Information Technology 9626/13 May/June 2020: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Information Technology (9626), Paper 1 Theory, May/June 2020. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
(a) Tick the most accurate statement referring to the internet.
✓
The internet is a collection of web pages which can be accessed using a web browser
The internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks
The internet is only accessed using a switch
The internet is an internal restricted access network
[1]
(b) Tick the most accurate statement referring to the services the internet provides.
✓
Word processing is a service only accessed using the internet
Spreadsheet software is a service only accessed using the internet
The World Wide Web is a service only accessed using the internet
Email is a service only accessed using the internet
[1]
(c) The internet is a type of WAN. Describe what is meant by a WAN.
…… [4]
Mark scheme
1(a) 1
The internet is a collection of web pages which can be accessed
using a web browser
The internet is the global system of interconnected computer
Π
networks
The internet is only accessed using a switch
The internet is an internal restricted access network
1(b) 1
Word processing is a service only accessed using the internet
Spreadsheet software is a service only accessed using the internet
The world wide web is a service only accessed using the internet Π
Email is a service only accessed using the internet
1(c) Four from: 4
Wide Area Network
A wide area network is formed by connecting a number of LANs through a
router or a modem.
It covers a much larger geographical area than a LAN.
Private WANs can be set up by organisations to connect their LANs by the
means of leasing telephone lines...
...or private fibre optic cable purely for their own use...
...these can be Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
The use of an existing telecommunications network causes data
transmission rates to be slower in a WAN than a LAN.
(a) Tick the most accurate statement referring to video files.
✓
It is only possible to export a video file using the file format it has been created in
Video files are often stored in jpeg format
It is possible to convert a video file into a gif format
It is not possible to insert a still image into a video file
[1]
(b) Tick the most accurate statement referring to the use of features of video editing software.
✓
It is not possible to alter the speed of a video once it has been saved
Trimming a video clip is achieved by removing unwanted footage
It is not possible to add sound to a video once the video is finished
An aspect ratio is the number of frames in a section of a video compared to the total number of frames
[1]
Mark scheme
2(a) 1
It is only possible to export a video file using the file format it has
been created in
Video files are often stored in jpeg format
It is possible to convert a video file into a gif format Π
It is not possible to insert a still image into a video file
2(b) 1
It is not possible to alter the speed of a video once it has been
saved
Trimming a video clip is achieved by removing unwanted footage Π
It is not possible to add sound to a video once the video is finished
An aspect ratio is the number of frames in a section of a video
compared to the total number of frames
BNMA, a large banking organisation, uses management information system (MIS) software in its day to day business concerns.
Without referring to what MIS consists of, or to the specific role of the MIS manager, explain how
BNMA could use this MIS software.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
3 Six from: 6
To provide past, present and predictive information.
It could be used in decision making.
It could be used with project management.
It could be used in database retrieval applications.
Managers could use management information systems to gather and
analyse information about various aspects of the organisation...
...such as personnel, sales, inventory, production or other applicable factors.
Management information systems could be used to create reports on
aspects such as sales, revenue and production.
These reports could be provided at regular intervals to managers at all
levels to help them evaluate their teams’ performance.
By comparing daily, weekly or monthly reports to previous reports,
managers could spot trends, such as revenue growth or reduction.
Chung and Fai both work at the Vacation Hotel. Chung told Fai that the hotel had just installed a car park barrier system to prevent local shoppers from using the car park. He told her that the manager had said that it was a computer-controlled system. Pressure sensors have not been used and it is impossible for the barrier to lower itself on to a car.
Describe, in detail, how such a system would operate both for a guest arriving at the hotel and for a guest leaving the hotel.
…… [8]
Mark scheme
4 Eight from: 8
Six max from:
Guest arriving:
The car’s presence would be detected by an induction loop…
… because the electromagnetic field in the loop/coil is disturbed by a
metallic object/car.
The computer/microprocessor would receive a message from the induction
loop to this effect.
The computer/microprocessor would send a signal to a motor to operate.
The motor would cause the barrier to raise.
A light beam from one post passes across…
…to a light sensor in the other post.
The computer/microprocessor receives a signal or not from the sensor.
If the light sensor does not send a signal the bar remains vertical.
If the light sensor sends a signal, the computer/microprocessor sends a
signal to the motor to lower the barrier
Six max from:
Guest departing:
The guest would receive a ticket with a bar code/Q code/receive the PIN
from reception.
On arriving at the exit barrier the guest would present the ticket to a
scanner/keys in the PIN.
The computer/microprocessor would compare the code/PIN with acceptable
codes/PIN.
If it matches, the computer/microprocessor would send a signal to a motor
to operate.
The motor would cause the barrier to raise.
A light beam from one post passes across…
…to a light sensor in the other post .
The computer/microprocessor receives a signal or not from the sensor.
If the light sensor does not send a signal the bar remains vertical.
If the light sensor sends a signal, the computer/microprocessor sends a
signal to the motor to lower the barrier.
Companies often carry out investigations into the public’s likes and dislikes. Investigations such as this can be done using direct sources or indirect sources of information.
