NECO

computer Studies
Syllabus
A comprehensive Guide to acing your NECO examinations with ease

N E C O

Standard

Includes
Syllabu
Recommended Textbook
NECO Grading System

www.syllabus.ng
 TABLE OF CONTENT

About Us..................................................................................Page 3
Chapter One
About NECO...............................................................................Page 5
Chapter Two
Syllabus...................................................................................Page 6
Chapter Three
Recommended Textbooks........................................................Page 7
Chapter Four
NECO Grading System...............................................................Page 8
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 ABOUT THE NATIONAL EXAMINATION COUNCIL
(NECO)
The National Examination Council (NECO) is an examination board that conducts the
Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) for internal and external candi-
dates within Nigeria. This examination board also conducts other examinations such
as the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) and Basic Education Certifi-
cate Examination (BECE).

The SSCE conducted by NECO is an examination written by students who have con-
cluded their senior secondary education. The certificate is one of the prerequisite
documents for gaining admission into a tertiary institution for students who are will-
ing to further their education.

The BECE is an examination written by students who have completed their junior
secondary education and are willing to advance to the senior secondary level.

The NCCE is an exam taken by students in their final year of primary education, typ-
ically in the 6th year.

NECO has an online result verification/confirmation system where students can

check their SSCE, BECE, and NCCE results, using purchased tokens.

The main NECO syllabus is the property of The National Examinations Council
(NECO). This ebook is only for education purposes. No copyright issues intended.
 Chapter One
Aims & Objectives

About
We’ve put this syllabus together to give you a clear roadmap on what to expect in
your computer studies NECO exam. The NECO Computer Studies exam syllabus has
been divided into ten thematic areas, each focusing on essential aspects of computer
studies. From the basics of computer fundamentals and hardware to software appli-
cations.
The examiners want to test your understanding, knowledge, and skills in a variety of
areas. From understanding the basic concepts of computer operations to flexing
those problem-solving muscles, they want to see what you’ve got. So, buckle up and
get ready.
 ___________________________________________________________________ Aims & Objectives

Marking Guides & Sections

Let's break down how the exam is structured and how the marking works. This should
help you understand what to focus on and how to make the most of your time.

Paper 1

Paper 1 is your first round, you've got 50 multiple-choice questions coming your way,

and you've got to answer them all in just one hour. That’s a lot of brain power packed

into a short time frame, but don't worry, you've got this, each correct answer will earn

you a ½ mark which sums up paper 1 to a total of 25 marks.

Paper 2

You will face five essay questions, but here's the twist: you only need to answer three

of them. That gives you a bit of flexibility to show off your knowledge and writing skills.

You've still got just one hour, so make every word count. This paper is worth 30 marks

in total, so aim high!

Paper 3

Paper 3 is the practical showcase. This is where you get to tighten your belt as the

practical assessment will determine your success. For school candidates, it's all about

putting your practical skills to the test. Private candidates, don't worry, the examiner

has something for you too, a chance to show off your knowledge of practical work. You

will have two hours to answer three questions and earn yourself 45 marks.
 Chapter Two
Syllabus
NECO COMPUTER STUDIES SYLLABUS
SN TOPICS OBJECTIVES
1 COMPUTER 1.1 Computing Devices I (Precomputing age-
EVOLUTION 19th century)
(i)Features , components and uses of early
computing devices:
- Abacus;
- Slide Rule ;
- Napier’s bone;
- Pascal’s calculator;
- Leibniz multiplier;
- Jacquard 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.

1.2 Computing Devices II (20th century to date)

Features, components and uses of: -ENIAC
-EDVAC
-UNIVAC 1
-Desktop Personal
Computers
-Laptop and Notebook computers -Palmtop.
2 FUNDAMENTALS OF 2.1 Overview of Computing System
COMPUTING - 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.
2.2 Data and Information
- Definition and examples of data and
information;
- Differences between data and
information.
3 COMPUTER ETHICS 3.1 Security and Ethics
AND HUMAN ISSUE 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 Policy
-Using sites with web certificates
-Exercising care in opening email
attachments
3.Legal Issues
-Copyright (software copyright)
-ownership right to
-text;
-images;
-audio; -video
-Privacy of audio and video software -Cyber
crimes
-identity theft;
-internet fraud
-Hacking
4 COMPUTER 4.1 Input devices
HARDWARE 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

4.2 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

4.3 Central Processing Unit

Components of C.P.U.: Arithmetic and logic
unit, control unit
Function of ALU and Control Unit

4.4 Memory Unit

Types of Memory Unit: Primary And Secondary
memory
-Components of Primary memory unit: ROM
and
RAM
Differences and uses of
ROM and RAM
Examples of Secondary 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

