Cambridge A Level Information Technology (from 2017) 9626 — 2020 Feb/March Paper 1 · Variant 2

Cambridge International AS & A Level This document has 16 pages. Blank pages are indicated. DC (SC/TP) 180919/3 © UCLES 2020 [Turn over INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 9626/12 Paper 1 Theory February/March 2020 1 hour 45 minutes You must answer on the question paper. No additional materials are needed. INSTRUCTIONS ● Answer all questions. ● Use a black or dark blue pen. ● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page. ● Write your answer to each question in the space provided. ● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid. ● Do not write on any bar codes. ● You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working. ● Calculators must not be used in this paper. INFORMATION ● The total mark for this paper is 90. ● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ]. * 7 9 9 1 7 1 0 1 9 1 *

2 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 1 (a) Tick the most accurate statement referring to batch processing. ✓ The processing of data usually takes place when the computing resources are very busy It is used in the control of traffic lights It typically involves the use of sensors and control systems It is typically used in the printing of electricity bills [1] (b) Tick the most accurate statement referring to real time processing. ✓ It would be suitable for controlling a car park barrier It does not require an immediate response It is never used 24 hours a day for the same task It is where a group of transactions is collected over a period of time before being processed [1] Theatres often use interactive processing to allow customers to book seats. (c) Describe what is meant by the term interactive processing. … … … … … … … … [3]

3 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 [Turn over (d) Give reasons why interactive processing would be used instead of batch processing for booking seats in a theatre. … … … … … … [2] 2 For each of the two tables below, tick the most accurate statement referring to the use of simulation in pilot training. (a) ✓ The running and maintenance costs of a flight simulator are far greater than those of an actual aircraft Dangerous situations can be simulated without putting the trainee pilot's life at risk It is more difficult to simulate adverse weather conditions in a flight simulator The level of noise in a flight simulator is far louder than in an aircraft [1] (b) ✓ The pilot has to be able to use spreadsheet software efficiently There is no limit to how many ‘g’ a simulator can subject a pilot to, and for how long The simulator response will always be exactly the same as an actual aeroplane, as there are so few variables Sometimes pilots become overconfident after training on the simulator [1]

4 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 3 Pardeep has a lot of confidential data on her desktop computer which she wishes to transfer to a backing storage device. She is not sure whether to buy an extra hard disk drive or a magnetic tape drive. Evaluate, by weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, the use of a hard disk drive compared with a magnetic tape drive. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [6]

5 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 [Turn over 4 By describing RAM and ROM, explain why a computer needs both types of memory. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [8]

6 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 5 Many businesses code data when storing information. A shop which sells shirts may wish to code the size and colour of each shirt, e.g. a yellow shirt with chest size 100 cm would be coded as 100Y. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of coding data. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [6]

7 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 [Turn over 6 Many people have computers and devices in the home and in their cars that can be controlled using a gesture based interface or a dialogue interface. Evaluate, by weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, these two user interfaces when compared to each other. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [8]

8 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 7 Here is part of a spreadsheet showing the earnings of a selection of workers at a company. A Worker ID 42158P 63119M 63214P 89261N 97643M As As Se Se Se Cl Cl As Assistant Assistant Secretary Secretary Secretary Clerk Clerk Assistant 39 40 35 36 40 $468 $800 $700 $540 $480 Job code Job type Hours worked this week Wage paid this week $12 B C D F 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 E10 ✗ ✔ fx E Standard rate per hour $15 $20 =D10*VLOOKUP(B10,jobrate,3,0) 10 (a) The formula in cell E10 contains a named range, shaded in the spreadsheet. Describe, step by step, how the named range was created. … … … … … … [2] (b) Explain, step by step, what the formula in cell E10 does. … … … … … … … … … … [4]

9 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 [Turn over (c) Give two reasons why a named range is used. 1 … … … 2 … … … [2] (d) Explain, step by step, how to perform a filter on secretaries earning more than $750. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [6]

