JOINT MOCK EXAMS 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

DATE:.............................
NAME:....................................................................................CANDIDATE No.………
SCHOOL: Light International School CENTRE No. KE108

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 9626/12

Paper 1 1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: Insert (enclosed)

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 70.

● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● The insert contains the reading texts.
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Generic Marking Principles

Question Answer Marks

1 Five from: 5

 Describes the robustness/durability of mainframe computers (1)

 Reliability is the chance of the system behaving as intended (1)
 Accessibility refers to the mainframe being operational at all times//the
operating time as a percentage of total time (1)
 Serviceability means it can be easily fixed within a short period of
time (1)
 Mainframes are reliable as the system will use alternative methods to carry
out tasks (if there is a failure) (1)
 The system's software is reliable as it is extensively tested and updates are
made quickly to overcome problems (1)
 Mean time between failures (MTBF) is quite long for mainframes (1)
 Mainframes give months/years between system downtimes (1)
 Even when unavailable (due to failure) a mainframe is unavailable for a very
short time (1)
 Spare components/CPU are often included in mainframes so that if one
component/CPU fails another takes over (1)
 The mainframe can determine why a failure occurred (1)
 This enables hardware and software components to be replaced without
affecting the mainframe’s operations (1)
 Can be serviced while the system is still running (1)
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Question Answer Marks

2(a) Two matched pairs from: 4

 Phishing involves sending an email (to gather personal details) ... (1)
... whereas vishing involves a phone/voice call (to gather personal details) (1)
(Candidate MUST have referred to personal data//details being
gathered by either method within the body of the answer)

 Phishing involves sending a website link/email address, asking the

receiver to email back/click on link ... (1)
... whereas vishing involves getting the victim to give out their details
verbally / leaves a number on their answerphone / tells them over the phone
the bank’s supposed phone number the victim can call to check the call is
authentic (1)

 With phishing the link takes the victim to a (fake) website ... (1)
... whereas with vishing the phone number causes the victim to be put
through to the hacker’s own phone/answerphone (1)

 Vishing involves the customer having to respond immediately to the caller

... (1)
... whereas phishing allows the user more time to check whether the email
is authentic (1)

One mark may be awarded for unmatched statement

Two marks may be awarded for one unmatched statement from each
side

2(b) Three from: 3

 Fraudster sends a (cell phone) text message (or VERY close alternative) to
persuade customer to divulge their personal information (accept any
reference to personal information/data in the body of the answer) ... (1st)

... includes a link to fraudster’s/fake/replicated website (1)

... Example of message that could be used (must be more than ‘please send
information’) (1)

... the target's immediate attention/action is demanded (accept any

reference to peril or scaring the target into immediate action) (1)

 They include a telephone number in the message that connects to an

automated voice response system (1)
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Question Answer Marks

3 Four from: 4

 A supercomputer is fast/powerful/run at several petaflops enough to carry

out the calculations that are required for weather forecasting (1)
 A supercomputer can process huge amounts of data// a supercomputer is
needed because a huge amount of data is collected (1)
 Weather forecasting is based on the use of very complex/scientific
computer models (which only supercomputers can handle) (1)
 A sophisticated/three-dimensional model of the earth’s atmosphere/ocean/space
has to be created (which needs the processing power of a supercomputer) (1)
 (A supercomputer is needed) because a large number of calculations have to
be carried out//a supercomputer can do a large number of calculations (1)
 Needs to do complex/scientific calculations (1)

Max two marks for the data that has to be collated:

e.g.

 records of previous weather conditions (1)

 weather measurements from weather stations (candidate may exemplify) (1)
 observations from radar/satellites (1)
 information from ships /aircraft (1)
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Question Answer Marks

4 Eight from: 8

Advantages
Once it is compiled a program does not have to be translated again A
compiled program can run faster than interpreted software
Compiling a program is a much quicker process /translates it faster than
interpreting…
… as whole program is translated all in one go /all at once …
…unlike interpreter translates one line at a time
Once the program is already compiled into machine language, there is no
translation software that the user has to keep up to date
Compilers also improve security for programmers…
…makes it much harder to copy code/machine code is difficult to understand
and alter…
…so fewer risks of copyright infringement…
… with an interpreted program, the source code can always be seen so
greater risk of software copyright infringement

