GCSE ICT

1
GCSE ICT
Paper 1

• How not to answer questions
• Incorrect answers are caused by

• Lack of knowledge
• Poor literacy skills

2
Shopping Questions
Give two items of data encoded on the bar code

• Name of shop
• PIN number
• Name of factory
• Price
• Name of product
• Place where it is made (does this mean factory,
  town or country?)

Acceptable answers

• Product code
• Manufacturers code
• Country of origin
• Check digit

3
DTP Questions
Give four features of the DTP software used to
produce the ticket shown above

• Centre (Centre what?)
• Sizes (Different font sizes)
• Justify (Text justified)
• Font (Different font styles)

4
DTP Questions
A similar question might be
Figure 1
Come to my party at 12 Bridge Street on the 12th
June Time 7 p.m.
Some facilities of DTP software have been used to
improve the invitation and the final design is
shown in figure 2.
5
Figure 2
Give two facilities of DTP software used to
produce the invitation shown in figure 2
6
Acceptable answers

• Centre
• Colour
• Font
• Change font
• Border
• Enbolden
• Size
• Picture

• Centre Text
• Bold Text
• Picture added
• Font size changed/bigger font size
• Border enlarged
• Add the word birthday

• Please note
• No colour has been used
• No such word as enbolden
• Not clear that font has been changed

7
POS
Output Devices
Acceptable answers

• Dispenser
• Till
• Cash drawer

• Screen to display price
• Printer for receipt
• Speaker to output error beep

Advantages of point of sales
Acceptable answers

• Faster
• Never have to queue
• No mistakes

• Faster to pay bills
• Less queuing
• Faster service when paying
• Less likely to make mistakes in calculating the
  bill
• Staff less likely to be able to steal

8
Networks
What is a network?

• A server
• Computers
• Computers linked together

Hardware needed to link to the network

• Telephone
• Telephone line
• Modem
• ISDN line

9
Banking Questions
Advantages of ATMs

• You get better service (What do you mean?)
• No queuing (this is the most common wrong
  answer)
• ATMs are connected to the Internet
• Shorter queues at ATM

Acceptable answers

• Provide 24- hour service
• Can access ATMs in many locations
• Cuts down on queues in banks
• Faster service for customers

10
Cards

• Access
• Visa
• Switch
• Any brand name

Acceptable answers

• Credit cards
• Debit cards
• Smart cards

11
Give one danger when buying goods on the Internet

• Fraud
• Other people can see their details (no
  suggestion of mis-use)

Acceptable answers

• Computer fraud
• Credit card fraud
• People might hack into their personal details
• People could use their details to buy goods for
  themselves

12
Crimes
Give three ways in which ICT can help the police
prevent crimes

• Answers are often vague
• Idea of the Internet being big brother is
  common
• You can see all the crimes on the Internet
• You can tell other policemen about crimes

Acceptable Answers

• You can send photofits across the Internet to
  other police stations
• Keep details of known criminals on database
• Fingerprints kept on database

13
Email
Advantages of email

• Doesnt cost anything
• (What about the cost of buying the computer,
  ISP etc.)
• Faster (one word answers are never accepted)

Acceptable answers

• The receiving computer will store the message
  until the receiver wishes to read it
• One letter can be sent to several users
  mailboxes at the same time
• Faster delivery speed (instantaneous)
• Delivers at weekends and in the evening

14
Spreadsheets
Advantages

• They are easy to use
• Always correct

Acceptable answers

• Results are correct if you put in correct
  formula
• Stores formulae and data
• Allows what if? type investigations
• Variety of output formats e.g. graphs

15
Simulation Model
What is a simulation model?

• You can see things in 3D
• You can try out different finishes

Acceptable answer

• It is a software model of a real life situation

Note Simulation is not CAD
16
Health Hazards

• Too much electricity someone might get
  electrocuted
• Catch arc eyes
• Catch wrists and fingers
• Heart disease
• Obesity

Acceptable answers

• Eye strain
• RSI Repetitive Strain Injury
• Epileptic fits
• Headaches
• Back problems

17
Datalogging
Give two sensors used to collect weather data

• Wind
• Water
• Thermometer

Acceptable answers

• Wind direction/Wind speed
• Rainfall/Humidity
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Sunlight/light

18
Give two advantages of using computer based
methods for collecting weather data rather than
using tradition methods.

• Faster
• Draw graphs
• (not collecting and humans can draw graphs)
• Uses less memory
• Uses less space
• More accurate (than what?)

Acceptable answers

• Accurate readings/recordings
• Data can be collected 24/7
• Humans dont need to be present/can log where
  humans cant go