Information Technology 9626/12 February/March 2019: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Information Technology (9626), Paper 1 Theory, February/March 2019. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
Tick the four statements, referring to different types of application software, which are true.
✓
You can use word processing software to create tables of data
You can only use database software to create reports
Spreadsheet software can be used to produce charts
You must always use web authoring software when creating web pages
Financial modelling can involve the use of spreadsheet software
Video editing software cannot be used to edit a music soundtrack
Word processing software can include multimedia features
You can only create data forms using database software
Photo editing software is only used to edit photos
A management information system (MIS) is a form of database management system
[4]
Mark scheme
1 4
You can use word processing software to create tables of data 3
You can only use database software to create reports
Spreadsheet software is used to produce charts 3
You must always use web authoring software when creating web
pages
Financial modelling can involve the use of spreadsheet software 3
Video editing software cannot be used to edit a music soundtrack
Word processing software can include multimedia features
You can only create data forms using database software
Photo editing software is only used to edit photos
A management information system (MIS) is a form of database
3
management system
Tick the four most accurate statements, referring to the digital divide.
✓
The digital divide can exist between the educated and uneducated
The digital divide can exist between those living in rural areas and those living in urban areas
The digital divide does not exist between people from different economic classes
Everyone these days owns a smartphone so the divide is closing rapidly
Minority groups have no difficulty performing transactions on smartphones thereby reducing the divide
Disabilities of potential internet users constitute another type of digital divide
Some less developed countries have limited access to digital services
Most tribal communities have universal mobile phone coverage in their community
The digital divide only refers to those who can and cannot access the internet
The price of connection to the internet tends not to vary between countries
[4]
Mark scheme
2 4
The digital divide can exist between the educated and uneducated 3
The digital divide can exist between those living in rural areas and
3
those living in urban areas
The digital divide does not exist between people from different
economic classes
Everyone these days owns a smartphone so the divide is closing
rapidly
Minority groups have no difficulty performing transactions on
smartphones thereby reducing the divide
Disabilities of potential internet users constitute another type of
3
digital divide
Some less developed countries have limited access to digital
3
services
Most tribal communities have universal mobile phone coverage in
their community
The digital divide only refers to those who can and cannot access
the internet
The price of connection to the internet tends not to vary between
countries
A student is researching the topic of her new assignment. She has been provided with a series of hard copy magazine articles. She has been told by her tutor that these are probably more reliable than searching the World Wide Web for information.
Compare and contrast the use of these two types of data sources for her research.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
3 Six from: 6
Max five from:
Static information sources/magazines are more carefully checked for
accuracy
Once the data are created they cannot be changed easily
There is a limited amount of information in a static information
source/magazine/greater amount of information on the World Wide Web
As soon as static data source/magazine is created it is very difficult to have
information added to it
A dynamic data source/website can have information updated quite quickly
The data in a dynamic data source/website is usually up to date/ static data
tends to go out of date quickly
There can be many contributors to a dynamic data source/website so the
information can be inaccurate
Must have at least one from:
Both sources require the use of sophisticated analysis techniques
Both sources will provide a mixture of relevant and irrelevant information.
There are many types of systems software including interpreters and device drivers.
(a) In order for a computer to output to a printer it uses a printer driver. This is just one of many device drivers a computer uses.
Explain the purpose of device drivers.
…… [4]
(b) Describe the function of an interpreter.
…… [4]
Mark scheme
4(a) Four from: 4
It operates/controls a device attached to the computer
Without the required device driver, the corresponding hardware device fails
to work
It is an interface between operating systems/applications software and the
device
Tells the operating system how to communicate with the hardware device
Upon installation it detects and identifies the peripheral device
Wakes up the device when it is needed and puts it back to sleep when it is
not
Handles the translation of requests between a device and the computer
Defines where outgoing data must be stored before it can be sent
At least two examples of device drivers.
4(b) Four from: 4
Directly executes instructions of a high-level language program
Translates a high-level language program into an intermediate stage
Translates each line of source code and then executes that line/statement
Reports on errors as lines of source code are entered
An interpreter has to be resident in memory in order for the program to run.
A teacher has reminded her students to proof read their assignments before they hand them in.
Define the term ‘proof reading’.
