Year 7 Revision

(June 2025 Assessment)

What topics are included in assessment?

Algorithms & Flowcharts

Code breaking ( & Binary conversion)

Block coding

Spreadsheets

Year 7 KO Autumn.pdf

Google Workspace

and Flow Charts

Revision quizzes (from home learning)

HL1.1 - Purpose and function of CPU.pdf - https://quizizz.com/embed/quiz/66dc2448ebe5f7d99cf06de8

HL1.2 - System Architecture.pdf - https://quizizz.com/embed/quiz/66dd874466e67a6aa1fd14b7

HL1.3 - Memory.pdf - https://quizizz.com/embed/quiz/66dd85aa8332aa6b2148b0a8

HL1.4 - Storage types, devices and characteristics.pdf - https://quizizz.com/embed/quiz/66de2586b59c5736574d2a2f

HL1.5 - Units and formats of data.pdf - https://quizizz.com/embed/quiz/66de264edc98eb3d5da83d50

HL1.6 - Converting data 1.pdf - https://quizizz.com/embed/quiz/66de28354fbb450fb672ec38

HL1.7 - Converting data 2.pdf - https://quizizz.com/embed/quiz/66de295a8039062ce2335402

Flowcharts and Algorithms

Designing an algorithm

An algorithm is a plan, a logical step-by-step process for solving a problem. Algorithms are normally written as a flowchart or in pseudocode.

The key to any problem-solving task is to guide your thought process. The most useful thing to do is keep asking ‘What if we did it this way?’ Exploring different ways of solving a problem can help to find the best way to solve it.

When designing an algorithm, consider if there is more than one way of solving the problem.

When designing an algorithm there are two main areas to look at:

the big picture - What is the final goal?
the individual stages – What hurdles need to be overcome on the way to the goal?

Understanding the problem

Before an algorithm can be designed, it is important to check that the problem is completely understood. There are a number of basic things to know in order to really understand the problem:

What are the inputs into the problem?
What will be the outputs of the problem?
In what order do instructions need to be carried out?
What decisions need to be made in the problem?
Are any areas of the problem repeated?

Once these basic things are understood, it is time to design the algorithm.

Flowcharts

A flowchart (also known as a flow diagram) is a diagram that represents a set of instructions. Flowcharts normally use standard symbols to represent the different types of instructions. These symbols are used to construct the flowchart and show the step-by-step solution to the problem.

Common flowchart symbols

Using flowcharts

Flowcharts can be used to plan out programs. Planning a program that asks people what the best subject they take is, would look like this as a flowchart:

Flowchart Knowledge Organiser:

Y7 Revision Knowledge organiser.png.pdf

Algorithms and Flow Charts

Code breaking (and binary conversion)

Types of encryption

There are many different types of encryption algorithms. They vary in complexity and how secure they are.

The Caesar cipher

The Caesar cipher is one of the earliest on record. It is credited to Julius Caesar, who used it to send secret messages to his armies. The Caesar cipher is sometimes called a shift cipher because the letters are effectively shifted by the number of positions specified by the value of the key.

For example, a key value of +three would change the plaintext message “see you tonight” to the ciphertext message “vhh brx wrqljkw”.

To decrypt the message, the process is reversed.

Caesar ciphers are often shown using a Caesar cipher wheel diagram, to illustrate that when the end of the alphabet is reached it goes around again.

Today, much more complicated algorithms are used to encrypt messages. The Caesar cipher is very easy to decrypt without the key as it is so simple.

Binary

Binary is a number system that only uses two digits, 0 and 1.

It was invented by German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.

Binary code is used widely in computer programming, so it is important to learn what it means and how to use it.

Denary

The decimal number system, which we use everyday, is called denary.

In this system, there are hundreds, tens and units etc.

The denary system is based around the number 10 and uses the digits from 0 to 9.

The number six thousand three hundred and ninety two written in digits is 6392.

Key points

The denary system is based around the number 10

using the digits from 0 to 9.

The binary system is based around the number 2 using the digits 0 and 1.

So, instead of using units, tens, hundreds, and thousands, in the binary system we use units, twos, fours, eights etc.

Converting from a binary number to a denary number

The binary number 1001 can be calculated in denary.

To do this put the number into the table.

To change from binary into denary follow the steps:

Extend the table to give the same number of columns as you have digits
Place the binary number on the table
Add the numbers in the binary place value row that have a 1 in the binary row

Example

What would the binary number 10011010 be in denary?

Click for answer

Converting from a denary number to a binary number

To change from denary into binary follow the steps:

Draw a table. (Once the column heading is bigger than your number you can stop).
Place a one in the column with the largest number that can be subtracted from your number.
Subtract the column number from your number to see what remains.
Continue subtracting until you reach 0

Question

Express 46 in binary.

Click for answer

Binary conversion games

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