UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

International General Certificate of Secondary Education

MARK SCHEME for the October/November 2006 question paper

0418 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

0418/01 Paper 1, maximum raw mark 120

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not
indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began.

All Examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in
candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills
demonstrated.

Mark schemes must be read in conjunction with the question papers and the report on the
examination.

The grade thresholds for various grades are published in the report on the examination for most
IGCSE, GCE Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level syllabuses.

• CIE will not enter into discussions or correspondence in connection with these mark schemes.

CIE is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2006 question papers for most IGCSE,
GCE Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level syllabuses and some Ordinary Level
syllabuses.
Page 2 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 0418 1

1 A Laptop computer
B Speakers
C Inkjet printer
D Web cam
E Monitor
1 mark each 5 marks

2 Memory Stick
Hard disc
1 mark each 2 marks

3 FALSE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
1 mark each 4 marks

4 Optical Mark reader printing out car designs

Plotter reading information from credit cards
Magnetic stripe reader choosing from set of options
Touch screen making backup copies
Zip drive reading information from students’ exam answers
1 mark each correct arrow 5 marks

5 Database software
Spreadsheet software
Word processing software
1 mark each 3 marks

6 (a) OCR
(b) direct
(c) sensor
1 mark each 3 marks

7 (a) (i) ring 1 mark

(ii) bus 1 mark

(b) Local area network 1 mark

© UCLES 2006
Page 3 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 0418 1

8 FORWARD 20 FORWARD 20
RIGHT 90 RIGHT 90
PENUP PENUP
FORWARD 5 FORWARD 5
PENDOWN PENDOWN
FORWARD 20 OR FORWARD 20
RIGHT 90 RIGHT 90
FORWARD 50 FORWARD 50
RIGHT 90 REPEAT 2
FORWARD 25 RIGHT 90
RIGHT 90 FORWARD 25
FORWARD 25 END REPEAT

1 mark each group of statements 5 marks

9 (a) two from

Observation 1 mark, Watching people in their work practices – 1 mark
Questionnaires 1 mark, recording of responses to questions to users about the
system – 1 mark
Interviews 1 mark, face to face questions to users about the system – 1 mark
Examining documents 1 mark, looking at/through current paperwork – 1 mark 4 marks

(b) four from

data capture forms
input screens/user interface
report layouts
output screens
validation routines
queries/searches
macros 4 marks

10 suitable example for on-line processing i.e. booking systems, cash machines, EFTPOS 1 mark
suitable description such as input data is acted upon immediately and files updated immediately 1 mark
suitable example for batch processing, such as cheque processing, payroll, utility bills, stock control
(some types) 1 mark
suitable description such as data is collected altogether before being input to the system/data is
processed in one go 1 mark

11 (a) two from

ROM cannot be changed/RAM can be changed
RAM can be read from and written to
ROM is read only memory and RAM is random access memory
ROM is non-volatile/RAM is volatile 2 marks

(b) holds instructions that need to be unchanged such as BIOS/program cycles in a washing
machine/program instructions in games such as gameboys, playstations, etc. 1 mark

12 (a) range check 1 mark

(b) (i) 0/45/60 1 mark

(ii) 0/60 1 mark
(iii) 87 1 mark

(c) (i) =if(d2<35,“Fail”,“Pass”) / =if(d2>=35,“Pass”,“Fail”)

1 mark for correct condition
1 mark for “Pass”, “Fail” 2 marks

© UCLES 2006
Page 4 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 0418 1

(ii) highlight e2 to e32 – 1 mark

click on fill down – 1 mark
OR
highlight e2 and show fill handle – 1 mark
drag down to e32 – 1 mark
OR
highlight e2 and click on copy – 1 mark
highlight e3 to e32 and click on paste – 1 mark 2 marks

(d) Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
Word processor
Spreadsheet 4 marks

(e) two from:

real thing may be:
too dangerous
too large a time scale required
wasteful of materials/too expensive to build
It’s easier to alter a model
Any other suitable answer 2 marks

13 (a) computers work with digital data 1 mark

analogue data must be converted into data which the computer can understand 1 mark

(b) analogue to digital converter/ADC 1 mark

(c) two from:

Computer readings are more accurate.
Readings can be taken more frequently/continuously.
Nurses can get tired and forget to take readings.
Nurses are so busy they might not be able to take readings regularly.
Up to date readings. 2 marks

