Skills for Computing

22 November 2016

Marking Scheme
This marking scheme has been prepared as a guide only to markers. This is not a set of
model answers, or the exclusive answers to the questions, and there will frequently be
alternative responses which will provide a valid answer. Markers are advised that, unless a
question specifies that an answer be provided in a particular form, then an answer that is
correct (factually or in practical terms) must be given the available marks.

If there is doubt as to the correctness of an answer, the relevant NCC Education materials
should be the first authority.

Throughout the marking, please credit any valid alternative point.

Where markers award half marks in any part of a question, they should ensure
that the total mark recorded for the question is rounded up to a whole mark.
 Answer ALL questions

Marks
Question 1

A clothes shop sold 100 t-shirts last month. The shop recorded the numbers of
different colours t-shirts sold in this pie chart.

a) Is the date recorded scientific? Explain your answer. 2

Yes (1 mark). The data is scientific because the measurement of the data is
reproducible (1 mark).

b) What colour t-shirt did the shop sell the most of last month? 1
Blue

c) What colour t-shirt did the shop sell the least of last month? 1
Green

d) What fraction of the total number of t-shirts sold were purple? 1

¼

e) How many purple t-shirts were sold last month if the total number of t-shirts sold 2
were 100? You should show your working out in the answer.
1
× 100 = 25
4

Award 1 mark for working and 1 mark for correct answer

f) What fraction of the total number of t-shirts sold were blue? 1

½

g) How many blue t-shirts were sold last month if the total number of t-shirts sold 2
were 100? You should show your working out in the answer.
1
× 100 = 50
2

Award 1 mark for working and 1 mark for correct answer.

Total: 10 Marks

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 Marks
Question 2

The amount of time six customers spend in a shop and the amount of money they
spend is shown in this table.

Time spent in shop Amount of money

(minutes) spent
(£)
16 7.80
20 23.75
21 18.32
31 19.12
39 37.25
47 55.76

a) Calculate the mean amount of time spent in the shop. You should show your 2
working out in the answer.

The mean is :

𝟏𝟔 + 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟐𝟏 + 𝟑𝟏 + 𝟑𝟗 + 𝟒𝟕 𝟏𝟕𝟒
= = 𝟐𝟗
𝟔 𝟔

Award 1 mark for working and 1 mark for correct answer

b) Calculate the mean amount of money spent in the shop. You should show your 2
working out in the answer.

The mean is :

𝟕. 𝟖𝟎 + 𝟐𝟑. 𝟕𝟓 + 𝟏𝟖. 𝟑𝟐 + 𝟏𝟗. 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟑𝟕. 𝟐𝟓 + 𝟓𝟓. 𝟕𝟔 𝟏𝟔𝟐

£ =£ = £𝟐𝟕
𝟔 𝟔

Award 1 mark for working and 1 mark for correct answer

Question 2 continues on next page

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 Marks
c) Calculate the simple linear regression line. 6

Time Amount of 𝒙𝒚 𝒙𝟐
spent in money
shop spent
(minutes) (£)
𝒙 𝒚
16 7.80 124.80 256
20 23.75 475 400
21 18.32 384.72 441
31 19.12 592.72 961
39 37.25 1452.75 1521
47 55.76 2620.72 2209
Total 174 162 5650.71 5788
Mean 29 27

The maximum number of marks awarded for this question is 6. Award ½

mark for correct 𝒙𝒚 column and ½ mark for correct 𝒙𝒚 total. Award ½ mark
for correct 𝒙𝟐 column and ½ mark for correct 𝒙𝟐 total. So, a total of 2 marks
is available for table or similar workings.

Note: Marks are not awarded for calculation of 𝒙 total, 𝒚 total, mean of 𝒚 or
mean of 𝒙 since these have already been credited in parts (a) and (b).)

