Mark Scheme

Section A — Multiple Choice Answer Key

Detailed Marking Notes

Question 1: B is correct. RAM is volatile memory that loses its contents when power is switched off. A, C and D are all non-volatile storage devices.

Question 2: B is correct. Encryption transforms data into unreadable format, providing protection against unauthorized access. A protects against malware; C protects against data loss; D protects against network intrusions.

Question 3: C is correct. Text data type preserves leading zeros and hyphens that may be part of telephone numbers. Number data type would remove leading zeros.

Question 4: B is correct. Digitization is the conversion of analogue signals to digital format. Accept: digitisation (British spelling).

Question 5: C is correct. .zip is a compressed archive format.

Question 6: C is correct. SUM function adds all values in the specified range.

Question 7: C is correct. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending email.

Question 8: B is correct. LAN is appropriate for connecting computers within a single building or limited geographical area.

Question 9: C is correct. Windows 10 is an operating system, which is system software. A, B and D are application software.

Question 10: B is correct. Phishing involves fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information by disguising as a trustworthy entity.

Question 11: C is correct. A primary key uniquely identifies each record and cannot contain duplicate values.

Question 12: D is correct. A 3D scanner captures three-dimensional data for CAD applications.

Question 13: C is correct. Scheduled backup occurs at predetermined times according to a schedule.

Question 14: B is correct. 1 Gigabyte = 1 billion bytes (10⁹ bytes).

Question 15: B is correct. The <a> (anchor) tag creates hyperlinks in HTML.

Question 16: C is correct. Copyright protects original creative works including literary, artistic, dramatic and musical works.

Question 17: C is correct. Star topology connects all devices to a central point (hub or switch).

Question 18: B is correct. Data protection legislation governs the collection, storage and use of personal information.

Question 19: D is correct. Binary system uses only 0 and 1.

Question 20: B is correct. A foreign key creates relationships between tables by referencing the primary key of another table.

Question 21: C is correct. E-commerce enables online transactions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Question 22: B is correct. Debugging is the process of finding and fixing errors (bugs) in programs.

Question 23: C is correct. A router connects a LAN to the Internet and directs traffic between networks.

Question 24: C is correct. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) defines website structure and content.

Question 25: B is correct. 1010₂ = (1×8) + (0×4) + (1×2) + (0×1) = 10₁₀

Question 26: B is correct. Email transmission is significantly faster than traditional postal mail.

Question 27: C is correct. Student ID is unique to each student and suitable as a primary key. Names, dates of birth and addresses may contain duplicates.

Question 28: B is correct. A worm replicates and spreads automatically without human action. Viruses require host files and human action to spread.

Question 29: C is correct. Shareware allows trial use with the expectation of later purchase.

Question 30: B is correct. Bandwidth measures data transmission capacity over time (e.g., Mbps, Gbps).

Question 31: C is correct. Range check validates that data falls within specified minimum and maximum values.

Question 32: B is correct. B2C involves businesses selling directly to consumers.

Question 33: C is correct. A projector displays output. A, B and D are input devices.

Question 34: B is correct. Hexadecimal F = 15₁₀

Question 35: C is correct. Desktop publishing software (e.g., Publisher, InDesign) is designed for creating newsletters, brochures and similar documents.

Question 36: B is correct. Normalization organizes database tables to minimize redundancy and dependency.

Question 37: C is correct. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) transfers files between computers.

Question 38: C is correct. High-level languages use English-like instructions (e.g., Python, Java, C++).

Question 39: B is correct. Cloud computing provides on-demand access to computing resources via the Internet.

Question 40: C is correct. Queries retrieve and filter specific data from database tables.

Question 41: B is correct. Unauthorized downloading of copyrighted music infringes copyright law.

Question 42: C is correct. Processor speed is measured in Hertz (Hz), typically GHz for modern processors.

Question 43: C is correct. Pie charts effectively show parts of a whole as proportions/percentages.

Question 44: B is correct. Dollar signs ($) create absolute references (e.g., $A$1).

Question 45: C is correct. USB flash drives use flash memory technology. Accept: pen drive, thumb drive.

Question 46: B is correct. Teleworking involves working remotely using information and communication technology.

Question 47: A is correct. The alt attribute provides alternative text for images.

Question 48: B is correct. MAX() function returns the largest value in a range.

Question 49: C is correct. Password policies are access control measures.

Question 50: B is correct. Biometric systems require specialized hardware and have high initial costs.

Question 51: B is correct. Encryption converts readable plaintext into unreadable ciphertext.

Question 52: A is correct. Data hierarchy: Field → Record → File → Database (smallest to largest).

Question 53: A is correct. Website restriction is content filtering.

Question 54: C is correct. Lookup check (or list check) validates against a list of acceptable values.

Question 55: C is correct. A compiler translates entire source code into machine code.

Question 56: B is correct. Repetitive strain injury (RSI) results from prolonged repetitive movements. Accept: carpal tunnel syndrome.

