MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATIONS BOARD
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA, MSIDA
MATRICULATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
ADVANCED LEVEL
May 2012
SUBJECT:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
PAPER NUMBER:
I
DATE:
28th May 2012
TIME:
4.00am-7.00pm
MARKING SCHEME AND SUGGESTED SAMPLE ANSWERS
SECTION A: INFORMATION SYSTEMS
A1.
a) This part is on Data and data capture
i. Barcode. Advantages: quick; Disadvantage: damaged code.
Magnetic Stripe. Advantage: Accurate; Disadvantage: security.
[2]
2
ii. A smart card has a small 1mm micrprocessor embedded in the middle to
store more information. Typical example is in a bank enviroment. [2]
iii.
Keying in the data. Disadvantages: slow, error prone, tiring.
[2]
[Total: 6 marks]
b) This part is on Data validation and verification
i. Validation ensures data entered is sensible and reasonable. It does not check
the accuracy of data. Verification ensures that the data entered exactly
matches the original source.
[2]
ii. Two from:
 Data input error – operator enters the wrong data;
 Transcription error – cashier enters the wrong code;
 Lost data – a form falls into the bin;
 Double entry error – a tax clerk stops & starts from same form;
 Hardware error – data cables in computer transmit errors.
iii.
[2]
Data collected is not biased or does not accurately represent the intentions it
was captured for. E.g. Validating data during a survey.
[2]
[Total: 6 marks]
c) This part is on Data loss and recovery methods
i. Two from:
 Company owned backup facility;
 Reciprocal agreement with another company running a compatible
computer system;
 Subscription to a disaster recovery service.
[2]
ii. Two from:
 Scale of the organisation and its ICT systems;
 Nature of the operation – online/offline;
 Relative costs of different operations;
 Perceived likelihood of disaster occurring.
[2]
[Total: 4 marks]
d) This part is on Security of data
i. Two from:
 Human error. E.g. data entry mistake, program errors, operator
errors;
 Computer crime. E.g. hacking, illegal data modification, viruses;
 Natural disasters. E.g. fire, earthquake, hurricane, flood;
 War & terrorist activity. E.g. bombs, fire, cyber-terrorist;
 Hardware failure. E.g. power failure, disk crash, nework failure. [2]
ii. Corresponding to above:
 Validation & verification;
 Anti-virus software;
 Back-up;
 Physical protection;
 Duplication and back-up.
[2]
[Total: 4 marks]
A2.
This question is onNetworks in organisations
a) A network is a collection of computers and peripherals connected and
communicating together.
Two types of networks are:
 LAN – local area network is a network limited to one building or site
 WAN – wide area network is a network over a wide geographical area.
[1]
[2]
[2]
[Total: 5 marks]
b) A computer requires a network card and a cable to connect to a network.
[1]
Two connections to link different networks are:
 Bridge – connects two LANs;
[2]
 Gateway – connects two WANs.
[2]
[Total: 5 marks]
c) The Internet’s structure is a mesh of interlinked networks.
Two other network structures from:
 Star;
 Bus;
 Ring.
[1]
[4]
[Total: 5 marks]
A3.
This question is on HCI aspects
[1]
a) HCI – Human Computer Interaction.
Two from:
 Vison – eye sensitivity to colours;
 Hearing – notification & processes;
 Touch – pressing keys or mouse signifies achievement;
 Movement – speed & accuracy of motor skills.
[4]
[Total: 5 marks]
b) Two types of memory are Short- and Long-term memory
Short-term memory is relevant to software design as it effects the choice and
quantity of commands, and menu entries.
Long-term memory is relevant to software design as it gives an indication in
processes and sequences a user follows to get a task done.
[2]
[3]
[Total: 5 marks]
c) Text based CLI.
Two advantages of GUI from:
 Appealing;
 Easier;
 Intuitive.
Two disadvantages of GUI from:
 Occupies more memory;
 More space on disk;
 Slow.
[1]
[2]
[2]
[Total: 5 marks]
A4.
This question is on Information systems life cycles
a) An information systems life cycle is an approach adopted to develop an information
system in a methodical and sequential manner.
[2]
The Waterfall model is a development process that starts from a feasibility study,
followed by an analysis, design, development, testing, deployment and finally
maintenance.
