Cambridge A Level Information Technology (from 2017) 9626 — 2021 May/June Paper 3 · Variant 2
9626/32/M/J/21 · 14 questions · 90 marks · ≈101 min
The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.
Question paper16 pages
Mark scheme12 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.
Questions as text
Q1 · Describe the limitations of using wireless access points (WAPs) to connect portable…
1 Describe the limitations of using wireless access points (WAPs) to connect portable computers to a cabled network. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [6]
Q2 · Describe how information technology can enhance vision for visually impaired people
2 Describe how information technology can enhance vision for visually impaired people. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [5]
Q3 · Ferdinand shops online using his credit card
3 Ferdinand shops online using his credit card. Ferdinand has noticed that fraudulent transactions have appeared on his credit card statement. Describe how it is possible for Ferdinand to be subjected to fraud when using his credit card for online shopping. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [6]
Q4 · Evaluate, by weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, the use of encryption to…
4 Evaluate, by weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, the use of encryption to protect confidential data. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [6]
Q5 · Describe the benefits and drawbacks of using electronic funds transfer systems in…
5 Describe the benefits and drawbacks of using electronic funds transfer systems in eBusiness. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [6]
Q6 · Switches are devices used in computer networks
6 Switches are devices used in computer networks. Describe the role and operation of a network switch. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [8]
Q7 · Computer-assisted translation (CAT) can be used by companies whose products and services…
7 Computer-assisted translation (CAT) can be used by companies whose products and services are available worldwide. (a) Describe how CAT could be used by a software company creating computer games that are available in many different countries. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [6] (b) Describe the benefits to the company of using CAT. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [2] (c) Describe one drawback of the company relying on CAT for translations in computer games. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [1]
Q8 · Biometric payment systems can be used to pay for school meals
8 Biometric payment systems can be used to pay for school meals. Students do not need to carry or use a payment card to buy goods but can use their fingerprints at the Point-of-Sale terminal. (a) Describe three components of a biometric payment system that might be used. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [3] (b) Describe how the biometric payment system is used by students to pay for meals. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [6]
Q9 · A new store is being opened and a spreadsheet is being created to manage its finances and…
9 A new store is being opened and a spreadsheet is being created to manage its finances and to calculate the projected profits. (a) There are several ways of prototyping software during development. Suggest reasons why incremental prototyping would be the most appropriate method to use. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [3] Test data has been created to fully test the spreadsheet. (b) Explain why test data is being used. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [3]
Q10 · A regional government is planning to install broadband internet technology throughout its…
10 A regional government is planning to install broadband internet technology throughout its rural areas. Analyse the effectiveness of using pilot implementation when installing the technology. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [8]
Q11 · It is sometimes possible for people to gain unauthorised access to computer rooms
11 It is sometimes possible for people to gain unauthorised access to computer rooms. A school has a computer room with a number of standalone computers. Evaluate, by weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, methods for protecting data stored on these computers. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [6]
Q12 · A portrait painter has a website which he uses to display photographs of his work
12 A portrait painter has a website which he uses to display photographs of his work. The website uses thumbnail and large images to show the photographs. Analyse the use of bitmap graphics for this purpose. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [6]
Q13 · Bluetooth and infrared can both be used to send data between devices
13 Bluetooth and infrared can both be used to send data between devices. Contrast, by describing the differences between, the use of Bluetooth and the use of infrared for transmitting data between devices. .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................... [6]
Question 14
14 (a) Describe bit streaming. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [1] (b) Describe the differences between real-time bit streaming and on demand bit streaming. ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. [2]
What was in this paper
The subtopics covered by these 14 questions, and how many questions each got. Open one in a new tab to see every Cambridge question on it.
What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2021 May/June, Paper 3 · Variant 2. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.