14 (a) four from:

input screen asking for sample details
sample details are typed in
expert system compares them with those in the knowledge base
using inference engine
percentage probability is suggested for each mineral
user makes decisions based on output 4 marks

(b) two from:

Car fault diagnosis
Medical diagnosis
Tax
Chess games
Animal/Plant identification
Weather forecasting 2 marks

© UCLES 2006
Page 5 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 0418 1

15 (a) (i) direct/random 1 mark

(ii) hard/floppy disc/zip disc/jaz disc 1 mark

(b) two from:

pupil changes phone number
pupil changes address
pupil changes form/year/grade
medical history changes
pupil gains qualifications
pupil leaves school
pupil changes name/parents 2 marks

(c) two from:

put password on computer
put password on file
lock office door when not in use
encrypt data
stores data on removable medium/device/removes data to secure location 2 marks

(d) A copy of file(s)/data 1 mark

stored on alternative medium/in a separate room 1 mark
to be used in case original is corrupted 1 mark

16 (a) user id/account number 1 mark

password/PIN 1 mark

(b) two from:

Don’t have to waste time travelling long distances to banks.
Don’t have to spend money on travelling expenses travelling long distances to banks.
No embarrassment of having to ask for loans face to face.
Can bank when banks are closed.
Personal security reasons.
People with disabilities find it easier. 2 marks

(c) two from:

fewer cashiers needed – less spent on wages
fewer branch offices needed – less spent on rates/rent
less actual cash handled – fewer robberies 2 marks

(d) two from:

use of encryption key
encoding of data
so that data is unintelligible
needs translating using a special key 2 marks

(e) two from:

Security of information transmitted over the internet.
Lose personal touch.
Less opportunity for socialising with friends/neighbours.
More expensive phone bills.
Lack of exercise.
Might not be able to use the phone if Internet is dialup.
Might be domestic disputes over whose turn it is to use the Internet. 2 marks

17 five max from:

ISBN
Book data (title, author, category, hardback/softback, publisher, particular shop/branch,
any other suitable item of data.) – 2 marks for 4 items, 1 for 3 items else 0
Selling price/cost price
Information fills the page and is clearly an input screen
Appropriate spaces after each field 5 marks
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Page 6 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 0418 1

18 (a) (i) bar code reader/keypad 1 mark

(ii) magnetic stripe reader/keypad (only if not given in i) 1 mark

(b) five from:

product number is validated
using check digit
product number is compared with each item
a match would be made with 002136987421
number in stock is reduced by 1
163 becomes 162
Number in stock/162 is compared with…
…is compared with re-order level.150
If equal then needs re-ordering 5 marks

(c) four from:

PIN is checked
supermarket computer contacts bank computer
using sort code present on card
expiry date check carried out on card
existency check carried out on card/account number
matching account details looked up on file
balance/credit check is carried out on account
if available funds present money is deducted from account and added to supermarket
bank account/transferred from customer account to supermarket account 4 marks

19 (a) two from:

take photos using a digital camera – 1 mark
download from camera and save – 1 mark
OR
take photos using traditional camera – 1 mark
scan the developed photo/develop onto CD ROM and save – 1 mark
OR
find images on the Internet – 1 mark
copy and paste/download images – 1 mark
OR
find appropriate images of Clipart – 1 mark
copy and paste/download images from a CD ROM – 1 mark
OR
scan images – 1 mark
save images – 1 mark
OR
use of art/drawing package – 1 mark
save image – 1 mark 4 marks

(b) three from:

create new slide
import/insert/copy and paste images
insert sound file
create text box
type in text (in text box) 3 marks

© UCLES 2006
Page 7 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE - OCT/NOV 2006 0418 1

20 seven from:
pupils:
advantages:
much wider source of knowledge
up to date information
better quality diagrams/charts
easier to find relevant information
(use of emails) so no need to carry bags

disadvantages:
can easily get sidetracked looking at irrelevant sites
can be lulled into plagiarism
need to acquire skills in searching techniques

teachers:
advantages:
can set more demanding tasks
can have work emailed to them
work is more presentable – easier to mark
pupils find learning more interesting
more interesting resources available

disadvantages:
difficult to know if it is the pupil’s own work
too many emails can overload teacher and/or system
viruses can cause system to break down

school:
advantages:
pupils more motivated – better exam results
pupils more motivated – better school environment

disadvantages:
pupils may access unsavoury sites
pupils may download coursework
expense of networking/ISP rentals
expense of phone bills

one for reasoned conclusion 8 marks

© UCLES 2006