4.5 Logic Circuits

-Definition, types and uses of standard logic
gate:
AND, NOT, OR
Symbols of AND, NOT, OR gates
-Construction of truth table 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
5 COMPUTER 5.1 System Software
SOFTWARE (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. Antivirus
(iii) Examples of Operating
System
- MS Windows
- Linux
- UNIX
- MS-DOS etc
Examples of Translators
Assemblers
Compilers
Interpreters
v) Examples of Utility

5.2 Operating System

Editor
Anti-virus etc

Definition, types, examples and function of

Operating System
Graphic User
Interface(GUI)
GUI (MS Windows,
Linux, etc)
Command line (MS
DOS, UNIX, etc

5.3 Application Software

(i) Definition and types of application
software
(ii) Common Application Packages and
their examples
- Word processing(MS Windows)
- Spreadsheet(MS Excel)
- Database(MS Access)
- Graphics
(iii) Packages for spreadsheet purpose
- Accounting software
- Payroll program
- Banking software
- Education management software
- Statistical packages
6 COMPUTER 6.1 Word Processing
APPLICATION (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

6.2 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

6.3 Database
(i)Definition of database and database
packages
7 MANAGING 7.1 Concept of Computer Files
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
-indexed
-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

7.2 Handling Computer File

(i)Basic operation on computer files
-file
-delete
-retrieve
-insert
-copy
-view
-update
-open
-close
(ii) Effect of file insecurity
(iii)Causes of data loss
(iv)Methods of file security
(v)Differences between computer files and
manual files
(vi)Advantages of computer files
(vii)Disadvantages of computer files
8 BASIC COMPUTER 8.1 Booting and shutting down process
OPERATIONS (i) Description and types of booting process
(ii)Types of booting process
(iii)Steps involved in booting a computer
(iv)Identification of features on a desktop

8.2 Computer Data Conversion

(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.
9 INFORMATION AND 9.1 Communication Systems
COMMUNICATION i)What‘ICT’ acronym stands for.
TECHNOLOGY(ICT) (ii) Types of ICT

9.2 Application areas of ICT

(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

9.3 Internet
(i)Definition of Internet and some Internet
terms:
-Homepage
-Browse
-Browser
-Chatroom
-Cybercafe
-HTTP
-HTML
-ISP
-Webpage
-Website,etc
(ii)Types of internet browsers
(iii)Features of Internet browsers
(iv)Types of Internet services

9.4 Electronic Mail(e-mail)Services

(i)Definition of electronic mail
(ii)E-mail Services:
(iii)Steps involved in creating e-mail account
(iv)Steps involved in opening mail box
(v)Features in an e-mail address.
(vi)Definition and steps involved in chatting

9.5 Networking
(i)Definition of a Computer Network
(ii)Types of Network
(iii) Network topology
(iv)Network devices
(v)Advantages of Networking

9.6 Introduction to Worldwide web (W.W.W.)

(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
(vii)Difference between e-mail and website
address features:
e.g.www.waeconline.org and waec@yahoo.com
(viii)Software for web development.

9.7 Cables and Connectors

(i)Types of Network Cables and Connectors
(ii)Types of Computer Cables and Connector
10 DEVELOPING 4.1 Input devices
PROBLEM-SOLVING Definition and examples of input devices
SKILLS 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

4.2 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

4.3 Central Processing Unit

Components of C.P.U.: Arithmetic and logic
unit, control unit
Function of ALU and Control Unit

4.4 Memory Unit

Types of Memory Unit: Primary and Secondary
memory
-Components of Primary memory unit: ROM
and
RAM
Differences and uses of
ROM and RAM
Examples of Secondary memory devices:
floppy disk, hard disk,
compact disk(CD), flash disk, digitalvideo-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

4.5 Logic Circuits

-Definition, types and uses of standard logic
gate:
AND, NOT, OR
Symbols of AND, NOT, OR gates
-Construction of truth table 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
________________________________________________________________ NECO Grading System

It is very important to score at least 50% which will give you a C6 in the 4 compul-
sory subjects as well as your core subjects or you could have problems getting admis-
sion and may have to re-write the exams.

For example, if you want to study Medicine and Surgery, you should try hard to score
high in Mathematics, English, Civic Education, and the trade subject you are writing
and your core subjects which are: Physics, Biology, and Chemistry
 Chapter Three
NECO Grading System
The performance and grading of the SSCE candidates in the NECO examination can
be determined by the grading system. The basic criteria for admission into a ter-
tiary institution and employment in most organizations in Nigeria are 5 credits in
Mathematics, English, and 3 other subjects related to the field of study, in a mini-
mum of two sittings.

  

75-100 A1 Excellent

70-74 B2 Very Good

65-69 B3 Good

60-64 C4 Credit

55-59 C5 Credit

50-54 C6 Credit

45-49 D7 Pass

40-44 E8 Pass

39 and below F9 Fail

___________________________________________________________Computer Studies Syllabus

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
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