10 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 Here is the same spreadsheet showing the formula in cell C7, VLOOKUP(B7,C$2:D$4,2,0). A Worker ID 42158P 63119M 63214P 89261N 97643M As As Se Se Se Cl Cl As Assistant Assistant Secretary Secretary Secretary Clerk Clerk Assistant 39 40 35 36 40 $468 $800 $700 $540 $480 Job code Job type Hours worked this week Wage paid this week $12 B D F 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 C7 ✗ ✔ fx E Standard rate per hour $15 $20 =VLOOKUP(B7,C$2:D$4,2,0) C 7 (e) By explaining what each part of the formula does, describe how it displays ‘Assistant’ in C7. … … … … … … … … … … [4]

11 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 [Turn over 8 Describe the features of the encryption protocols TLS and SSL. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [6] 9 Data on a CD ROM is regarded as static data. Using another appropriate example, describe the characteristics of static data. … … … … … … … … … … [4]

12 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 10 In a recent BBC news bulletin it was said: ‘It takes 82 seconds for cyber-thieves to ensnare the first victim of a phishing campaign, a report suggests.’ ‘Hackers exploit router flaws in unusual pharming attack.’ Describe what is meant by: (a) phishing … … … … … … … … … [4] (b) pharming. … … … … … … … [3]

13 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 [Turn over 11 Explain why generic file formats are needed when using word processing software and spreadsheet software. … … … … … … … … … … [4] 12 It is possible to use sound editing software to vary the sampling rate in an audio file. Describe what is meant by sampling, sampling rate and the factors that should be considered when varying the sampling rate. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [6]

14 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 13 Gurjeet told his classmate Sunil “I’m going to search the internet to help me with my homework”. Sunil said “Surely you mean you are going to search the world wide web!” Explain, in detail, the differences between the internet and the world wide web. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [8]

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16 9626/12/F/M/20 © UCLES 2020 Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity. To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series. Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge. BLANK PAGE

This document consists of 10 printed pages. © UCLES 2020 [Turn over Cambridge International AS & A Level INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 9626/12 Paper 1 Theory March 2020 MARK SCHEME Maximum Mark: 90 Published This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, 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, which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers. Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes. Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the March 2020 series for most Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level components.

9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED March 2020 © UCLES 2020 Page 2 of 10 Generic Marking Principles These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles. GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1: Marks must be awarded in line with: • the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question • the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question • the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts. GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2: Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions). GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3: Marks must be awarded positively: • marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate • marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do • marks are not deducted for errors • marks are not deducted for omissions • answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous. GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4: Rules must be applied consistently e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors. GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5: Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen). GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6: Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.

9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED March 2020 © UCLES 2020 Page 3 of 10 Question Answer Marks 1(a) The processing of data usually takes place when the computing resources are very busy It is used in the control of traffic lights It typically involves the use of sensors and control systems It is typically used in the printing of electricity bills  1 1(b) It would be suitable for controlling a car park barrier  It does not require an immediate response It is never used 24 hours a day for the same task It is where a group of transactions is collected over a period of time before being processed 1 1(c) Three from: Computers deal with each input after a short delay/give apparently immediate/real time responses The delay is caused by the computer accepting/dealing with other inputs The delay may be so brief that it seems to the user as if the transaction has happened straight away Interactive processing deals with one transaction at a time Once the transaction has taken place the database will be updated immediately/same time as the booking The booking system takes a request for a seat and marks that seat as booked The computer sends a message to the user to inform him/her the seat has been booked 3 1(d) Two from: Because the database is updated immediately it is impossible to have overbooking Seats can be booked at any time of day or night Customers know immediately if they have successfully booked a seat/get immediate confirmation Customers are able to re-book immediately if they are unsuccessful first time 2

9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED March 2020 © UCLES 2020 Page 4 of 10 Question Answer Marks 2(a) The running and maintenance costs of a flight simulator are far greater than those of an actual aircraft Dangerous situations can be simulated without putting the trainee pilot's life at risk  It is more difficult to simulate adverse weather conditions in a flight simulator The level of noise in a flight simulator is far louder than in an aircraft 1 2(b) The pilot has to be able to use spreadsheet software efficiently There is no limit to how many ‘g’ a simulator can subject a pilot to, and for how long The simulator response will always be exactly the same as an actual aeroplane, as there are so few variables Sometimes pilots become overconfident after training on the simulator  1 Question Answer Marks 3 Evaluation based on: Advantages HDDs have faster data access speed than magnetic tape drives Quicker to make single file retrievals from backups / selective backups with HDD than magnetic tape drives Tapes are more likely to go missing as they are more portable HDDs are cheaper to buy than magnetic tape drives Disadvantages Once the data is found, magnetic tape drives have quicker data transfer rate than HDDs when reading data HDDs tend to have shorter longevity compared to magnetic tape drives HDDs have less storage capacity than magnetic tape drives When further memory is required subsequently, it is more expensive to buy another HDD than to buy a new tape HDDs are more prone to mechanical failure than magnetic tape drives HDDs have higher power consumption than magnetic tape drives Must have at least one of each to gain full marks 6

