Computer systems: hardware and software
Learn Computer systems: hardware and software for Years 7–9 pupils (ages 11–14). Free practice questions, lessons and worked examples — aligned to the UK National Curriculum.
What you'll learn
- 1
Hardware is the physical parts. Software is the programs. The CPU carries out instructions.
- 2
RAM is fast temporary storage that empties when power is lost. Storage (SSD, hard disk) keeps data permanently but is slower.
- 3
What happens to data in RAM when the power goes off?
- 4
System software (the operating system) manages the hardware. Application software is what you use to do a task.
- 5
The fetch-decode-execute cycle: fetch the next instruction from memory, work out what it means, then carry it out. A modern CPU does this billions of times a second.
- 6
Which of these is an operating system?
- 7
Why is storage used as well as RAM?
Practise Computer systems: hardware and software with Whizlo
Free AI-tutored lessons, unlimited practice questions, and progress tracking for ages 11–14. Aligned to the UK National Curriculum.