S4 · Foundation Year
Goal: build vocabulary and core skills across Modules A–E. Avoid burning out — there are two more years.
Term 1 (Sep–Dec)
| Week | Focus | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Module A intro + data types | Number-base conversion quiz |
| 4–6 | Module A organisation + control | Excel mini project |
| 7–9 | Module C networking + Internet basics | Network diagram of home |
| 10–12 | Module D problem analysis + flowcharts | IPO worksheet for 3 problems |
| 13 | Term test | Module A + D recap |
Tools to install / register
- Python 3 + an editor (VS Code recommended)
- A browser bookmark for SQL Books — practise reading SQL early
- Notebook for vocabulary flashcards (Anki / Quizlet works)
Term 2 (Jan–Mar)
| Week | Focus | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Module C Internet services + web authoring | One static HTML page |
| 4–6 | Module D algorithm design | Pseudocode for 5 algorithms |
| 7–9 | Module D programming (Python) | 5 small Python programs |
| 10–12 | Module D testing | Trace tables on paper |
Recommended weekly cadence
- 1 short coding exercise (LeetCode easy / classroom worksheet)
- 1 SQL query traced from textbook (run it in SQL Books)
- 1 vocabulary review (50 cards)
Term 3 (Apr–Jun)
| Week | Focus | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Module B hardware + system software | Build-your-own-PC budget exercise |
| 4–6 | Module E social impact + ethics | 500-word ethics opinion |
| 7–10 | Elective taster (2A → 2B → 2C) | Sample question from each |
| 11–13 | End-of-year exam | All modules covered |
Why taster all three?
You decide on your two electives at the end of S4 / start of S5. Spending a week tasting each elective lets you choose with first-hand experience instead of rumours.
Summer holiday (recommended)
- Read ahead into your two chosen electives.
- Code one small personal project in Python (≤ 200 lines).
- Watch one beginner-friendly video on database design.
- Optionally sketch a SBA topic and discuss with your future S5 teacher.
What "good" looks like by end of S4
- You can convert numbers between binary/hex/denary in 30 seconds.
- You can read a SQL
SELECT … FROM … WHEREand predict its output. - You can write a Python program that sums numbers from a file.
- You can list 3 examples of intellectual property infringement.
- You have a working idea of what 2A vs 2B vs 2C feels like.
➡️ Next: S5 · Building Depth