[3]
[Total: 5 marks]
b) Three from:
 Current system may no longer be suitable for its purpose and therefore a
new and adequate IS is required;
 Technological developments may have made the current system redundant
or outdate and therefore a new IS gives a competitive advantage and new
opportunities;
 Current system is too inflexible or expensive to maintain and therefore more
reasonable to have a new and flexible IS to respond faster to the
organisation’s and customers’ needs.
[3]
Explanation of one of the above.
[2]
[Total: 5 marks]
c) Prototyping
Two from:
[1]





Misunderstandings between software developer and users can be identified
earlier during prototype demos;
Missing functions may be detected early and rectified;
Incomplete and inconsistent user requirements may be detected and
rectified before the end of the development process;
Prototype demo is quickly available to demo feasibility and usefulness of
proposed new system to the management;
Prototype employed in user training before final system delivered.
[4]
[Total: 5 marks]
SECTION B: HUMAN COMMUNICATION & BUSINESS ORGANISATION
B1.
i)
authority, responsibility and delegation, [1] for each valid point and [1] mark for
explanation. E.g. authority who is in charge, delegation who has been assigned certain
duties by his/her manager etc.
ii)
Any valid distinction between a co-operative society and a public corporation, could be
related to board of directors, accounts, structure of the organization, different uses etc.
[5]
iii)
Any important functional areas like Marketing, Sales, HR, Accounts etc. [1] for each
functional area.
iv) Any five differences [1 for each] between non-profit and profit making org. Possibly
related to accounts, structure, focus, strategy, profitability, etc.
B2.
This is related to internal organization communication and its importance to the
organization. [5]. Grapevine method of communication [5]. Comparing the grapevine to
standard communication (formal) channels [5]. [1] for each valid point and explanation.
B3.
Issues for information dissemination into external world [5]. Five methods of
communication with external customers like internet, advertising, promotional material,
etc. [2] for each valid method.
B4.
Vertical vs horizontal communication internally [5]. Different methods of internal
communication such as formal, informal etc. [2] for each valid one.
MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATIONS BOARD
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA, MSIDA
MATRICULATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
ADVANCED LEVEL
May 2012
SUBJECT:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
PAPER NUMBER:
II
DATE:
30th May 2012
TIME:
4.00am-7.00pm
MARKING SCHEME AND SUGGESTED SAMPLE ANSWERS
SECTION A: SOFTWARE
A1.
e) This part is on Software Categories
i. Use or scope, programming language, cost, etc.
[2]
ii. Generic purpose software falls under application software. Because this
software is used for things like os system management, utilities and tools.
These are applications.
Generic purpose software is the groiup of application software that is widely
employed to create documents, spreadsheets and databases.
[2]
iii.
Two from:
 Wordprocessing to create documents;
 Spreadsheets create data rows and columns;
 Database software to maintain large volumes of data;
 Email client to receive and send email.
[2]
[Total: 6 marks]
f) This part is on System Software
i. System software is that software employed by the computer for its smooth
running and to administer the needs of the user.
[2]
ii. Two from:
[2]
iii.
 Operating system;
 Utility program;
 Programming language translator;
 Performance monitoring;
 Communication between computer components.
Explained above
[2]
[Total: 6 marks]
g) This part is on Application Software
i. Application software is that software that the user makes use of to get a
specific task done.
[2]
ii. Two from:
 Compatibility with existent software & hardware;
 Quality of documentation, capabilities & functionalities;
 Learning curve, usabilitiy, and technical support;
 Upgrade policy, speed and cost.
[2]
[Total: 4 marks]
h) This part is on Software Evaluation
i.
ii.
During benchmarking the specific software is compared and contrasted with
similar software that perform the same operations to find out its speed,
performance and output in relation to the other software.
[2]
Two from:
[2]
 Introduction stating purpose of report;
 Methodology employed;
 Actual evaluation;
 Recommendations;
 Justifications and conclusions.
[Total: 4 marks]
A2.
This question is onInternet-Related Software
d) ISP stands for Internet service Provider.
The ISP’s role is of an intermidiary between users and the Internet backbone.
Two from:
 Internet connection;
[1]
[2]


eMail account;
Web hosting.