9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED March 2020 © UCLES 2020 Page 5 of 10 Question Answer Marks 4 Eight from: RAM stands for Random Access Memory and ROM stands for Read Only Memory RAM stores information for relatively short term/temporary usage by the processors/CPU and other components such as the VGA RAM is used by computers for storing data during computing processes RAM is a volatile memory/data are destroyed once the power to the device is stopped RAM stores active program data Large RAM chips can be read faster than most ROMs… … so ROM content is sometimes copied to RAM and subsequently read from RAM ROM cannot be changed/erased by a program/user/easily/can only be read from RAM can be read from and written to RAM is needed to store data that the user is currently working on ROM is non-volatile memory/ROM retains its data even after the computer is turned off/ROM is needed to store the instructions for the computer to start up (when it is turned on again)/ permanent computer instructions ROM is used to store software that is unlikely to need frequent updates ROM is needed to store boot up instructions to activate hard disk drive/BIOS 8 Question Answer Marks 5 Six from: Advantages It makes inputting of data quicker/saves time Codes require less storage space The smaller the size of the database, the faster it will be to search and produce results Fewer mistakes will be made when entering coded data When data have been coded it makes it easier to use validation Disadvantages Coarsening of data such as colours – light and dark blue coded as blue Coding can obscure the meaning of the data/can be difficult to interpret/easy to misunderstand If people are unfamiliar with the codes, it can slow down data entry If codes are complicated, they might be entered incorrectly It is possible to run out of code combinations/there might not be enough codes One mark is available for a reasoned conclusion Must have at least one of each to gain full marks 6

9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED March 2020 © UCLES 2020 Page 6 of 10 Question Answer Marks 6 Eight from: Advantages of gesture-based/disadvantages of dialogue based Gestures may be a quicker way of initiating a response from a device People who have a speech impediment may find a dialogue interface too difficult to use/can find a gesture based interface useful Dialogue interface may not operate reliably/gestures will still be reliable if there is (background) noise or user has a cold/strong dialect/accent Dialogue interface often requires a training session with the user/gestures can be taught through manuals Disadvantages of gesture-based/advantages of dialogue based Users with physical disabilities may not be able to make gestures/may find dialogue interfaces easier to use Users with physical disabilities in their limbs could still speak into a microphone to control a device Certain gestures may not be socially acceptable/user could feel uncomfortable making gestures while driving/in front of others, which is not a problem with a dialogue interface Some gestures may be unintentional but still initiate a reaction from the device Dialogue interface allows hands free control, ensuring safety when driving Gestures would need at least one hand to leave the steering wheel Gesture based is less effective when several users/background movement involved Gesture based interface requires line of sight unlike dialogue interface One from each section is needed to gain full marks 8 Question Answer Marks 7(a) Two from Select C2:E4 Click the Name box at the left end of the formula bar Type jobrate and press enter Or On the Formulas tab, in the Defined Names group, click Define Name In the New Name dialog box type jobrate In the refers to box type C2:E4 2