…… [4]
Mark scheme
5 Four from: 4
Proof reading is the careful reading and rereading of a yet to be finally-
printed document
To detect any errors and mark corrections
It is a relatively slow and methodical search for errors
Errors such as spelling mistakes, typographical mistakes and grammatical
errors (must have at least two)
Also checks for omitted words or word endings
It may also involve checking of different elements of a layout
Checking headings, illustrations and colours
Good description of how proof reading is carried out.
Many mobile phone companies, in the past, persuaded customers to move from 3G to 4G.
Compare and contrast 3G and 4G technologies.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
6 Six from: 6
Similarities:
Both are types of mobile network
Both allow smart phones to access the WWW
Both allow video calling on phones
Both allow emails to be sent by phone
Both allow videos and music to be downloaded to a phone
Both allow phones to be used as a SATNAV
Differences:
4G has faster download speeds than 3G
4G enables smoother browsing with web pages failing to load, very rare
unlike 3G
4G allows videos and music to be streamed without the buffering and
freezing found on 3G networks
Batteries last longer on 3G than on 4G
3G data allowance tends to be cheaper than 4G
Must have at least one of each to gain full marks.
Mumbai Stores is a company which has a chain of shops. The company stores the customers’ reference number, and the value of the goods they have purchased, in a transaction file. Any payments the customers have made on their account at the end of the month are also stored in the same file.
Parts of the Transaction file and Master file are shown.
The Goods_bought field contains only the value of goods bought using the account’s credit facilities.
The Master file shows the customers reference number, the money they owe from the previous month (Old_balance) and the money they now owe (New_balance).
The New_balance has to be calculated by using the Old_balance, Goods_bought and any
Payment made. All these values are in rupees.
Transaction file Master file
Customer_ref_no Goods_bought Payment Customer_ref_no Old_balance New_balance
943201 5500 4000 256431 0
256431 3800 3800 319852 10000
319852 9200 10000 433303 5000
433303 3200 5200 590871 4500
590871 4300 6800 599812 0
612759 3700 3700 612759 0
650897 2300 2300 650897 0
698915 4000 6600 678945 6800
751654 4400 4400 698915 2600
804782 5200 8200 712356 5100
751654 0
804782 4200
943201 0
963584 2400
(a) Describe the processes that must happen to the Transaction file before the Master file can be updated.
. ……
. ……
…… [2]
(b) Using this data, explain how the Master file is updated using the Transaction file shown. You may assume that the only transaction being carried out is the calculation of the New_balance.
…… [6]
(c) Each customer has a credit limit of 20000₹. Customers must make a payment of at least
2000₹ each month.
Using examples from the Transaction file, explain why it would be appropriate to use a range check on one field and a limit check on another field.
Please note, the Customer_ref_no is stored as text.
…… [5]
Mark scheme
7(a) Two from: 2
Transaction file is validated
Transaction file must be sorted
in same order as master file/sorted on Customer_ref_no
7(b) Six from: 6
First record in the transaction file read
belonging to 256431
Reads first record in the old master file
belonging to 256431
These two records are compared
If records do not match computer writes master file record to new master
file
next record is read from master file and these two records are compared
and process is repeated
Records match so transaction is carried out
Computer calculates the New_balance, Old_balance + Goods_bought –
Payment
0 + 3800 – 3800 (0)
Using Old_balance, 0 from master file
Using Goods_bought 3800, Payment made, 3800 from transaction file
Processed record is written to new master file
Next record is read from transaction file
belonging to 319852
then compared to next master file record
... belonging to 319852
This continues until the last record from the transaction file record is read
belonging to 943201
After processing the last record of the transaction file
belonging to 943201
all the remaining old master file records are written to the new master
file
in this case, one record 963584.
7(c) Five from e.g.: 5
Use a range check on the Payment field between 2000 and 20000
As customers must make a payment of at least 2000₹ and customers have
a credit limit of 20000₹
Have a limit check on the Goods_bought field as they cannot be more than
20000₹
customers have a credit limit of 20000₹
It is impossible to spend less than 0₹
so a lower limit to the range is unnecessary
A limit check has only one limit but a range check has two – an upper and
lower limit
There are alternative answers if fully reasoned.
Rishu has been asked by the directors of the company she works for to set up a fully functioning video-conferencing room. It will be used by several workers at the same time to communicate with the directors who will be in a different building.
