Cambridge International AS & A Level

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 9626/32

Paper 3 Advanced Theory October/November 2022
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 70

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2022 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 10 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit
is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme,
referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these
features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The
meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed
instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question
(however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate
responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should
not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) Two from 2

Used to set up a VPN that allows data to be kept private
Allows data to be kept secure when working remotely/sending data to/from
their company office network and home
Used to circumvent firewall rules to allow access to internal network by data
carried in packets
Allows the use of ‘foreign’ protocols on networks that do not support that
protocol e.g. use of IPv6 on IPv4 networks.

1(b) Three from: 3

Data is broken into (small) packets/datagrams for transfer over IP network
(IP) packets are encapsulated by Tunneling Protocol/L2TP inside (public) IP
packets and sent out over public communication channels (to internet)
Data is/may be encrypted using a secure shell (SSH)/IPSec protocol
Packets are decapsulated and unencrypted at destination.

Question Answer Marks

2 Six from: 6
Identify patterns in large sets of data
Data patterns help to determine/predict trends in information
Compare and contrast symptoms to analyse disease causes/processes
Determine the effectiveness of treatments/drugs for illnesses to determine
most effective course of treatment/medicines/actions
Repeated analysis (to attempt) to standardise treatment of specific diseases
(Repeated analysis) to speed up diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Determine (normal) patterns of medical claims by
patients/doctors/clinics/hospitals to help reduce costs
Determine abnormal patient outcomes from treatments/procedures
Determine abnormal/unusual patterns of medical claims by
patients/doctors/clinics/hospitals to identify fraudulent claims.

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Question Answer Marks

3 Six from: 6
Uses file transfer protocol to transfer data across a network between client
and server
File transfer protocol site/FTP addresses begin with ftp:// to indicate protocol
required for transfer/announce their presence/only respond to requests
using this protocol
Server listens for USER and PASS commands/for username and password
from client
Server uses control connection on port 21
Active mode uses port 21 for data connection with client
Passive mode is used if client is behind firewall/unable to receive incoming
TCP connections
Passive mode sets up different/arbitrary port for client server data
connections
USER/PASS are not encrypted/is clear text unless STPS/FTPS (on port 22)
is used
Server sends acknowledgement to client if credentials accepted and session
is opened
Anonymous access can be used for downloads from server but not uploads
of files
Server allows checkpoint/restart support so downloads can be resumed if
interrupted.

Question Answer Marks

4(a) Three from, e.g.: 3

Making/using contactless/mobile payments systems instead of e.g.
credit/loyalty cards
Identifying user when using transit passes/ticketing systems
In social networking for sharing images/contacts/video files (between close
devices)
Exchange personal details for entering computer games systems/online
gaming
Unlocking doors with smart locks.

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Question Answer Marks

4(b) Six from: 6

NFC max working distance is <20cm whereas Bluetooth is c.100m…
…so users/devices have to be (very) close
NFC sets up in <0.1 sec whereas Bluetooth can take up to 6 seconds/NFC
sets up much quicker than Bluetooth
NFC has lower bitrate than Bluetooth/400kps v. 2.1Mbit/s…
…so is not suitable for (very) large files
Data exchange is slower using NFC
…so takes longer to transfer e.g. photos/video files
NFC uses (much) less power than Bluetooth
NFC can be used to activate passive/unpowered tags whereas Bluetooth
cannot
NFC connections are automatic whereas Bluetooth connection requires
access code/PIN
NFC connections are peer-to-peer/one-to-one whereas Bluetooth can have
up to seven devices simultaneously
NFC is an emerging/new technology so fewer/older devices do not have
it/cannot use it.

Max 4 marks if bullets/list of statements/points.

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Question Answer Marks

5 Eight from: 8
Strengths:
Document analysis is systematic process of reviewing/evaluating/reading
printed and computer-based/internet-sourced documents
…which provides a large amount of information
Data in documents is examined and analysed to gain meaning/interpreted to
gain understanding/knowledge
...so requires that analyst be literate/have knowledge/be competent in the
topics/system under review
Analyst has to/should combine document research with other forms of
analysis
…so must be proficient in other forms of analysis to reach conclusions that
are reliable so must be highly skilled
Document analysis uses data that has already been collected
….so only data selection is needed so requires less time than other
methods
Document analysis costs only include the method of analysing because the
cost of collection is not needed/ uses data that has already been collected
…so is less costly than other research methods
Many documents are freely available/in pubic domain/already published
….so are accessible to analyst
Document analysis uses unobtrusive/non-invasive/non-interactive research
methods
…so does not affect the subject being researched
Historical documents are stable/not altered by being researched
…so can be examined several times/re-examined by analysts
Documents contain references/exact details that can be cross-refenced to
other sources
…making the research more reliable
Weaknesses:
Documents are produced only as a record of an event
…so may lack insufficient detail to be useful in the research
Data may be inaccurately recorded
…so may not reflect actual events/contain all the data so trends would not
be accurate
Documents may not be in a form that allows data to be electronically
retrievable/searchable
…so research can be prolonged/miss important data
Researcher may be (unintentionally) biased when selecting documents
…so data may be incomplete.