9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED March 2020 © UCLES 2020 Page 7 of 10 Question Answer Marks 7(b) Four from It looks through the cells C2 to C4/in the named range ‘jobrate’/C2 to E4… …until it finds the value equal to the contents B10/ Cl/Job code 0 (FALSE) forces an exact match It records the corresponding value from column 3/$15/standard rate per hour The answer is multiplied by D10/36/Hours worked this week Produces 15 × 36 = 540/Wage paid this week 4 7(c) Two from: It saves time rather than having to type in an absolute cell reference range every time it is needed It is not necessary to remember to use absolute or relative cell references in a formula They are easier to remember than a cell range if appropriate names are used They are easier to explain to other people using that spreadsheet They are less prone to errors when typing in name than when typing the complete range each time 2 7(d) Six from: Select cells A6:E11 Select data/ sort and filter/right click then filter/autofilter/apply filter tool Click on drop down arrow for Job code/Job type/B6/C6 Click on select all to deselect it Select Se/Secretary / deselect Assistant and Clerk Click on drop down arrow for Wage paid this week/E6… …select number filter then greater than / more than Type in 750 and click on OK 6 7(e) It looks through the cells C2 to C4/C2 to D4 – 1 mark Until it finds the value equal to the contents of B7 which is As – 1 mark It records the corresponding value from column 2 which is Assistant – 1 mark The ,0 forces an exact match – 1 mark 4

9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED March 2020 © UCLES 2020 Page 8 of 10 Question Answer Marks 8 Six from: All the major web browsers currently in use support TLS. SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer and TLS stands for Transport Layer Security TLS is the successor to SSL as SSL is being phased out TLS and SSL are protocols that provide security of communication in a network TLS/SSL are used in web browsing, email, Internet faxing, instant messaging and Voice over IP/VoIP (at least two examples needed) Client-server applications use TLS in a network to try to prevent eavesdropping Encryption protocols enable credit card payments to be made securely SSL/TLS requires a handshake to be carried out 6 Question Answer Marks 9 Three from: Data that doesn’t change Limited amount of information in a static information source … …because as soon as it is created it is difficult to have information added to it Static data tends to go out of date quickly Appropriate example such as a newspaper story/textbook contains static data – 1 mark 4 Question Answer Marks 10(a) Four from: Involves using email to persuade people to divulge their personal information The email may include a website URL/link inviting the receiver to go to the site Email/website looks just like an actual organisation’s email/website but is a fake website/email Clicking on the link takes the target to a fake website The email may ask customer to reply with their bank details The email usually contains something that demands the target's immediate attention Examples include ‘We confirm that you have signed up to our service. You will be charged $2 a day unless you cancel your order on this URL: ...’ The website then asks the target to enter their personal/financial information 4 10(b) Three from: Installs a piece of malicious software/code on the customer’s computer Creates a fake website which looks like the actual bank’s website The fraudster redirects genuine website’s traffic to own website… …customer is now sending personal details to fraudster’s website unknowingly/customer is asked by fake website for personal details 3

9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED March 2020 © UCLES 2020 Page 9 of 10 Question Answer Marks 11 Four from: Files created in one software package are sometimes difficult to use in other software if the packages are incompatible If another word processing/ spreadsheet package does not recognise that file format it will be unable to load it… …as word processing/spreadsheet files are usually saved as a specific word processing/spreadsheet file type Word processing/spreadsheet files need to be saved as a generic file format so they can be read by any word processing/ spreadsheet package Word processing files should be saved as a .txt file type Spreadsheet files should be saved as a .csv file type 4 Question Answer Marks 12 Six from: Digital audio is a series of discrete bursts called samples The frequency at which these samples occur is so fast it sounds like a continuous sound The sampling rate is the number of samples within a given period of time/the number of ‘snapshots’ of audio that are sampled every second The higher the sample rate, the more accurately the original sound can be represented If sound is recorded at higher sample rates then it is using more samples in a file and these files are going to be much bigger Bigger files take up more disc space/the lower the sampling rate the less storage capacity is required/the faster the transfer rate Bigger files require more computing power to process The human ear is limited regarding the frequencies it can detect Reducing the sample rate will reduce the sound quality/ A higher sampling rate sounds better than a lower rate 6 Question Answer Marks 13 Eight from: The internet is an international network of networks of computers The internet refers to the physical connection between networks of computers WWW makes use of hypertext to access the various forms of information available on the internet The internet consists of hardware The internet consists of computers, cables, routers, switches, repeaters The internet is the physical layer on which a number of protocols are in use to carry data all around the world The world wide web is only one of the services provided by the internet Instant messaging uses the internet without using the world wide web IP Phones that are used to make calls over the internet have their own VoIP protocols and have no need for the WWW The world wide web is accessed through browsers/users browsing 8

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