Find the value of 𝒎 :

𝒏𝜮𝒙𝒚 − 𝜮𝒙𝜮𝒚
𝒎=
𝒏𝜮𝒙𝟐 − (𝜮𝒙)𝟐

(𝟔 × 𝟓𝟔𝟓𝟎. 𝟕𝟏) − (𝟏𝟕𝟒 × 𝟏𝟔𝟐)

𝟔 × 𝟓𝟕𝟖𝟖 − (𝟏𝟕𝟒)𝟐
𝟓𝟕𝟏𝟔.𝟐𝟔
= 𝟏. 𝟐𝟖 (to 2 dp)
𝟒𝟒𝟓𝟐

Award 1 mark for workings and award 1 mark for correct value of 𝒎)
Now, find the value of 𝒄 :

̅ − 𝒎𝒙
𝒄=𝒚 ̅

= 𝟐𝟕 − 𝟏. 𝟐𝟖 × 𝟐𝟗

= −𝟏𝟎. 𝟏𝟐 (to 2 d p)

Award 1 mark for workings and award 1 mark for correct value of 𝒄)
Hence, the simple linear regression line for the set of data is :

𝒚 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟖𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎. 𝟏𝟐

Total: 10 Marks

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 Marks
Question 3

A survey asks a group of students about the amount of time they spent listening to
the radio on one particular day. The data is shown in this table.

Time (minutes) Frequency

0 – 30 48
30 – 60 75
60 – 90 57
90 – 120 43
120 – 150 40
150 – 180 27

a) How many students took part in the survey? 1

290

b) The survey is conducted at a later date with 150 respondents. Which survey 2
results are more reliable?
The results of the first survey are more reliable (1 mark) as the number of
respondents is greater (1 mark).

c) Is the data collected continuous or discrete? 1

Continuous

Question 3 continues on next page

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 Marks
d) Use the frequency table to plot a histogram. You should give your histogram a 6
title and label the horizontal axis (𝑥 –axis) as ‘Time (minutes)’ and the vertical
axis (y-axis) as ‘Frequency density’. You should use the graph paper provided.

The maximum number of marks awarded to this question is 6. Marks

should be awarded on the following basis:

 Award 1 marks for ‘Time (minutes)’ on horizontal axis.

 1 mark for ‘Frequency density’ on vertical axis.
 3 marks for accurate plotting of bars.
 1 mark for no gaps between bars.

Total: 10 Marks

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 Marks
Question 4

The management team of a chain of bookshops is deciding whether to close all their
branches and sell books exclusively online in an attempt to cut costs. It has been
decided to apply the ‘Six Hats’ method to the problem ‘in parallel’.

a) State the name of an alternative method of applying the ‘Six Hats’ method and
explain what this involves. 2
An alternative way is serial application (1 mark). An idea is subjected to the
viewpoint of each hat in turn (1 mark).

b) Describe the role of the person wearing the yellow hat and suggest how they 3
might respond to the idea of closing the branches and only selling online.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.

 The yellow hat is positive and optimistic.

 The person wearing the yellow hat looks for the benefits and
advantages of any idea.
 In this discussion they would outline the benefits and advantages of
closing the branches and only selling online.

Note: Credit alternative valid answers.

c) Is the wearer of the yellow hat involved in predominantly right-brained or left- 1

brained activity?
Right - brained activity.

d) What colour hat should the chair or facilitator wear? Is the chair or facilitator 2
involved in predominantly right-brained or left-brained activity?
The chair or facilitator should wear the blue hat (1 mark). They are involved
in predominantly left-brained activity (1 mark).

e) The management team decide not to close all the branches but need to look for 2
alternative ways to cut costs. They decide to apply the TASC framework to the
problem. State what the third phase of the TASC cycle is called and explain how
it might be applied to this problem.
The third phase of the TASC cycle is called the ‘Generate’ phase (1 mark).
All possible ideas of how the company might save money are generated (1
mark).

Total: 10 Marks

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 Marks
Question 5

a) Write down the in-text reference for the following book. 3

Title: Developing study skills
Author: R. Warrington
Page number: 43
Year of publication: 2011
Publisher: Garden Press
Location of publisher: New York

(Warrington, 2011:43)

Award 1 mark for each correct item up to a maximum of 3 marks. Note: If

reference correct but in wrong order deduct 1 mark

b) Provide ONE (1) reason why referencing correctly is important. 1

Possible reasons include:

 A reference helps you to find the original source should you need to
check something again
 A reference helps readers to find the original source that is being
referred to
 Gives readers confidence in your work if they know where
information has come from
 Makes it clear that you have not plagiarised the work
 By referencing you are acknowledging the source which is a
courtesy to the author.

