Information and Communication Technology 0417/12 February/March 2025: question paper and mark scheme

Mark scheme

1 Keyboard 2 Mouse

Mark scheme

2(a)(i) A computer program 2 Data is arranged / stored / organised in rows and columns 2(a)(ii) Two from: 2 A computer program Collection of structured / organised data It manages / stores data in a fields / records / files / tables 2(a)(iii) A small computer program 2 Performs specific task within a larger application 2(b) Three from: 3 Compilers Linkers Device drivers Operating systems Utilities

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3(a) Four from: 4 An Interactive user interface appears Questions are asked about the illness Users answer the questions Y or N answers are given Answers lead to other questions The inference engine searches The knowledge base is searched using the rules base Outputs an explanation of the diagnoses 3(b) Two from: 2 The illness could be new The illness may not be stored in the knowledge base Data in the knowledge base could be incorrect The user enters incorrect data

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4(a) One from: 1 Data that is currently in use Data used in the old system Data where the outputs are known 4(b) Two from: 2 The data could contain personal data Requires permission to use the data The data could breach data protection legislation 4(c) Two from: 2 It describes the testing approach of the database Maps / plans out how the testing is to be carried out Explains how each module / function / full system is to be tested

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5(a) Benefits 6 Max five from: Money is saved as expensive gaming machines need not be purchased Multi-user games can be easily used The games are more up to date Allows the user to play from many places Many more games are available Games may have a higher resolution Large storage capacity so the game runs more smoothly Drawbacks Max five from: Needs a stable internet connection Needs greater bandwidth User does not own the game There is / may be a monthly subscription to play Cloud storage could be expensive The games are not as high resolution due to video compression Liable to lag 5(b) Two from: 2 The process of scrambling data Uses a key to encrypt / decrypt the data Convert plain text into cipher text Makes the data hard to understand 5(c) Three from: 3 Install anti-virus software Keep the anti-virus software up to date Scan the attachment for viruses Remove all personal data from the document Encrypt / password protect the file if personal data is being sent Check that it is being sent to the correct email address Make sure the user is sending the correct attachment

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6 For 6 Max five from: Smartphones use land-based towers / cells / base station which are less likely to be found in remote areas Smartphones are designed for urban use Satellite phones are more likely to get a signal Satellite phones are more robust Satellite phones have a larger range Satellite phones can withstand extreme temperatures Against Max five from: Satellite signals are more easily blocked by obstacles Satellite phone needs expensive licences to use Satellite phone tends only to be used for phone calls More legal / security issues using satellite phones than smartphones Less bandwidth is available for satellite phones only low data rates can be achieved

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7(a) Benefits 4 Max three from: Cheaper staffing costs Only needs to be one set of staff Only one system in place therefore cheaper The software is fully tested before implementation therefore fewer errors Prevents the duplication of data Saves time on entering data as data is entered once Drawbacks Max three from: Staff have very little time to train on the new system as the system is implemented immediately The original system cannot be used If the new system fails, all data is lost Increase staff costs as staff will need to be trained to use the new system Staff cannot train easily on the live system 7(b) One mark for: 2 When the system has been implemented it can be used straight away One from: Implemented without further testing The whole system is implemented at once

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8(a) One from: 1 CD reader DVD reader Blu-ray disc reader 8(b) One from: 1 Magnetic hard drives Magnetic tape reader Magnetic stripe reader 8(c) One from: 1 SSD Pen drive Flash drive Memory card reader

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9(a) Provides a computer with a connection to a network 4 It allows the computers to communicate with other computers on a network It prepares / transmits / controls / receives the flow of data on the network It provides the device with its own MAC address 9(b) Four from: 4 Turn on the Bluetooth headphones Bring them close to the computer Headphones / computer send signals Select Bluetooth settings on the computer Click search for devices Computer scans the area around it Computer identifies the device Click add device Select the headphones from the list Click pair Send the Bluetooth tethering / pairing signal

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10(a) Three from: 3 The inputs of the current system The processing of the current system The outputs of the current system Data flow in the current system Problems with the current system 10(b) Three from: 3 Identifies suitable hardware for the new system Identifies suitable software for the new system Justifies suitable hardware / software for the new system Explains what the software needs to do Identifies the capabilities of the new system

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11(a) Two from: 2 The age of the target group The experience of the audience The knowledge of the audience 11(b) One mark for the method and one mark for the description 6 Legal protection Notices on the software packaging that states it is illegal to make unauthorised copies of the software Licence agreements An agreement between the user and the vendor about the software use Dongle Piece of hardware plugged into a computer software cannot be used without it Product / serial / pass / access key A unique code entered by the user Online verification One from: Software is stored on the cloud User must log into a cloud account to use the program If the software is single use, then the second log in will not be allowed Watermarks / holograms These are placed on the packaging to show that the software is legal

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12(a) Three from: 3 Monitor browsing / search history Only allow children to work under parent observation Install website monitoring software Record the activities the children are doing online / websites visited 12(b) Three from: 3 Plan the times when the children can use the internet Create content filters to block inappropriate content Switch on parental controls Turn on safe search on search engines Install website control software Set up an allow list / deny list in the router

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13(a) Two from: 2 Allows the user to save files so that they can be opened on any platform Software programs rarely support all types of file format Allows users to transfer files from one package to another 13(b) Two from, for example: 2 Graphics Interchange Format / GIF Joint Photographic Experts Group / JPG / JPEG Portable Network Graphics / PNG Scalable Vector Graphics / SVG