Question 57: C is correct. A wiki allows collaborative editing by multiple users.

Question 58: C is correct. The background-color property sets background color in CSS.

Question 59: C is correct. WHILE-DO structure repeats instructions while a condition remains true.

Question 60: B is correct. Electronic waste (e-waste) disposal poses significant environmental concerns due to toxic materials.

Sample Answers with Examiner Commentary

Question 10 — Sample Answers

(Note: While Question 10 is a multiple choice question, the examiner commentary demonstrates the reasoning expected at different performance levels)

Grade I (Distinction) answer

B) Phishing

The student would recognize phishing immediately as the practice involving fraudulent communications, typically emails, designed to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account details. A distinction-level student understands that phishing attacks often impersonate legitimate organizations (banks, government agencies, online retailers) and create urgency to prompt victims to click malicious links or provide personal information. They would correctly eliminate hacking (unauthorized system access), spoofing (falsifying data origins), and spamming (mass unsolicited messages) as these terms describe different cyber threats.

Mark: 1/1

Examiner Commentary: The student demonstrates comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity terminology and can accurately distinguish between related but distinct concepts. This level of precision reflects the conceptual clarity expected at Grade I.

Grade III (Pass) answer

B) Phishing

A Grade III student selects the correct answer, recognizing that phishing involves fraudulent emails requesting personal information. However, they may have some uncertainty about the exact differences between phishing, spoofing, and hacking, perhaps confusing these terms occasionally in written explanations. They understand the basic concept that phishing emails try to trick users but may not articulate the sophisticated social engineering techniques involved or the broader context of identity theft and fraud.

Mark: 1/1

Examiner Commentary: The correct answer is identified, demonstrating adequate knowledge of common cyber threats. While the underlying understanding may be less sophisticated than a Grade I response, the student correctly applies basic cybersecurity vocabulary in context.

Grade V (Near miss) answer

D) Spamming

A Grade V student might select spamming because they associate unwanted emails with spam and know that many spam emails contain fraudulent content. They confuse the general category of unwanted email (spam) with the specific fraudulent practice of obtaining personal information (phishing). This reflects a partial understanding of email-based threats but an inability to distinguish between nuisance communications and targeted social engineering attacks. The student recognizes that fraudulent emails exist but hasn't mastered the precise terminology that differentiates various types of malicious online activity.

Mark: 0/1

Examiner Commentary: This common misconception stems from conflating all problematic emails into a single category. To improve, the student should learn that spamming refers to volume and unwanted nature, while phishing specifically targets personal information through deception. Clear definitional knowledge of cybersecurity terms is essential.

Question 36 — Sample Answers

(Note: While Question 36 is a multiple choice question, this demonstrates conceptual understanding at different levels)

Grade I (Distinction) answer

B) Normalization

A distinction-level candidate immediately recognizes normalization as the systematic process of organizing database tables to minimize data redundancy and dependency problems. They understand that normalization involves decomposing tables into smaller, well-structured tables connected through relationships, progressing through normal forms (1NF, 2NF, 3NF). They can explain that normalized databases reduce storage requirements, maintain data integrity, prevent update anomalies, and improve database performance. They would correctly rule out validation (data accuracy checking), encryption (data security through encoding), and indexing (query performance optimization) as these serve different purposes in database management.

Mark: 1/1

Examiner Commentary: The student demonstrates sophisticated understanding of database design principles and correctly applies technical terminology. This reflects the deep conceptual knowledge characteristic of distinction-level performance, recognizing normalization as a fundamental database design methodology.

Grade III (Pass) answer

B) Normalization

The Grade III student selects normalization, having learned that it involves organizing databases to reduce redundancy. They understand the basic purpose—avoiding duplicate data—but may have limited knowledge of the specific normal forms or the theoretical underpinnings of the normalization process. They might struggle to explain exactly how normalization prevents anomalies or to apply normalization rules to decompose tables, but they correctly identify the term associated with reducing redundancy in database contexts.

Mark: 1/1

Examiner Commentary: Correct identification of normalization demonstrates satisfactory grasp of basic database concepts. While deeper understanding of the normalization process may be limited, the student successfully recalls and applies core database terminology, meeting pass-level expectations.

Grade V (Near miss) answer

A) Validation

A struggling student might select validation because they associate it with ensuring data quality and correctness. They reason that validation "organizes" data by ensuring it meets certain standards, confusing the concept of data quality control with structural database design. This reflects fundamental confusion about database processes: validation checks data entry accuracy (format, range, type), while normalization addresses table structure. The student recognizes that databases require organization but hasn't differentiated between data integrity checks and structural design principles.

Mark: 0/1

Examiner Commentary: This error reveals confusion between data validation (ensuring accuracy during entry) and normalization (structural organization to eliminate redundancy). To improve, the student must distinguish between operational processes (validation during data entry) and design processes (normalization during database creation). Understanding that normalization is a design methodology, not a data quality check, is crucial for progression.