Systems ArchitectureExam Tips
Exam Tips - The ALU
Part of Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) — GCSE Computer Science
This exam tips covers Exam Tips - The ALU within Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in Systems Architecture for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 6 of 6 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 6 of 6
Practice
15 questions
Recall
12 flashcards
Exam Tips - The ALU
Always mention BOTH arithmetic AND logic:
- When asked "What does the ALU do?" → "Performs arithmetic AND logic operations"
- Don't just say "does calculations" - you'll lose marks!
- It's called Arithmetic Logic Unit - both words matter
Give specific examples:
- Arithmetic: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
- Logic: AND, OR, NOT operations
- Comparisons: equals, greater than, less than
Remember where results go:
- ALU results are stored in the Accumulator (ACC)
- This happens during the EXECUTE stage
- The result overwrites the previous ACC value