IGCSE CS (0478) Binary and Hexadecimal Notes

IGCSE CS (0478) Binary and Hexadecimal Revision Notes

Binary and hexadecimal questions appear on Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1 every single year.

Students who know the methods pick up marks quickly. Students who don’t lose marks they should never lose.

These revision notes fix that - with clear step-by-step methods, worked examples, common exam mistakes and a quick quiz with answers, all using precise Cambridge mark scheme language throughout.

This resource covers:

What binary is and why computers use it

Binary place values - 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1

Converting binary to denary - step by step with worked example.

Converting denary to binary - step by step with worked example.

What hexadecimal is and why it is used in computing.

Full denary, hex and binary conversion table - 0 to 15.

Why hexadecimal is shorter and easier to read than binary.

Binary addition rules — including carries.

Overflow — what it is, how it happens and how to detect it.

Two’s complement — representing negative numbers in binary.

Common exam mistakes and how to avoid them.

Examiner tips for maximising marks.

Quick quiz with 5 questions and full answers.

Final summary table covering all key topics

What’s included:

Step-by-step conversion methods with worked examples
Full hex to binary reference table
Binary addition rules table
Overflow example with explanation
Two’s complement step-by-step method
6 common exam mistakes with corrections
4 examiner tips
5 question quick quiz with full answer guide
Final summary reference table

Suitable for:

Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478

KS4 Computer Science lessons

Student independent revision

Homework and classroom activities

Last minute exam preparation

Free to download and use immediately.

All content uses precise Cambridge mark scheme language to help students write answers that score full marks.