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Cambridge IGCSE Information and Communication Technology (0417), Paper 1 Theory, May/June 2023. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
0417_s23_qp_120417_s23_ms_120417/12/M/J/23
Each question as it's printed, and the mark scheme's points for it, as text. Diagrams, tables and graphs are in the PDFs above.
Question
A book contains a bar code whose number is 503619309903 Tick (✓) the most appropriate validation check to test the validity of the bar code. A check digit B format check C range check D spell check [1]
Mark scheme
1 Check digit 1
Question
Identify the most appropriate hardware from the descriptions given: (a) non-volatile internal memory used to store the start-up instructions …… [1] (b) an internal component that provides the input and output of audio signals …… [1] (c) an internal component that is composed of the main memory, the control unit and the arithmetic logic unit. …… [1]
Mark scheme
2(a) Read Only Memory/ROM 1 2(b) Sound card 1 2(c) CPU/Processor 1
Question
A headteacher is producing a web page about the history of her school. She has been given some old hard-copy photographs which she will include on the web page. She has a digital camera and a scanner to use to convert the hard-copy photographs into a digital format. Compare the use of a digital camera with a scanner in this scenario. Your answer must include similarities and differences. …… [4]
Mark scheme
3 Four from: 4 Similarities Both capture images Both store digital data Both create digital images Differences Digital camera is more portable Scanner captures the image in more detail Scanners do not have a keystone effect Digital camera may capture glare/shadow off the image Digital camera has faster data capture To gain full marks the comparison must have correct answers for both similarities and differences.
Question
A company uses an extranet. (a) Explain what is meant by an extranet. …… [2] (b) Describe the differences between the internet and an extranet. …… [2]
Mark scheme
4(a) Two from: 2 An extranet is part of a company's intranet The company gives permission for customers and suppliers to access it Enables businesses to exchange information over the internet in a secure way Requires credentials/username and password to access it 4(b) Two from: 2 Internet allows public access to information whereas Extranet allows limited access Extranet is more secure The internet is not owned by anyone whereas the Extranet is owned by a company More information on the internet
Question
State which health issue is most likely to occur from each description shown. Your answer must be different in each case. (a) typing on a keyboard for long periods of time …… [1] (b) looking at a computer screen for a long time …… [1] (c) sitting with poor posture …… [1]
Mark scheme
5(a) Repetitive strain injury/RSI/carpel syndrome 1 5(b) Eye strain/headache/neckache 1 5(c) Neck ache/back ache 1
Question
A company requires its employees to regularly change their login passwords for the company’s computer systems. Passwords must be strong and cannot be reused. (a) Explain three problems that may occur when the employees change their passwords regularly. 1 …… 2 …… 3 …… [6] (b) The company has a website which uses a digital certificate. Explain the purpose of the digital certificate. …… [1] (c) A digital certificate is attached to an email. State three items contained in a digital certificate. 1 …… 2 …… 3 …… [3]
Mark scheme
6(a) Three matched pairs from: 6 The passwords could become similar … … security/passwords could be weakened May be more difficult to find a different password … … the passwords/security could be weakened Users could easily forget the current password … … leading to system lock out It may be typed incorrectly as the password is like the previous one … … could lead to login errors Users may have to write the passwords down so they are not forgotten … … this may lead to others seeing the passwords 6(b) One from: 1 To ensure a website is trusted/authentic/genuine Verifies if the company owns the website To share a public key for encryption when communicating with the website 6(c) Three from: 3 Company/owner's name Owner's/company public key Date issued Expiry date Company/owner's digital signature Issuer's/Sender’s name Serial number
Question
A student is creating a spreadsheet that includes a formula to check a number entered in a cell is between two values. • The number is entered in cell A10 as an integer. • If the number is between the two values then a message ‘OK’ is displayed, otherwise ‘error’ is displayed. The formula the student has created is: =IF(AND(A10>1,A10<32),"OK","error") Data will be used to test the formula. (a) Identify two items of extreme test data the student should use and give the reason why this data was chosen. Extreme test data 1 …… Extreme test data 2 …… Reason …… [3] (b) The student has entered an item of abnormal test data. Explain why abnormal test data is used. …… [3]
Mark scheme
7(a) 2 – 1 mark 3 31 – 1 mark One from: To test the boundaries (of the formula) To test the comparisons are correct 7(b) Three from: 3 To test that data outside the range is not acceptable To test that the correct data type is entered To test that the error message works To test that the errors are trapped correctly
Question
A teacher provides revision lessons during the holidays. The teacher plans to use web-conferencing for the lessons. (a) Explain what is meant by web-conferencing. …… [3] (b) Evaluate the use of web-conferencing in this scenario. …… [6]
Mark scheme
8(a) Three from: 3 Form of real-time/live/online communication Multiple users/devices connect … … using the internet All users see the same screen. Communication using video cameras/microphones 8(b) Six from: 6 Positives The students save time as they do not need to travel to the school The students save the cost of travelling to the school. The school saves costs as it does not need to open in the holidays Students and teachers can work from anywhere in the world Can be recorded for students who miss the lesson Negatives Hardware/software could be expensive Requires a good/reliable internet connection There could be issues with child protection More difficult to concentrate/motivate If the hardware breaks/loss of connection/lack of hardware then the student cannot participate Only students with the correct specialist devices will be able to access To gain full marks candidates must have correct answers for both positives and negatives