Describe, including a use of each item, the hardware she will need to purchase.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
8 Six from: 6
Server/computer to handle video-conferencing software
Laptops/PCs/tablets for each participant to enter data
Microphones to input participants’ voices/sound
Large screen/monitor so that all the directors can be seen
Speakers for participants to hear what the directors are saying
Cameras to input pictures of participants
Router to connect to internet/codec to connect to telephone network.
Describe the differences between health issues and safety (apart from e-safety) issues experienced by employees in an IT-based work environment.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
9 Six from: 6
Health issues arise from long term use of computers
Safety issues can result in a sudden accident/can result in serious injury
Health issues tend to be RSI/carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back pain, eye
strain, headaches, upper back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain (must have at
least two)
Health issues can be caused by:
Max two from:
Typing at a keyboard continuously
Gripping a mouse and repetitive clicking
Sitting in the same position/with wrong posture all day
Staring at a computer screen continuously/all day
Glare from screen
Safety issues tend to be fire hazards, electrocution, personal injury (must
have at least two)
Safety issues can be caused by:
Max two from:
Overloading sockets causing overheating
Overheating of computers
Water spilt on to live wires
Handling bare wires,
Trailing cables can cause users to trip up
Heavy objects falling off tables.
Jasvir owns a gardening equipment hire shop. She has developed a simple database system which contains information about the equipment. Each record contains the following data:
Equipment_name, Manufacturer, Equipment_code (a six character code), Hire_price, Number_ of_days_hired, Date_hired, Customer_number and Loyalty_customer (Y/N).
Design an appropriate online data entry form for one item of equipment, clearly indicating the amount of space required for each field. Use the computer screen shown below for your design.
Where appropriate allow the user to enter data by clicking the mouse rather than entering text.
[8]
Mark scheme
10 Eight from: 8
Inclusion of all eight fields mentioned in question
Must be text boxes or individual character boxes
Equipment_name and Manufacturer space bigger than Equipment_code
and Hire_price and generally sensible spacing
Drop down dates for Date_hired or clear view of calendar
Radio buttons for Loyalty_customer (Y/N)
Navigation buttons (at least 2)
Help button/information on how to complete the form
Appropriate title
Appropriate white space and information fills the page.
Juanita is the company secretary of a small business in the USA. She has created a spreadsheet to calculate the payroll.
The spreadsheet is shown below.
A B C D E F G H I J K L
1 Roles
2 L F OS M D
Office
Labourer Fitter Manager Director
3 secretary
4 $15 $25 $22 $40 $80 Hourly rate
5 Job codes Job title Hours worked Weekly pay
6
7 John Vercoe L Labourer 40 $600
8 Lauren Hall OS Office secretary 38 $836
9 Chloe Rhodes F Fitter 39 $975
10 Owen Williams OS Office secretary 42 $924
11 Lotte Charles L Labourer 35 $525
Mark scheme
11(a) Select G2:K4 1
Click the Name box at the left end of the formula bar 1
Type Roles and press enter 1
Or
Select G2:K4 1
On the Formulas tab, in the Defined Names group, click Define Name 1
In the New Name dialog box type Roles and press enter 1
11(b) =D7*HLOOKUP(B7,Roles,3,FALSE) 6
D7* outside the brackets 1 mark
HLOOKUP() 1 mark
(B7 1 mark
,Roles 1 mark
,3 1 mark
FALSE) 1 mark
Items must be in correct position to gain a mark.
12 Eight from: 8
Evaluation based on:
Advantages of HDDs/Disadvantages of SSDs:
Hard disks tend to have higher storage capacities than SSDs
Hard disk drives still cost less per gigabyte than SSDs
HDDs last longer than SSDs
The NAND flash used in SSDs can only be used for a finite number of writes
The choice and availability of SSDs is still limited compared to HDDs
Disadvantages of HDDs/Advantages of SSDs:
Hard disk drives are more susceptible to shock and damage
as there are moving parts
SSDs have faster data transfer rate
SSDs have quicker boot ups
SSDs can have almost instantaneous data access
HDDs data access speeds is dependent on how close the data is to the
read/write heads
All parts of the SSD can be accessed at once
SSDs use significantly less power at peak load than hard drives
SSD's energy efficiency can deliver longer battery life in laptops than HDDs
With no moving parts SSDs run at near silent operation unlike whirring hard
disk drives
SSDs weigh considerably less than hard drives
SSDs make laptops more portable
Must have at least one from each to gain full marks.