Disadvantages
Can only be used on one operating system
… source code can be interpreted on any operating system provided
interpreter is present…
…will need to use an interpreter if program is to be shared…
It is slow/(more) difficult to debug the program/find errors…
…the whole program needs to be compiled again after an error is corrected…
…error messages are output at the end…
…whereas with an interpreter error messages are output as they are found It
uses up more memory than an interpreter…
…as whole program has to be loaded…
…interpreter only requires a few statements of the program to be in memory
Unlike an interpreter, does not allow small pieces of code to be tested to make
sure they work before continuing with the rest of the program
More likely to crash the computer as it is running directly on the CPU

Must have at least two of each to gain full

marks Must be a proper discussion to
obtain full marks Max. six marks if
bullets/list of points
Must have expansions or comparisons to be a proper discussion
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Question Answer Marks

5 7

Question Answer Marks

6(a) READ first record in transaction file 6

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READ first record in old master file
WHILE not end of transaction file
IF transaction file WorkerID = master file
WorkerID THEN
WagesSoFar ← WagesSoFar + (RateOfPay*HoursWorked)
WRITE updated master file record to new master file
READ next record in transaction file
ENDIF
READ next record in master file
ENDWHILE

Six from:

Correct calculation – RateOfPay*HoursWorked - 1

mark Correct calculation - WagesSoFar ← WagesSoFar
+ (RateOfPay*HoursWorked) – 1 mark
Correct update – 1 mark
Read next transaction file record… – 1 mark
…immediately before ENDIF – 1
mark ENDIF– 1 mark
Read next master file record… – 1 mark
… immediately after ENDIF – 1 mark
ENDWHILE at end of algorithm – 1
mark
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6(b) Eight from: 8

Advantages
Batch processing does not require constant use of the computer when it might be
needed for other tasks...
...the payroll only needs to be run at the end of the week/month…
…whereas real time processing would require computer to be available all the
time…
…batch processing/payroll can be run at convenient times for the company/when
the computing resources are less busy/when there is little demand for computer
resources/can be run overnight
Real-time processing requires immediate processing of data which is unnecessary
with payroll...
...as hours worked would only be known at the end of each day so no point in
using real-time processing
Real-time processing is not usually capable of processing large volumes of data
such as running a payroll whereas batch processing is
Batch processing systems only need lower specification computers…
…whereas real-time processing needs more complex computer systems Online
processing requires more hardware making it more expensive than batch
processing
Batch processing only needs a few employees to enter the data…
…so total wage bill is less…
…whereas online processing systems can need employees to be constantly
using the system
In batch processing systems there are fewer/no transcription/update/data
errors…
…than human operators would produce in an online system

Disadvantages
With batch processing there is a time delay between collecting the input data and
getting an output/data is not processed until the time specified
With batch processing the information is only up to date after the master file has
been updated by the transaction file…
…whereas in real-time processing information is always up to date
With batch processing systems errors are only revealed during
processing/after batch process is complete which can be overnight and so cause
delays/errors cannot be corrected until the batch process is complete…
…in online processing errors are revealed, and can be acted upon,
immediately
Users cannot terminate a process during execution/have to wait until
execution is completed

Must have at least two of each to gain full

marks Must be a proper discussion to
obtain full marks Max. six marks if
bullets/list of points
Must have expansions or comparisons to be a proper discussion
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Question Answer Marks

7(a) Four from: 4

 When a message/information is intercepted//accessed it is unreadable/ can't

be understood ... (1)
... so, therefore, it is useless (1)
... to a hacker (accept alternative examples of 3rd party or just ‘third party’) (1)
 It protects customers when they bank/shop online/any other suitable
example from any area of use (MUST BE protecting data) ... (1)
... as the data cannot be used for identity theft (1)
 Data can only be decrypted by the receiving computer if it has the
private/decryption key (1)

Max. three marks if bullets/list of points

Question Answer Marks

7(b) Up to FOUR marks available: 4

Advantages (MAX 3)

 It is a faster process//quicker to encrypt compared to asymmetric (1) ...