Question
(a) The products in a warehouse contain either a bar code or a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The data about each product is read electronically. Compare bar code readers and RFID readers. Your answer must include similarities and differences. …… [6] (b) Identify two other uses of RFID. 1 …… 2 …… [2]
Mark scheme
9(a) Six from: 6 Similarities Both readers scan the product code Both readers use direct data entry Both readers allow tracking of products Both readers are contactless Differences Bar code readers only scan one bar code at a time whereas RFID readers read multiple tags at the same time Bar code readers require a direct line-of-sight with the code RFID readers use near-field technology Bar code readers need to be close to the bar code Bar code needs to be in the correct position for reader to be able to read it Bar codes readers might not be able to read a damaged/scratched bar code whereas RFID can read data as long as chip/tag is not severely damaged. Bar code reader might have read errors if the bar code is damaged/scratched whereas RFID readers are more likely to read damaged/scratched tags Bar code readers emit/use light whereas RFID uses electromagnetic/radio waves To gain full marks the comparison must have correct answers for both similarities and differences. 9(b) Two from for example: 2 Race timing Tracking Event Attendee Tracking Livestock Tracking Library book Tracking Contactless/credit/debit card payment Passports/ID cards
Question
Metatags can be used in a web page. (a) A metatag can be used to define the viewport settings. Identify three other items that can be defined in metatags. 1 …… 2 …… 3 …… [3] (b) Metatags are used in the HTML of web pages. State the section of the HTML which contains the metatags. …… [1]
Mark scheme
10(a) Three from: 3 Name attributes Charset//Character set Content attributes 10(b) The <head> element 1
Question
Some gaming systems use gesture based user interfaces to operate a game. (a) Describe what is meant by a gesture based user interface. …… [2] (b) Describe the drawbacks of using gesture based user interfaces in this way. …… [4]
Mark scheme
11(a) Two from: 2 Where the human body interacts with the device Where a human gives a command ... … without using a keyboard/mouse/pointing device 11(b) Four from: 4 Fatigue/gorilla arm User can unintentionally activate the device … … by moving their arms/fingers Not as accurate as other interfaces Issues with stopping the gesture … … if user touches a button, interface knows the command is completed Have to learn what the gestures do//Having to remember the gestures Could cause damage if in restricted space May have a limited number of gestures that can be used Users with physical disabilities may not be able to make the gestures Have to use/learn the gestures accurately otherwise they may not be identified
Question
Movies can be stored on Blu-ray discs or an internal hard disk. (a) Describe why Blu-ray discs are preferred to an internal hard disk for storing movies. …… [4] (b) Hard disks and Blu-ray discs are examples of backing storage. (i) State two characteristics of backing storage. 1 …… 2 …… [2] (ii) Identify two other types of backing storage. 1 …… 2 …… [2]
Mark scheme
12(a) Four from: 4 Data cannot be erased/edited Blu-ray discs are portable As it is on an external device it does not take up internal storage You can have large number of Blu-ray discs therefore more storage Hard Disk is fixed in the computer 12(b)(i) Two from: 2 Non-volatile Stores data permanently Slower to access than internal memory 12(b)(ii) Two from: 2 Magnetic tape CD DVD DVD RAM Memory cards Pen drives SSD Cloud storage Flash memory
Question
Weather forecasters use computer modelling. (a) Explain why computer modelling is used to forecast the weather. …… [4] (b) Data is collected by different types of sensor and then input to the computer model to be processed. Identify two sensors that could be used to collect weather data. 1 …… 2 …… [2] (c) The processed data is then output. Identify two output devices that could be used. 1 …… 2 …… [2] 14 ePublishing software is used to create an ePublication to display a school’s yearly magazine. (a) Describe the characteristics of an ePublication. …… [4] (b) The ePublishing software is subject to software copyright legislation. Give two methods that could be used to prevent software copyright legislation being broken. 1 …… 2 …… [2]
Mark scheme
13(a) Four from: 4 The large number of variables makes it more difficult for a human to forecast correctly/accurately Can predict long range weather trends/global warming Faster way of producing weather patterns than using a human Can deal with the more complex calculations quicker More accurate results produced Can give residents early warning of severe weather 13(b) Two from: 2 Pressure Temperature Moisture/Humidity Wind speed 13(c) Two from: 2 Monitor Printer Plotter
Question
In the question paper above.
Mark scheme
14(a) Four from: 4 Allows multimedia to be embedded in the pages Allows auto change of pages It is digital so can be used in other documents Sections can be linked internally/externally Readers can interact with the ePublication Can be used by many users simultaneously More up-to-date than physical magazines 14(b) Two from: 2 Users type in a unique licence key/serial number/authorisation key Users install DRM (parts of the code which stop you from copying it) Use of licence agreements Running the software with a dongle/CD/Pendrive attached Getting permission from the owner
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On this page, free: the mark scheme for IGCSE Information and Communication Technology 0417/12, May/June 2023 (0417_s23_ms_12), and the question paper (0417_s23_qp_12), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
Information and Communication Technology 0417/12 for May/June 2023 is out of 80 marks, with 1 hour 30 minutes to answer it.
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