Must be at least 2 strengths and at least 2 weaknesses for full marks.

Max 6 marks if bullets/list of statements/points.

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Question Answer Marks

6 Eight from: 8
Data/files/applications is/are centralised on a file/database/applications
server
..so only one copy has to be maintained/updated/backed up
Data/files/applications can be mirrored to other servers for increased
performance
…without the need to copy to each device in use
Disaster recovery is easier/quicker as backups used tor recover data to
server
…rather than to individual user devices
Servers can be updated/upgraded/maintained/relocated
…without affecting the user/need to update individual user devices
System is easily scalable/more servers can be deployed
…without disruption to users/without need to update/upgrade user devices
Data/files can be shared across different computing
platforms/desktops/laptops/OS/mobile devices
Data/files/applications can be accessed from different locations/mobile
devices
Data/files can be queried using SQL/DBMS systems from any corporate
device using same user-interface
…regardless of location/device
Enhanced security of data/data is not stored locally by user but controlled
centrally/setup at time of deployment of client-server system
Servers can be set up to carry out different roles/allow different access
rights for different client devices.

Question Answer Marks

7(a) Four from: 4

Problems/issues are detected and corrected during development
Users are involved at all stages of the development
Allows users to interact with the app/try out the app during development
Allows users to make feedback/suggest new features/improvements…
…that can be incorporated during the development
Users and developers obtain a better understanding of the product/app
Use the prototype to investigate the potential market for the app.

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Question Answer Marks

7(b) Six from: 6

Similarities:
Both develop early prototypes that do not feature the full requirements of the
users/require more work to meet all of user requirements
Developers and end-users interact frequently during both of the processes
of creating prototypes
End users can add features to both types of prototype at the time of review
Both use interactive reviews to improve the prototypes

Differences:
Throw-away prototypes are discarded at any stage whereas evolutionary
prototype become part of the final product
Throw-away prototypes are produced quickly and cheaply whereas
evolutionary prototypes are developed over time
Throw-away prototypes may be non-functional whereas evolutionary
prototypes are functional from inception/the start
Throw-away prototypes have early/more user involvement than evolutionary
prototypes
Progress in throw-away prototyping is easier to monitor/measure than in
evolutionary prototyping
Time scales are easier to set in throw-away prototyping than in evolutionary
prototyping

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Question Answer Marks

8 Three from: 3
Source symbols on both Administrator and Student 1 mark
Process symbols (calculate) symbols on both Calculate College Grade
and Calculate Class Grade 1 mark

Store symbols on both Student and Class grade files 1 mark

The symbols, as per syllabus, are as shown:

Question Answer Marks

9(a) (Strings are used) to store (and manipulate) characters. 1

9(b) Four from: 4

Use of same (type of) quotes causes code to stop executing so string is not
displayed
Code returns focus to HTML/stops browser from executing the remainder of
page code
JavaScript strings must be enclosed by matching quotes
Quotes inside quotes cannot be the same as the enclosing quotes
Inside quotes can be escaped/use of backslash i.e. \
Quotes can be either single(‘) or double (“).

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Question Answer Marks

9(c) Five from: 5

Similarities:
Both are part of the HTML Window object/Document Object Model
controlling display of documents/parts of documents/both can be prefixed
with window.
Both takes/require two parameters inside the () separated by ,
First parameter in both references the function to be executed
Second parameter in both sets is a time in milliseconds
Both can be interrupted by clear Interval() function

Differences:
setTimeout() delays the execution of code which runs only once
setInterval() allows/provides for repeated execution of the code at (pre-set)
intervals
clearInterval() can prevent function in setTimeout() from ever being
executed/stop the timeout timer
setInterval() loop only stops when the window is closed/clear Interval() is
invoked/used
setTimeout() minimum value is 0/zero (milliseconds)
setInterval() minimum value is 10 (milliseconds)/if set to less than 10 then
10 is used.

Question Answer Marks

10(a) Three from: 3

To separate elements of image so that each can be developed/worked on
independently of the others
To overlay elements onto others so that each element can be
positioned/moved independently of the others
To allow editing of elements while leaving other elements untouched
To allow the reversal/undo of actions on one part of graphic so that errors
can be corrected/actions can be carried out to see effect without spoiling
other elements
To allow different amounts of opacity/transparency (of objects)
To insert text so that writing can be placed anywhere on the image.

10(b) Two from: 2

To combine/merge all layers into one layer
To discard any hidden layers so that all layers are visible
To fill any transparent areas with white /background colour so they appear
as in the background
To allow image/creation of pdf so that it is ready for printing
To reduce the file size.

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