Year 10 - Computing
The fetch-execute (FE) cycle
Computer Systems
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will discover the difference between general purpose and embedded systems. They will examine computer architecture and the components that make up a processor. Pupils will recognise the need for storage and be able to select a suitable storage device for a given purpose.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the steps and functions of components in the fetch-execute (FE) cycle.
Key Notes
- The control unit decodes an instruction and tells other components what to do.
- The accumulator holds any data that is produced.
- Buses carry instructions from one component to another.
Vocabulary To Learn
- bus: used to carry instructions from one component to another
- binary representation: a sequence of 0s and 1s — the machine code of a computer
- accumulator: a register in the CPU that stores the results of calculations
- simulator: a program or system that imitates the behaviour of a real-world process
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The CPU decodes and understands the instructions.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Describe the system or process from this lesson in clear steps.
The control unit decodes an instruction and tells other components what to do. The accumulator holds any data that is produced.
2. Define this computing term and give one practical example. 'bus'
used to carry instructions from one component to another. Add one real device or system example to prove understanding.
3. Correct this common computing misconception.
Mistake: The CPU decodes and understands the instructions. Correction: The instruction is decoded and then executed. The process only executes the instructions received.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Computing guide library.