh, and there's a nice website I found that has exercises, guides, animations etc. all to do with binary here.

Hope this helps!

Here's A Few Resources For Learning Floating Point Representation & Normalisation

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

You may remember my previous post on floating point representation, if you don't then basically I shared a resource with some exercises that at the time I could not find the answers for.

After a bit of digging I found it and a couple of other useful resources all related to the binary part of the spec. I'm not saying these resources are created for the new spec, but binary is a topic in Computer Science that pretty much stays universally the same across all specifications.

Anyway, alongside the answers to the exercises aforementioned there's a floating point representation presentation (that does go a bit overboard on the topic so make sure to check with the spec and the subject content clarification guide on what exactly do you need to know) and some normalisation resources.

As I've said before (probably), this topic isn't hard at all. Just because it looks a bit mathematical doesn't mean it's impossible to do for those of you who don't like maths. Besides, Computer Science has loads of Maths in it anyway but luckily the OCR spec doesn't go too deep into the mathematical side.

Here's the link: Binary Resources Folder

Hope this helps!   

A Short But Useful Floating Point Representation Guide w/Exercises For OCR A Level Computer Science

As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh World!

I'm sharing this since I figured I've already posted resources about theory, algorithms and the programming project but none for the math part of the specification. For those have no idea what "the math part of the specification" is, let me break it down for you. 

Firstly, you only need to know these for the Computer Systems exam i.e. the "theory" one. There are only 2 sections of the spec that refer to mathematical skills you need to know and trust me, this isn't the type of maths you are thinking about. The math is simple, you just need to be able to deal with:

1.  Binary calculations, conversions and represntations (check 1.4.1 Data Types in spec for details)
2.  Deriving, manipulating and simplifying Boolean algebra (check 1.4.3 Boolean Algebra in spec for details)

The terms mentioned above may seem unfamiliar and therefore difficult but believe me, these skills are very easy to learn and should present no problems whatsoever in the final exam once you know it. 

So now comes the question. how do you learn it? Well, there are loads of resources on binary and Boolean algebra that don't even have to be OCR specific to be useful. As with any math, practice makes perfect so the more exercises you do the better you'll be at solving these types of questions. This post will cover binary and I will address Boolean algebra in another post InShaAllah

This guide is only 1 page that includes a quick guide on certain rules in binary e.g. addition and two's complement rules, a few floating point representation exercises and even a binary fraction lookup table. The exercises don't come with answers strangely but I plan to make a model answers document to couple with this so you can check your answers InShaAllah.

Anyway's I think it's a nice document to have even if it's just one page.

Here's the link: OCR A Level Computer Science Floating Point Representation Guide

Hope this helps!