(a) Describe the advantages of gathering data from indirect data sources.
…… [4]
(b) Describe the disadvantages of gathering data from indirect data sources.
…… [4]
Mark scheme
5(a) Four from: 4
It may allow a larger set of data to be examined using less time and money
than direct data collection would require.
It allows data to be gathered from subjects to whom the data gatherer does
not have physical access.
A larger sample size can be used…
…direct data gathering could have limitations due to the availability of the
people being interviewed…
…using indirect data sources the sample could be increased giving rise to
greater confidence in the findings.
There is a relatively low cost as travelling expenses and time taken to collect
data using a direct data source can be great.
Information can be of a higher quality as data collected indirectly has
already been collated and grouped into meaningful categories.
Poorly written responses to questionnaires or interview transcripts do not
have to be read through to create the data source.
5(b) Four from: 4
The various purposes for which data was collected originally may be
different to the purpose of the current research…
…so unnecessary data may need to be filtered out.
There may be no data available as the data required has simply never been
recorded.
There may be sampling bias as data from only one section of the community
may have been collected (and data from a representative cross section of
the community may be required).
There may be coding difficulties…
…as different sources being used means there will be differences in the
content.
…as there may be a lack of standardisation across the data required.
…as different sources will have different amounts of data.
If it has already been coded the coding may be difficult to understand.
Indirect data sources may also vary in reliability, depending on who
collected the data and how old the data are.
Joanne owns a store which sells films as DVD and blu-ray discs. Each disc has a six-character code number and each customer has an eight-character customer number. She has developed a database system which contains information about the films. Each record contains the following data:
Film title, director, code_number, DVD (Y/N), date_of_sale, customer_number.
Describe the features of an appropriate online data entry form for one film which would, where appropriate, allow the user to enter data by clicking the mouse rather than entering text.
Do not draw the screen and data entry form in your description.
…… [8]
Mark scheme
6 Eight from: 8
Needs to include all fields mentioned in question.
Must be text boxes or individual character boxes.
Film title space bigger than director and generally sensible spacing.
Drop down dates for Date_bought or clear view of calendar.
Radio buttons for DVD (Y/N).
Navigation buttons.
Help button/information on how to complete the form.
Appropriate title.
Appropriate white space and information fills the page.
A program written in a simple high level programming language has a mistake in it.
Line 20 should say LET A = X + Y, but the program was typed as:
10 INPUT X, Y
20 LE A = X + Y
30 PRINT X, " + ",Y, " = ", A
40 END
Describe the two ways the program, including the error, could be translated so that it runs on a computer.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
7 Six from: 6
It could be translated using a compiler or interpreter
Compiler – four max.
Would translate the whole program as one complete unit.
Would create an executable file.
Would report on the error in line 20 after compilation.
Would not run the program until error is corrected and whole program
retranslated.
Interpreter – four max.
Would translate each line of the program into an intermediate stage and
then execute that line/statement.
Would report on the error in line 20 on execution.
Would wait for error to be corrected before executing that line.
Would then continue from line 20 to line 40.
The North Indonesian Motor Company makes cars in the city of Jakarta. It has a large factory producing the components, for the cars in the city of Surabaya. Dian is the director of communications in Jakarta. He has been asked by the other directors to set up a video-conference so that they can communicate with the directors based at Surabaya.
The directors in both cities currently use computers in a LAN to carry out their work.
(a) Give reasons why the current arrangement of computers would not enable Dian to set up a video-conference and explain how he would overcome this problem.
…… [2]
(b) Describe how codecs would be used in the transmission of data within a video-conference.
…… [4]
Mark scheme
8(a) Two from: 2
The directors at the two sites do not have a connection between the LANs.
A router will be needed to connect the LAN to the internet/WAN.
Routers will be needed in Jakarta and Surabaya.
The router in Jakarta will be used by Dian to connect to the LAN/router in
Surabaya.
8(b) Four from: 4
A codec is a device/computer program used to encode or decode the digital
data stream/signal.
A codec is used to compress the data to reduce transmission bandwidth
Codec is short for coder-decoder.
A codec encodes a data stream/signal for transmission possibly in
encrypted form.
The decoder (function) reverses the encoding for playback.
There are two types of encryption, symmetric and asymmetric.
(a) Describe the use of public keys and private keys when used in the asymmetric method of encryption.
…… [4]
(b) Apart from the types of keys used, give two reasons why symmetric encryption is preferred in certain situations.
…… [2]
Mark scheme
9(a) Four from: 4
The public key is used to encrypt the data.
The corresponding private/secret key is used to decrypt the data.
The private key is kept secret.
Anyone with a copy of the public key can encrypt information.
Only the private key holder can read the information.
It is not possible to deduce the private key from the public key.
9(b) Two from: 2
Symmetric encryption takes a shorter amount of time to encrypt data than
asymmetric encryption.
Symmetric encryption requires far less processing power to encrypt...
...and decrypt the content of a message.
One mark for an appropriate example of a situation
Lastri uses spreadsheet models for her company. She uses them to forecast trends of sales of particular products as well as forecasting the company’s annual income, expenditure and profits.
By weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, evaluate the effectiveness of spreadsheet models when used specifically for this type of forecasting.
…… [8]
Mark scheme
10 Eight from: 8
Advantages:
Models provide quick results for sales/income/expenditure/profits that may
take months to actually happen.
Graphs that are produced to show sales trends will automatically change as
new values are added/old values altered.
They provide consistent results; the same inputs will always produce the
same answer (not affected by user's inconsistent decisions).
Templates containing the formulas for regularly used spreadsheets reduce
the need for technical experts.
Spreadsheets can also interact with databases to provide data in the fields
reducing the need for manual input.
Disadvantages:
You cannot account for every possible variable when forecasting sales/
income/ expenditure/ profits…
… any variables need to be considered and it is easy to miss things out
which may lead to misleading results.
To try to account for as many variables as possible requires complex
formulae which need experts who are expensive to hire.
Producing an effective model may be time consuming.
Complex sales predictions may need additional software which is
expensive.
Must have at least one of each to gain full marks
Describe what is meant by normalisation. Include in your description the properties of first normal form (1NF) and how a table in first normal form can be converted to second normal form (2NF).
…… [6]
Mark scheme
11 Six from: 6
Normalisation involves breaking down a flat file/table into less redundant,
smaller tables.
The stages in the breaking down process are referred to as normal forms
such as 0NF, 1NF, 2NF and 3NF.
To satisfy the requirements for 1NF all fields must contain atomic data…
…there must be no repeating groups of data…
…there must be a unique key.
To convert to 2NF partial key dependencies must be removed.
This can be achieved by dividing any table in 1NF that contains partial
dependencies into separate tables.
Those fields that are dependent on just one part of the compound key will
form a new table…
…which will also contain that particular part of the compound key.
Sujatmi runs a company which stores its payroll records and personal details of its workers in two flat files. She has been told that these files should be converted into a relational database.
By weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, evaluate the differences between a flat file database and a relational database which would help Sujatmi make her decision as to which to use.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
12 Six from: 6
Advantages of relational databases:
A flat file database can contain many fields, often with duplicate data leading
to wasting storage space/a relational database does not have duplicated
data saving storage space.
If the flat files contain some of the same fields, when data in one is changed
the other has to be manually modified, wasting time.
Adding records to a relational database is easier as less data has to be
entered saving time.
In a relational database certain tables can be made confidential so that
when a person logs on with their username and password, the system can
then limit access only to those tables whose records they are authorised to
view…
…e.g. a receptionist would be able to view a worker’s department and be
able to locate him/her but would not be able to see their salary.
Disadvantages of relational databases:
Designing a relational database will take a lot of planning whereas the flat
files already exist.
Creating a relational database requires technical expertise which will have
to be paid for.
Some relational databases have limits on field lengths and this can lead to
data loss.
Must have at least one of each to gain full marks
Pramana has a PC which has a fixed hard disk drive. In order to increase the storage capacity of the computer, he is trying to choose between using a portable hard disk drive and storing his data in the cloud.
By weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, evaluate the use of cloud storage compared to using a portable hard disk drive.
…… [6]
Mark scheme
13 Six from: 6
Advantages of the cloud
The initial cost of an external hard disk drives can be more expensive than
paying a low monthly fee for the cloud.
Cloud storage has no physical presence/it does not take up valuable space
at home or in the office.
Cloud storage services back up data automatically after initially being
instructed.
Do not need to transport hard disk drive with you if you want to transfer data
to another computer/device.
Syncing ensures files are automatically updated across all devices owned
by an individual.
Disadvantages of the cloud
Data will be in the hands of a third-party so security measures may be less
than required.
Cloud service providers can be transient, resulting in possible loss of data.
Cloud storage is only as reliable as the user’s internet connection.
Some cloud service providers charge a cheap fee initially but then raise
prices later.
Users are at risk of not having their data stored in compliance with
government regulations if the physical storage location resides in a different
country.
Must have at least one of each to gain full marks
The pie chart shows the land areas of seven continents. In its present form it is not providing any information.
(a) Describe, using examples related to this scenario, how you would improve this chart so that it will provide information which could be used by geography students in a school.
…… [4]
Please turn over for Question 14(b).
(b) Some people are very critical about pie charts.
Describe the disadvantages of using pie charts to represent data.
…… [4]
Mark scheme
14(a) Four from: 4
Example of appropriate title.
Appropriately labelled sectors including example.
Percentages/Number attached to sectors including examples.
Different colour sectors.
Description of chart legend including example.
14(b) Four from: 4
They tend take up more space than the alternatives.
They are harder to read than the alternatives.
The brain’s not very good at comparing the size of angles.
Because there’s no scale reading accurate values is difficult.
They become more difficult to read as more segments and colours are
added.
Labels can be hard to fit especially to smaller segments.
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On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Information Technology 9626/13, May/June 2020 (9626_s20_ms_13), and the question paper (9626_s20_qp_13), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
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Information Technology 9626/13 for May/June 2020 is out of 90 marks, with 1 hour 45 minutes to answer it.
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Yes. Upload your answers to 9626/13/M/J/20 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.