Information Technology 9626/32 October/November 2025: question paper and mark scheme

Mark scheme

1(a) Two from: 2 • Unmanned / driverless vehicle / carrier • Minimal human intervention for navigating to destinations • Has integrated / interconnected technologies / software e.g. sensors • Uses / has AI • Uses GPS • Can be connected to internet / IoT / 5G telecommunications systems 1(b) Four from: 4 E.g.: Service robots / carts / unmanned vehicles used to: • Carry / deliver food / medicines to patients • Carry / deliver medical equipment to patients • Carry equipment for remote consultations • Take / carry samples (from patients / nurses / doctors) to laboratories for analysis • Transport patients • Assist accident victims / survivors of disasters / in emergencies • Automatically remove / dispose of waste materials • Used to ensure sterile environment / no contamination by people

Mark scheme

2(a) Three from: 3 • Customise / alter grid size • Enable / use snap-to-grid to precisely locate (new) object // manually precise align to grid • Customise snap-to-grid distance • Helps in scaling objects • Drop / position object on grid / next to another object 2(b) Three from: 3 • Create guide(line)s from ruler • Vertical guide created from horizontal ruler / create horizontal guide from vertical ruler • Enable / use snap-to-guide • Drop / position / move object on guide • Use guides as alignment aid for multiple (grouped) objects • Enables consistent positioning of objects

Mark scheme

3 Five from: 5 Max 4 from: Similarities: Both: • Are visual / graphical representations of project • Show routes through project / tasks • Show timings / durations of tasks • Show total time of project • Show dependencies between tasks • Can show milestones • Can show critical path Max 4 from: Differences: • CPM shown as network diagram with linked nodes // Gantt is horizontal bar chart • CPM shows critical and non-critical paths • CPM calculates project duration / Gantt chart shows // visualizes how project progress • CPM does not show required resources // Gantt chart does / can show required resources • CPM show activities on network diagram without timescale // Gantt chart plots activities on a timescale

Mark scheme

4 Six from: 6 Command word: Discuss – write about issues(s) or topic(s) in a structured way. E.g.: content areas could include: • Linking / connecting home appliances / devices together − to exchange data / information − creation of smart homes / more automation of everyday activities − enhanced security / remote monitoring • Use of wearable computing devices − e.g. smart watches / fitness trackers / heart monitors − to monitor health parameters / activities • Integration with augmented reality − e.g. smart glasses / implants − provide real-time data / information about environment / locations • Remote robotic surgery / monitoring of health by doctors / nurses − surgeon operates remotely in real-time − access to health care not available locally − increased health care leading to faster recovery • Health issues • Reliance on technology • Privacy / security issues

Mark scheme

5 Six from: 6 • To determine if the new system meets the user / system / design specifications − set out by the analysts / designers (at the start of development) to determine any limitations / functions (that were in the specifications) − but cannot be carried out / are not fully working / producing unexpected / unwanted results • To determine if it is working / behaving overall as expected / designed to do • To determine if end-users are able to access / use it as required − so the database is easy to use / user-friendly − so makes the jobs of end-users easier / more difficult • To show if the system has any problems / expose any problems / shortcomings / errors − to determine how / if these affect its working / use − to determine / show opportunities / areas for future developer / programmers to add features / functions

Mark scheme

6 Six from: 6 • Sets out the agreement / contract between the client and the developer − so client cannot demand / add new requirements / features to design / new system / product − so developer cannot claim to have finished when they have not completed new system • Defines what is to be produced • Defines what client wants new system to be able to do / purpose of new system / goal of new system / functional objectives of the new system • Defines how client wants new system to function • Defines where new system is to be located / how it is to be integrated into client business / how or where installed • Used to inform systems specification / other specifications • Used to inform the evaluation

Mark scheme

7 Eight from: 8 Command word: Discuss – write about issues(s) or topic(s) in a structured way. Max one from: Definition of virtual currency: • A virtual currency represents an amount of money that is stored only in digital form • Can be represented by coupons / stamps / reward points Max five from: Advantages: • Use of cryptography during transactions increases security • Not regulated so value can change hands without oversight (1 st ) − with no records available to regulators (1) • Issuing company has a captive market • Goods / services can only be purchased from that company • Value stays the same when used in different countries • Transactions are faster than with physical currency Max five from: Disadvantages: • Use is restricted to members of specific (virtual) group / community / game environment that agree to use it • No connection to the real-world economy / no interchangeability with real currency • No intrinsic value / value because it depends on agreement between users / group / community / game environment • Not regulated so value depends on trust between users • Value can fluctuate widely as not regulated so can lose / gain money

Mark scheme

8(a) Two from: 2 • Determine the extent of threat to data / IT services • Enable production / use of resources to protect / defend against / mitigate the risk • Prioritise the resources to enable recovery / help prevent disaster • Allow creation of disaster recovery plan 8(b) Four from: 4 • Identify / log / record risk • Use a risk matrix • Assign risk to a category e.g. high / medium / low or catastrophic, critical, marginal or negligible / suitable scale • Assign likelihood of disaster / suitable scale e.g. likely / possible / unlikely • Assign monetary cost to risk / use cost of risk prevention / recovery as scale • Collect expert opinion on level of risk • Experts assign value (e.g. 1 to 10 to aspect of risk) • Combine vales to give overall vale / level • Compare risk with other known risks

Mark scheme

9(a) Three from: 3 • Use of DHCP server (in the network) • NIC looks for a DHCP server • Using UDP (to communicate) • Sends a (dhcpdiscover) request on network (as it connects) • Server sends (dhcpoffer) / offers NIC an IP address • NIC sends (dhcprequest) and accepts IP address • Server acknowledges / sends ACK response with details of IP address (and other parameters). 9(b) Four from: 4 • Uniquely identifies NIC / device on the network • Has two parts identifying the network and the specific device / network address and device address • Destination / source IP address is in the packets (1st) in the header (1) • NIC recognises packet with its IP address (1st) it receives it / passes it to / up network stack of device for processing (1) discards / ignores all other packets (1) • Used by routers to send packets between devices on other networks / in routing of packets.

Mark scheme

10(a) Four from: 4 • Onclick() captures the mouse click • (when user) clicks on the text1 (in line 5) • Passes control to script line 7 / function in line 8 • id parameter is passed to function • id.innerHTML changes text in HTML <h2> (in line 9) • New text appears on web page. 10(b) Two from: 2 Examples of HTML events include, e.g.: • When a web page has loaded • When an image has been loaded • When the mouse moves over an HTML element • When an input field is changed • When an HTML form is submitted • When a user strokes / touches / presses a key

Mark scheme

11 Eight from: 8 Command word: Evaluate: judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or value of something. Max eight from: Content areas could include e.g.: • Distribution of useful information to citizens e.g. mass mailings − so can reach many citizens efficiently / quickly − but not all have email addresses / accounts − so not all receive the information • Updating of regulations − to targeted individuals / organisations • Advice and discussions on current issues − government news − feedback from citizens • Tracking of citizens − monitoring citizens emails − infringement of privacy / rights of citizens − tracking illegal activities • Sending false / distorted / biased information − dissemination of government views Max one from: Conclusion: • One mark for a reasoned conclusion / overall judgement