[Total: 5 marks]
[5]
e) Five from:
 Web page construction/authoring;
 Database connectivity with database of products/services;
 Purchase Web domain;
 Purchase Web space;
 Upload Web page onto server;
 Direct people to page using a Web browser.
[Total: 5 marks]
f) Three from: Internet based fraud, password hacking, viruses, scams.
[3]
Two from: Caution, encryption, anti-virus.
[2]
[Total: 5 marks]
A3.
This question is onDatabase Systems
d) Five from:
i. Draw ERD;
ii. Normalise data;
iii.
Design table structure;
iv. Create relationships;
v. Create forms;
vi. Operations on data entered;
vii. Display/print reports;
viii.
Write/use macros.
[5]
[Total: 5 marks]
e) Any one task from a) together with the necessary DB tools required.
[5]
[Total: 5 marks]
f) Shared.
Shared DB system is a single DB being used by more than one user.
[1]
[2]
Distributed DB system is DB whose data is not in one location.
[2]
[Total: 5 marks]
A4.
This question is onOperating Systems
d) An OS is a system software that controls the entire operations of a computer.
Three types from: Single, Multitasking, multiprogramming, and networked.
[2]
[3]
[Total: 5 marks]
e) Five from:
i. Kernel – supervisor or control program;
ii. Memory manager – to manage memory use;
iii.
I/O manager – to manage input/output operations;
iv. Backing store manager – to coordinate the backing storage;
v. Resource allocation & scheduler;
vi. Accounting, Error handling, Security, HCI.
[5]
[Total: 5 marks]
f) CLI or GUI.
DOS or Windows. Expand on one of them.
[2]
[3]
[Total: 5 marks]
SECTION B: PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES AND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
B1.
a) This part is on Design in System Development
i. Requirements/Specification and Implementation/Development.
[2]
ii. They strictly follow each other because the requirements specified in regards
to the data, processing and output need to be designed to reflect the
specifications, and eventually translated into an implementable system.
UI is involved in all three stages.
[2]
iii.
Two from:
 Identify required output;
 Identify input data;
 Specify processing required;


Devise testing;
Plan schedule.
[2]
[Total: 6 marks]
b) This part is on the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)
i. An ERD shows how two actors/players in a system are associated to each
other.
[2]
ii. Two from 1:1, 1:N, N:N.
[2]
iii.
Any simple example.
[2]
[Total: 6 marks]
c) This part is on Design Structured Techniques
i. Top-down and Bottom-up.
ii. Brief description of one of the above.
[2]
[2]
[Total: 4 marks]
d) This part is on Testing Strategy
i. Yes the choice of the testing strategy is part of the design stage.
[2]
ii. Two from dry run, integral testing, test data, test solution, black & white box
testing.
[2]
[Total: 4 marks]
B2.
This question is on Problem Solving Techniques
a) Yes search & sort are problem solving techniques.
[1]
Any two real situations that involve searching & sorting individually.
[4]
[Total: 5 marks]
b) Yes the technique employed depends on the underlying file organisation.
[2]
Any scenario that specifically states the specific file organisation and the operation
to be performed.
[3]
[Total: 5 marks]
c) Open file
Find record
Find ‘book location’ field
Overwrite with new value
Save record
Close file
[5]
[Total: 5 marks]
B3.
This question is on Software System Maintenance and Software Evaluation
a) Perfective maintenance – improve the current system. Adaptive or corrective
[2]
A good technical documentation will assist other persons apart from the developers
to perform maintenance effectively and efficiently.
[3]
[Total: 5 marks]
b) Evalutaion based on usability, effectiveness and maintainability
[2]
Explanation for each
[3]
[Total: 5 marks]
c)
Use of structured programming techniques is ideal to produce software that can be
tracked back to the design and thereby easy to maintain.
[5]
[Total: 5 marks]
B4.
This question is on Structured Programming Techniques
a) Top-down and bottom-up approaches.
[2]
Any practical scenario with the corresponding components of how the problem was
subdivided and sorted.
[3]
[Total: 5 marks]
b) Sequence, selection, iteration.
[3]
Two from: if..then..else..endif, switch, case, while, repeat, for loop, do..until.
[2]
[Total: 5 marks]
c) Simple sorting algorithm : e.g. bubble sort or generic sorting
[5]