Information Technology 9626/11 May/June 2025: question paper and mark scheme

Mark scheme

1 One mark per bullet point to a maximum of two marks. 2 • Age//possibly too old to be of any use (1) • Relevance//may not be about recycling (1) • Accuracy//the figures/information may be incorrect (1) • Completeness// the information may be too vague (1) • Level of detail//there may be too much or too little detail (1)

Mark scheme

2 Max 4 marks: 6 MUST be a comparison Benefits: • Easier to create a storage systems//multiple tables/worksheets (1) • Easier to calculate (1) • Easier to create complex formulae//carry out complex calculations (e.g. use functions (if state functions, this is equivalent to complex)) (1) • Repeated data can be easier to enter (1) • Charts are easier to produce (1) • Includes conditional formatting to (e.g.) highlight data easier (1) Max 4 marks: Drawbacks: • Information may exist across many sheets (1) • Large spreadsheets are more difficult to use/read (1) • Spreadsheets are best suited to single focus (e.g. per year) (1) • Formulae may need to be modified as spreadsheet grows (1) • Harder to create complex queries (1) • Harder to create a report (1) • Validation is easier in a database (1) • Repeated data exists in spreadsheet//databases are normalised (1) • Referential integrity reduces (e.g.) redundant data (1)

Mark scheme

3 One mark per bullet point to a maximum of four marks. 4 • Blocks threats to data//potential attackers (1) • Only allows allowed IP addresses (1) • Checks allowed IP addresses in allowed/forbidden table/list (1) • Blocks/allows ports for data transmission (1) • Can be set to stealth mode (1st) – so that packets are not bounced back (1) • Blocks suspicious activity to/from the network (1) • Creates a log of issues for analysis (1) • It can manage IPsec clients (1) • Can act as authenticator for remote access (1).

Mark scheme

4 One mark per bullet point to a maximum of six marks 6 • They can cause a loss of manual skills (1) • They can stop people from performing simple exercise (1) • They can lead to people becoming lazy (1) • They could become over reliant on microprocessor-controlled devices (1) • The system will not function if there is a problem with the Wi-Fi/internet (1) • The system will not function it there is a power cut (1) • They can be vulnerable to hackers (1) • All devices have to be on the same network (1) • Can increase electricity use (1) • Automatic running of routines may have undesired affect (1)

Mark scheme

5 One mark per bullet point to a maximum of six marks. 6 • Can be available quicker than custom written software//is readily available (1) • Costs to buy are less than custom written software (1) • Has been fully tested before launch (1) • More (informal) support available (1st) – Example of support other than direct support from the company (1) • Company provides a help desk (1) • May offer more features (1) • Increased flexibility//not task specific (1)

Mark scheme

6 Two marks from: 4 • The gap between people who have access to//resources (computer hardware) to use new information//communication technology and those who don't (1) • The gap between people who have access to information and those who don’t (1) Max 2 from: People with/from: • Varying ICT skills (1) • Living in rural areas and those living in cities (1) • Different education levels (1) • Different socioeconomic groups (1) • Different age groups (1) • Different industrially developed/technologically aware nations (1)

Mark scheme

7(a) One mark per bullet point to a maximum of six marks. 6 • A moisture/humidity sensor/tensiometer (1st) – is used to measure absolute and relative humidity (1) – measures the amount of moisture in the air (1) • A wind sensor/anemometer (1st) – is used to measure the direction of the wind (1) – used to measure strength of wind (1) • A raindrop/raingauge/rain sensor (1st) – is used to measure rainfall (1) • A light sensor/photodetector (1st) – is used to measure/sense light (1) • A pressure/barometric sensor (1st) – is used to measure pressure values and height changes. (1) • A temperature/NTC thermistor/RTD thermocouple/IC sensor (1st) – is used to measure temperature (1) 7(b) Six marks from: 6 • The data will be sent to the computer for processing (1) • Via Analogue Digital Convertor (ADC) (1) • ADC will convert the analogue data to digital (1st) So, the computer can read it (1) • It can create graphs/charts (1st) – To show monthly trends (1) • It can do calculations (1st) – Such as averages/max min (1) • It can produce predictions (1st) – Based on historical of weather data (1) • It can produce reports of weather trends (1st) – Such as global warming (1) • It can produce weather warnings (1st) – From its collected data. (1)