Jimmy Lee F Fitter 40 $1,000
14 Dawid Jones F Fitter 32 $800
15 Li Sun Wu M Manager 45 $1,800
16 Charlotte Watson D Director 50 $4,000
17 Joe Norfolk M Manager 41 $1,640
18 Joanne Floyd F Fitter 38 $950
19 Anthony Campbell F Fitter 40 $1,000
20 Linda Stuart L Labourer 38 $570
21 Kate Smith L Labourer 37 $555
22 Sam Smith OS Office secretary 40 $880
23 Duncan Rydell L Labourer 36 $540
24 Tony Thomson L Labourer 37 $555
25 Dougie Ryder OS Office secretary 41 $902
26
(a) She has created a named range Roles
Describe how she created this named range.
…… [3]
(b) She entered a formula in E7 using the named range and the information in column B to calculate the weekly pay for John Vercoe.
Write down the formula she used. This formula should be easy to replicate.
= ……
…… [6]
You can use the space below for any working you need.
12 A recent development in backing storage of laptop computers has been the increased use of solid state drives (SSDs). However hard disk drives (HDDs) are still used in many laptops.
Evaluate the use of SSDs and HDDs for storing data in laptop computers.
…… [8]
13 Encryption can be used to protect data on a hard disk and in emails.
Evaluate the need for this encryption.
…… [8]
Mark scheme
13 Level 3 (7–8 marks) 8
Candidates will describe the advantages and disadvantages of both uses of
encryption.
The issues raised will be justified.
The information will be relevant, clear, organised and presented in a
structured and coherent format.
Specialist terms will be used accurately and appropriately.
Level 2 (4–6 marks)
Candidates will describe the advantages and disadvantages of both uses of
encryption although development of some of the points will be limited.
For the most part the information will be relevant and presented in a
structured and coherent format.
Specialist terms will be used appropriately and for the most part correctly.
Level 1 (1–3 marks)
Candidates may only address one use of encryption, and give basic
advantages/disadvantages.
Answers may be simplistic with little or no relevance.
There will be little or no use of specialist terms.
Level 0 (0 marks)
Response with no valid content.
Candidates may refer to, e.g.
Disk encryption:
Advantages
Files encrypted by one user cannot be opened by another user if they do not
possess appropriate permissions
After encryption a file remains encrypted regardless of where it is moved
Encryption can be used on any files including executable files
Users with permission to decrypt a file are able to work with the file without
experiencing any restrictions/difficulties
Other users receive a restricted access notification when they attempt to
access the encrypted file
Disadvantages
If the password is lost or reset it becomes impossible to gain access to files
on the drive
If the operating system fails it becomes impossible to gain access to files
If the operating system has to be reinstalled it becomes impossible to gain
access to files...
...data can be lost irreversibly
13 Email encryption:
Advantages
As modern technology becomes more sophisticated, so do hackers so
sophisticated encryption is essential
Passwords on email accounts are not enough
Email providers tend not to automatically encrypt email messages nor
attachments
Without encryption a person/malware could potentially read someone's
emails
The recipient’s email provider server may not be secured
Without encryption, messages can be stored as plain text, making it easy for
anyone to read and understand
When encrypting emails, the text stored in the message and files are
scrambled up both in storage and transit...
...the only way to unscramble and read the content is to use a decryption
key
Disadvantages
Hackers can still intercept and delete emails
Encrypting emails to a new recipient using a private key requires the key to
be sent which can be intercepted by a hacker
Managing digital certificates can become complex and time consuming.
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Where can I find the 9626/12 February/March 2019 mark scheme?+
On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Information Technology 9626/12, February/March 2019 (9626_m19_ms_12), and the question paper (9626_m19_qp_12), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
How many marks is 9626/12 out of?+
Information Technology 9626/12 for February/March 2019 is out of 90 marks, with 1 hour 45 minutes to answer it.
Can I get my 9626/12 answers marked?+
Yes. Upload your answers to 9626/12/F/M/19 as a PDF or photos, and CIE Buddy marks every question against this paper's official mark scheme, using Cambridge's marking rules. You get your score, each lost mark explained on your own script, and the topics to revise. It's a guide, not an official Cambridge grade.