ICSE · Class 11 · Computer Science · Syllabus
ICSE Class 11 Computer Science Syllabus, Units & Marks
Studying this subject? See the ICSE Class 11 Computer Science course, or read the units below first.
What is the ICSE Class 11 Computer Science syllabus?
ICSE Class 11 Computer Science is organised into 8 units. The full unit list, the topics inside each one and the exam pattern are below, taken from the syllabus we teach to.
ICSE Class 11 Computer Science unit list
| Unit | Topic |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Unit 1: Computer Systems and Number Representation |
| Unit 2 | Unit 2: Boolean Algebra and Computer Architecture |
| Unit 3 | Unit 3: Software and Algorithmic Problem Solving |
| Unit 4 | Unit 4: Object-Oriented Programming with Java |
| Unit 5 | Unit 5: Statements, Control Flow and Functions |
| Unit 6 | Unit 6: Arrays and Strings |
| Unit 7 | Unit 7: Elementary Data Structures and Implementation |
| Unit 8 | Unit 8: Social Context of Computing |
| Total | 8 units |
What each unit covers
Unit 1: Computer Systems and Number Representation
- Number systems: binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal and inter-conversions
- Integer encodings: sign-magnitude, one's and two's complement representation
- Floating-point representation; character encoding (ASCII, ISCII, UNICODE)
- High-level structure of a computer: block diagram, functional units and data flow
Unit 2: Boolean Algebra and Computer Architecture
- Propositional (Boolean) logic, logic gates: AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR, XNOR
- Truth tables, basic logic circuits and half/full adders
- Basic architecture of a simple processor and instruction set
- Memory units and types: RAM, ROM, cache and secondary storage
Unit 3: Software and Algorithmic Problem Solving
- System and application software; operating system basics, booting
- Process, memory and file management overview
- Introduction to algorithmic problem solving using Java
- Designing and expressing algorithms for problems
Unit 4: Object-Oriented Programming with Java
- Objects as data (attributes) and behaviour (methods/functions)
- Classes, objects and the object-oriented paradigm
- Primitive values, wrapper classes, data types and type casting
- Variables, expressions, operators and operator precedence
Unit 5: Statements, Control Flow and Functions
- Statements, scope and variable visibility
- Conditional statements: if, if-else, nested if, switch
- Iterative statements: while, do-while, for; jump statements
- Functions/methods: arguments, return values and static members
Unit 6: Arrays and Strings
- Single and multi-dimensional arrays; address calculation (row-major, column-major)
- Sorting techniques: bubble, selection and insertion sort
- Searching techniques: linear and binary search
- Java String class and basic string operations
Unit 7: Elementary Data Structures and Implementation
- Stacks, queues and deques as elementary data structures
- Recursion and recursive problem solving
- Basic file input/output in Java
- Implementation of algorithms in Java to solve problems
Unit 8: Social Context of Computing
- Intellectual property rights, software licensing and copyrights
- Privacy, data security and computer-related crimes
- Ethical issues and professional responsibility in IT
- New developments and emerging trends in information technology
Exam pattern
Total 100 marks. Theory paper: 70 marks (a compulsory short-answer section plus sections A, B and C with internal choice). Practical paper: 30 marks (planning session to hand-write a Java program, followed by an examination session to key-in and execute it on the computer).
Practical and project work
30-mark practical exam based on Java programming. Students complete a minimum of about 20 lab assignments across the year plus ONE project based on the syllabus. In the exam, candidates plan and hand-write a Java program, then key-in and execute it on seen and unseen inputs, attaching the program listing and output to the answer script.
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Frequently asked questions
How many units are there in ICSE Class 11 Computer Science?+
ICSE Class 11 Computer Science is organised into 8 units.
What is the exam pattern for ICSE Class 11 Computer Science?+
Total 100 marks. Theory paper: 70 marks (a compulsory short-answer section plus sections A, B and C with internal choice). Practical paper: 30 marks (planning session to hand-write a Java program, followed by an examination session to key-in and execute it on the computer).
Is there a practical exam in ICSE Class 11 Computer Science?+
30-mark practical exam based on Java programming. Students complete a minimum of about 20 lab assignments across the year plus ONE project based on the syllabus. In the exam, candidates plan and hand-write a Java program, then key-in and execute it on seen and unseen inputs, atta