Mark scheme

8 Six marks from: 6 • Customer taps card/card is read (1) • Supermarket computer contacts customer bank (1) • Checks to see if there are sufficient funds (1) • If there are sufficient funds transaction is authorised/made//money is transferred (1) • If there are insufficient funds transaction is rejected/not made//money is not transferred (1) • Amount of the transaction is deducted from customer’s bank account (1) • Amount of the transaction is credited to supermarket’s bank account (1) • The transaction is closed//shown as completed. (1)

Mark scheme

9 One mark per bullet point to a maximum of four marks. 4 Error (MAX 2) Answer – MUST identify what is wrong with the code OR what the new code now does, and justify the change Count is incorrect for the logic e.g. – this error identified (1st) • Count>10 means that the code ends on first run through AND • Change to Count<10 OR • Change to Count = 9 (1) • Candidate may answer by arguing that Count should have been set to 1. This is acceptable, but this expansion may only be marked once. SUM variable not initialised • SUM 0 added to process box (1st) AND • SUM + calculation will not work, as no initial value for SUM (1) No output (1st) • The flowchart will not output a value for the sum of the numbers • AND • OUTPUT added for SUM along NO path (1) Loop goes to wrong place (1st) • Flowchart will run without end OR • Loop goes to wrong part of the flowchart AND • Loop changed to go after initialisation of COUNT/before decision box (1)

Mark scheme

10(a) One mark per bullet point to a maximum of two marks. 2 • Are used to summarise the contents of a table//summarise field values (1) • Also called Group-By queries/aggregate queries (1) • use aggregate functions (1) • They are used to extract aggregate of data items for a group of records • Uses functions such as//calculates (TWO of) SUM, AV(ERA)G(E), MIN, MAX, COUNT 10(b) One mark per bullet point to a maximum of two marks. 2 • Searches using more than one parameter value (1) • Searches on more than one field (1) • It often uses Boolean operands (1) • It is made up of (TWO of) AND, OR or NOT operands or a mixture of these (1) 10(c) One mark per bullet point to a maximum of two marks. 2 • A nested query is a query within another query (1) • It can be often referred to as a subquery (1) • Use the result of one query (1st) – as an input parameter of another (1) • Innermost subquery is executed first, then next level, until the main query is reached. (1)

Mark scheme

11 Max 6 marks: 8 Benefits • Program code will run on different operating systems (1) • Only need to maintain one version of the program code/source code (1) • Less time will be spent on program code maintenance (1st) – When updates are needed (1) • Errors are highlighted/user is alerted as they are encountered (1) it is easy to debug the program (1) • As only a few lines of program code are in memory (1) uses less memory than a compiler (1) • Code can run in a virtual mode (1st) – so is less likely to crash the computer (1) Max 6 marks: Drawbacks • The interpreter software needs to be kept up to date (1) • If the interpreter is updated then the program code may need to be changed to work with it (1) • Code has to be interpreted every time it is run (1) • Interpreted programs run slower than compiled programs (1) • It stops every time an error is encountered (1st) – interpreting a program is a much slower process than compiling (1) • The source code must always be shared (1) • Source code is easier to convert by fraudulent users (1) • Easier to copy the program. (1)

Mark scheme

12 One mark per bullet point to a maximum of six marks. 6 Normal • Data is accepted by the system • Any integer between 0 and 60(inclusive) Abnormal • Data outside of the range which will be rejected/not accepted by the system • Any data that is not an integer between 0 and 60 Extreme • Data that is at the boundaries of the acceptable range • 0 or 60 E.g. Type of test Example of How the validation rule deals with the data mark entered mark entered Normal 41 Data is within the range data and will be accepted by the system Abnormal 68/–2/pink Data outside of the range which will be rejected/not accepted by the system Extreme 0/60 Data that is at the boundaries of the acceptable range and will be accepted by the system