Cambridge IGCSE · 0417 · Data 2020–2025
Most-tested topics in IGCSE ICT
Just 3 chapters — Safety and security, ICT applications, Input and output devices — carry about 36% of all the marks. Revise those first.
Based on 42 real Cambridge past papers and 7,152 tagged marks, 2020–2025. Ranked by marks, not guesswork.
Historical counts from past papers — not an exam prediction. Download the data (CSV)
Revise these first
The topics that carry the most marks, highest first. Each opens the free past-paper questions.
- 1Practise →8.3 Security of data9% of marksSafety and securityEvery year
- 2Practise →2.1 Input devices and their uses6% of marksInput and output devicesEvery year
- 3Practise →18.2 Manipulate data4% of marksDatabasesEvery year
- 4Practise →4.1 Networks4% of marksNetworks and the effects of using themEvery year
- 5Practise →18.1 Create a database structure4% of marksDatabasesEvery year
- 6Practise →5.1 Microprocessor-controlled devices4% of marksThe effects of using ITEvery year
- 7Practise →4.2 Network issues and communication3% of marksNetworks and the effects of using themEvery year
- 8Practise →3 Storage devices and media3% of marksStorage devices and mediaEvery year
See the full breakdown — all 57 topics across 21 chapters
Safety and security
14% of marks- 8.3 Security of dataEvery year622 marks · 77 qs
- 8.2 eSafetyEvery year218 marks · 30 qs
- 8.1 Physical safetyEvery year126 marks · 20 qs
ICT applications
12% of marks- 6.1 CommunicationRecurring114 marks · 13 qs
- 6.3 Computer controlled systemsRecurring113 marks · 15 qs
- 6.5 Booking systemsRecurring109 marks · 9 qs
- 6.8 Expert systemsEvery year103 marks · 14 qs
- 6.10 Recognition systemsRecurring93 marks · 10 qs
- 6.6 Banking applicationsRecurring93 marks · 11 qs
- 6.9 Computers in the retail industryRecurring86 marks · 7 qs
- 6.2 Modelling applicationsEvery year57 marks · 9 qs
- 6.11 Satellite systemsRecurring51 marks · 7 qs
- 6.4 School management systemsRecurring37 marks · 3 qs
- 6.7 Computers in medicineOne-off6 marks · 1 qs
Input and output devices
10% of marks- 2.1 Input devices and their usesEvery year396 marks · 57 qs
- 2.3 Output devices and their usesEvery year201 marks · 31 qs
- 2.2 Direct data entry and associated devicesEvery year115 marks · 17 qs
Databases
9% of marks- 18.2 Manipulate dataEvery year309 marks · 32 qs
- 18.1 Create a database structureEvery year278 marks · 27 qs
- 18.3 Present dataRecurring27 marks · 2 qs
Types and components of computer systems
7% of marks- 1.4 Types of computerEvery year145 marks · 21 qs
- 1.2 The main components of computer systemsEvery year142 marks · 31 qs
- 1.5 Emerging technologiesEvery year110 marks · 16 qs
- 1.1 Hardware and softwareEvery year93 marks · 20 qs
- 1.3 Operating systemsRecurring41 marks · 9 qs
The systems life cycle
7% of marks- 7.1 AnalysisEvery year173 marks · 19 qs
- 7.3 Development and testingEvery year123 marks · 14 qs
- 7.4 ImplementationEvery year112 marks · 13 qs
- 7.5 DocumentationRecurring53 marks · 7 qs
- 7.2 DesignRecurring42 marks · 4 qs
- 7.6 EvaluationRecurring28 marks · 3 qs
Networks and the effects of using them
7% of marks- 4.1 NetworksEvery year290 marks · 40 qs
- 4.2 Network issues and communicationEvery year239 marks · 31 qs
Spreadsheets
7% of marks- 20.2 Manipulate dataRecurring211 marks · 17 qs
- 20.3 Present dataRecurring153 marks · 10 qs
- 20.1 Create a data modelRecurring135 marks · 10 qs
Communication
6% of marks- 10.2 Effective use of the internetEvery year235 marks · 29 qs
- 10.1 Communication with other ICT users using emailEvery year184 marks · 22 qs
Layout
4% of marks- 13.1 Create or edit a documentEvery year166 marks · 21 qs
- 13.3 Headers and footersRecurring63 marks · 9 qs
- 13.2 TablesRecurring43 marks · 5 qs
The effects of using IT
4% of marks- 5.1 Microprocessor-controlled devicesEvery year254 marks · 37 qs
Storage devices and media
3% of marks- 3 Storage devices and mediaEvery year237 marks · 43 qs
Website authoring
2% of marks- 21.2 Create a web pageRecurring96 marks · 14 qs
- 21.1 Web development layersEvery year49 marks · 11 qs
- 21.3 Use stylesheetsRecurring20 marks · 4 qs
Audience
2% of marks- 9.1 Audience appreciationEvery year113 marks · 13 qs
- 9.2 CopyrightRecurring46 marks · 8 qs
Images
2% of marks- 12 ImagesEvery year126 marks · 15 qs
File management
1% of marks- 11.2 Reduce file sizes for storage or transmissionRecurring54 marks · 7 qs
- 11.1 Manage files effectivelyEvery year49 marks · 8 qs
Presentations
1% of marks- 19 PresentationsRecurring82 marks · 9 qs
Document production
0% of marks- 17 Document productionRecurring30 marks · 4 qs
Proofing
0% of marks- 15.2 Proofing techniquesRecurring21 marks · 5 qs
- 15.1 Software toolsRecurring6 marks · 2 qs
Graphs and charts
0% of marks- 16 Graphs and chartsRecurring18 marks · 2 qs
Styles
0% of marks- 14 StylesRecurring16 marks · 3 qs
Turn the data into practice
Every topic above is drawn from real Cambridge IGCSE ICT papers, tagged to the syllabus. Students can drill the high-frequency topics in the free bank; teachers can turn any of them into a ready-to-print worksheet in seconds. Or explore the full six-year trends in the interactive records.