UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
THE MATRICULATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
ADVANCED LEVEL
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
May 2011
EXAMINERS’ REPORT
MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS BOARD
AM EXAMINERS’ REPORT MAY 2011
Information Technology
Advanced Level
May 2011
Part 1: Statistical Information
The distribution of grades awarded in the May 2011 session is given in Table 1.
GRADE
Number
% of Total
A
B
9
7.96
C
28
24.78
D
32
28.32
E
19
16.81
F
8
7.08
Abs
11
9.73
6
5.31
Total
113
100
Part 2: Comments regarding candidate’s performance
Paper I
Section A
Q1
This compulsory question was answered quite well on average. It was a mixture of recall
and application related to different topics like computer systems, microprocessors, input
and output and storage devices.
Q2
This question was quite popular. A handful of students scored high marks whilst some
groups got below average in this question. The topic considered the importance of user
interfaces from an application point of view.
Q3
This question was quite popular also. On the whole those students who attempted this
question answered it quite well and scored high marks. The students showed to be quite
familiar with the topic of project management.
Q4
This question about network security was popularly answered. For some it was difficult
as they scored low marks. Performance management and network security were difficult
topics to answer.
Section B
Q1
This question was compulsory. The majority of students got more than half the marks for
this question. On the other hand very few students scored top marks. This question
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AM EXAMINERS’ REPORT MAY 2011
considered different topics from the human communication and business org. part of the
syllabus.
Q2
This question was quite popular and well answered by a handful of students.
Q3
This question was not so popular. Some students answering this question were confused
about change management and could not answer the question properly. This question was
based on application of knowledge rather than recall. Some students got low marks for
this question.
Q4
This question was a gift because the topic was more recall based. Those who attempted
this question got good marks. This question was more popular than the others.
Paper II
Section A
Q1
This question was compulsory and examined a set of different topics. On average the
students did quite well in this topic and scored quite good marks. This shows that they are
being properly covered.
Q2
This question was about generic software and was attempted by the majority of students
who did quite well in it and obtained high marks.
Q3
This question was about software capabilities. It was not so popular. The majority of
those who attempted this question did not score very high marks. This shows that this
topic might not have been properly covered. Some students did very badly and obtained
very low marks.
Q4
This was the least popular question. It dealt with software capabilities. Only a handful of
students attempting this question scored high marks.
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AM EXAMINERS’ REPORT MAY 2011
Section B
Q1
This question was compulsory. It examined a different number of topics. This question
was well answered with the majority of students scoring high marks and a few getting
bad marks.
Q2
This question was about error types and debugging. This question was very popular and
answered by the majority of students who scored very high marks.
Q3
This question about system and information requirements was the least popular question.
Very few students answered this question. Some good marks for this question.
Q4
This question was very popular and answered by a majority of students. The students
seem familiar with the generation of programming languages. Very good marks were
achieved for this question.
Chairperson
Board of Examiners
July 2011
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