Note: Credit valid alternative answers.

c) Explain what is meant by Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 2

CPD is the recognition that it is necessary for a professional to
continuously review and update their skills, knowledge and competencies
(1 mark) in order to remain employable (1 mark).

d) Give an example of a skill that you have improved during your study of this 4
module. Explain briefly how you have made this improvement. Explain how you
know this skill has improved (you may wish to discuss success criteria).
There is obviously no single correct answer to this question as it is based
upon the individual student’s experience. It is important that the candidate
states what the skill is (1 mark). They should also explain how they have
improved this skill, for example acting upon feedback (2 marks). They
should mention how they know they have improved – this is likely to
include discussion of success criteria (1 mark).

Total: 10 Marks

End of Examination Paper

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 Formula sheet

1. Percentage points of the normal distribution

1 1

-z z

1 15.87% 15% 5.00% 2.50% 2.28% 1.00% 0.50%

 68.27% 70.00% 90.00% 95.00% 95.45% 98.00% 99.00%
z 1.0000 1.0364 1.6449 1.9600 2.0000 2.3263 2.5758

2. Formulae

Spearman’s Rank Correlation (with no ties)

6 ∑ 𝑑2
𝑟𝑠 = 1 −
𝑛(𝑛2 − 1)

The Pearson Correlation Function

𝑛 ∑ 𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑖 − ∑ 𝑥𝑖 ∑ 𝑦𝑖
𝑅=𝑟=
√(𝑛 ∑ 𝑥𝑖2 − (∑ 𝑥𝑖 )2 )(𝑛 ∑ 𝑦𝑖2 − (∑ 𝑦𝑖 )2 )

Simple Linear Regression

𝑦̂ = 𝑚𝑥𝑖 + 𝑐 is the least SSE straight line where:

∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥̅ )(𝑦𝑖 − 𝑦̅) 𝑛 ∑ 𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑖 − ∑ 𝑥𝑖 ∑ 𝑦𝑖

𝑚= 𝑚=
∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥̅ )2 𝑛 ∑ 𝑥𝑖2 − (∑ 𝑥𝑖 )2

𝑐 = 𝑦̅ − 𝑚𝑥̅

The Coefficient of Determination

∑(𝑦̂ − 𝑦̅)2
𝑅2 = 𝑟 2 =
∑(𝑦 − 𝑦̅)2

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Marking note

Multiply original mark out of 50 by two to produce final mark out of 100 to be recorded.

Learning Outcomes matrix

Question Learning Outcomes Marker can differentiate

assessed between varying levels of
achievement
1 2, 4 Yes
2 4 Yes
3 2, 4 Yes
4 3 Yes
5 1,5 Yes

Grade descriptors

Learning Outcome Pass Merit Distinction

Be able to use Draw upon and Draw upon a variety Draw upon a wide
various skills to make use of an of skills and make range of skills and
support the study of adequate range of an appropriate make a highly
Computing skills selection appropriate
selection
Be able to Demonstrate Demonstrate strong Demonstrate highly
communicate in a adequate standard and consistent skilful, exemplary
technical of communication standard of standard of
environment communication communication
Be able to deploy Demonstrate Demonstrate sound Demonstrate highly
thinking skills and adequate and appropriate effective deployment
problem-solving deployment of deployment of skills of skills and
paradigms in both a skills and and paradigms paradigms
business and paradigms
learning context.
Be able to handle Demonstrate Demonstrate ability Demonstrate ability
and present data ability to perform to perform the task to perform the task
the task consistently well to the highest
standard
Understand the need Demonstrate Demonstrate robust Demonstrate highly
for lifelong learning adequate level of level of comprehensive level
understanding understanding of understanding

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