... as it has less mathematical complexity (1)
 It requires less computational power than asymmetric (1)

Disadvantages (MAX 3)

 Does not have a different key for encryption and decryption//sender and
receiver use the same key (1) ...
... therefore only one key needs to be stolen (1)
... making it less secure (1)
 The encryption key cannot be generally published (1)
 The encryption key must be sent to the receiver of the message (1)
 Key could be intercepted/stolen (by a hacker) whilst being sent ... (1)
... who can then decrypt any message encrypted by the sender (accept any
reasonable implication) (1)

Must have at least one of each to gain full marks

Max. three marks if bullets/list of points
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8(a) Two from: 4

The accuracy of all sensors reduces after a period of time...

...due to constant use in/exposure to the atmosphere/liquids that are being used
Regular calibration helps to maintain the accuracy of the sensors/helps to
make sure sensors produce accurate/correct/reliable readings
Other devices within a monitoring system may deteriorate over time resulting
in a need for recalibration

8(b) Five from: 5

Only one measurement point/reading with one point calibration whereas

with two point calibration at least two readings are taken
One point calibration is appropriate for sensors used to measure a value
that is constant/never changes…
…whereas two-point calibration is used with sensors that measure a
constantly changing variable
With one point calibration the offset only is calculated/ the sensor reading
is subtracted from the known value only…
…the offset is then added to every subsequent reading
With two point calibration sensitivity needs to be included not just an offset
Two point calibration is used where there is a linear relationship between
the two readings
The slope of the line connecting the two readings is compared with the
slope of the line of the pre-calibrated sensor/the range values of the
sensor is compared with the range values for the standard
Two point calibration compensates for both offset errors and
sensitivity/slope errors
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Question Answer Marks

8(b) Up to FOUR marks available: 4

Advantages (MAX 3)

 It is a faster process//quicker to encrypt compared to asymmetric (1) ...

... as it has less mathematical complexity (1)
 It requires less computational power than asymmetric (1)

Disadvantages (MAX 3)

 Does not have a different key for encryption and decryption//sender and
receiver use the same key (1) ...
... therefore only one key needs to be stolen (1)
... making it less secure (1)
 The encryption key cannot be generally published (1)
 The encryption key must be sent to the receiver of the message (1)
 Key could be intercepted/stolen (by a hacker) whilst being sent ... (1)
... who can then decrypt any message encrypted by the sender (accept any
reasonable implication) (1)

Must have at least one of each to gain full marks

Max. three marks if bullets/list of points
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Question Answer Marks

9 Advantages Max 6 8
marks e.g

 Computers are able to take readings at more frequent intervals ... (1)
... as students take time writing down readings/values (allow once only)
(1)
 Taking readings manually takes time//time consuming (not slower) ... (1)
... because students have to write down the readings/values (allow once only) (1)
 Computers can read several physical variables at the same time ... (1)
... whereas students would only be able to read one at a time (1)
 Computers can take continuous readings ... (1)
... whereas students find it difficult to continually take readings/students may
need to take breaks (1)
 Students wouldn't be able to take readings during school holidays ... (1)
... but computers can take readings every day//computers work 24/7 (1)
 (Readings taken by computers) tend to be more accurate ... (1)
... and so are more reliable//students can make mistakes when tired/due to
human error (1)
 Training is not required ... (1)
... to collect accurate data (1)

Disadvantages Max six

marks e.g.

 Monitoring systems/computers can be expensive to buy ... (1)

... but students do not have to be paid (1)
 Monitoring systems/computer maintenance costs are expensive ... (1)
... whereas there is none with students (1)
 Sensors can lose accuracy over time ... (1)
... which would lead to inaccurate readings being taken (1)
 Sensors may not be calibrated properly ... (1)
... so any measurements will be inaccurate (1)

Max. six marks if bullets/list of points

Max six marks if no attempt at expansion
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