Cambridge Assessment International Education

Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 9626/12

Paper 1 Theory May/June 2018
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 90

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 May/June 2018 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and
some Cambridge O Level components.

IGCSE™ is a registered trademark.

This document consists of 13 printed pages.

© UCLES 2018 [Turn over

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

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.

© UCLES 2018 Page 2 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

1 4
Dynamic data is data that does not change.

Data that is read from and not written back to a file is called static
3
data.

Data stored on a CD ROM is an example of dynamic data.

Data on a webpage that is updated from time to time is an example

3
of dynamic data.
It is very difficult to add information to a static information source
3
after it has been created.
There is a limited amount of information in a dynamic information
source compared to a static one.

Dynamic information sources are never checked for accuracy.

A static information source can have information updated quickly.

The data in a static data source is always up to date.

There can be many contributors to a dynamic data source so the

3
information can be inaccurate.

© UCLES 2018 Page 3 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

2 4
Compilers and linkers are examples of system software. 3

Device drivers and interpreters are examples of application

software.

Word processing and spreadsheets are examples of hardware.

Software is another name for computer programs. 3

Software is written in machine code before being converted to

high-level language.

Viruses are a type of software. 3

Malicious bots are a type of hardware.

System software directly operates the computer hardware. 3

Operating systems are types of hardware.

A mouse and keyboard are the basic software components of a

computer.

Question Answer Marks

3 Six from: 6

Verification is checking that data that has been/is being entered into a
computer has been copied correctly from the data source
Validation is checking that the data entered is reasonable/sensible
Neither method checks that data is accurate/correct
Although verification helps to stop users from making mistakes when
entering data it cannot check that the data was originally correct
Validation is needed because although the data might be copied correctly,
the original data might be invalid
The date of birth might be in the form dd/mm/yyyy and the data might have
been correctly copied as 1994/12/31 but this is not in the correct format
a format check would have picked this up
Common errors when copying data are transcription and transposition errors
Verification would pick up a transposition error but most validation checks
(except a check digit) would not
Verification would pick up transcription errors but validation might not.

© UCLES 2018 Page 4 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

4(a) Two from: 2

Scans the computer to make sure it is not infected with a virus/to find
viruses
Compares with existing viruses/detects changes in behaviour of files
It may quarantine the infected programs
It will ask the user whether or not they want to delete the infected programs
(Does background scans of downloads and attachments for viruses) and
informs the user if anything found.

4(b) Two from: 2

Creates (additional exact) copies of files, databases hard disks or network

servers
Use these copies to restore the original contents in the event of data loss
Asks user to enter type of backup
Asks if you wish to restore the backup
Asks if you wish to verify the backup
Asks when backup is to take place/frequency of backups.

4(c) Two from: 2

Rearranging files stored on a disk

Causes data to occupy contiguous storage locations
Physically organises the contents of the mass storage device used to store
files
Organises data into the smallest number of contiguous regions (fragments)
Attempts to create larger regions of free space.

Question Answer Marks

5 Three matched pairs from: 6

Induction loop
When a vehicle goes over it sends a signal to the computer that a vehicle
has passed

Sound sensor
In kerb stones constantly feeding back to computer sound level – if noise
above preset value computer registers that a vehicle has passed

(Video/Digital) camera
Above traffic lights and registers car approaching and sends a signal to the
computer

Push buttons
When a pedestrian presses the button, a signal goes to computer to register
pedestrian is waiting to cross.

© UCLES 2018 Page 5 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

6 Six from: 6

It can be accessed via the internet

It is accessed using web browsing software
It was invented by (English scientist) Tim Berners-Lee (in 1989)
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the markup (formatting) language
for the world wide web
Web pages are primarily text documents formatted and annotated using
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
Uses Uniform Resource Locator (URL) (an address that is unique and used
to identify each resource on the world wide web)
Uses Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) allowing for the retrieval of linked
resources from across the world wide web
Uses HTTPS to provide secure websites
(In addition to formatted text,) web pages may contain images, video, and
software components
Hyperlinks allow users to navigate between web pages
Comprises websites made up of a number of web pages (with a common
theme)
Is basically a system of web servers (that support specially formatted
documents).

Question Answer Marks

7 Max five from: 5

Three from:

Uses several one-to-many relationships

Uses a tree structure
Links a number of records to one owner or parent primary record
It is not a versatile system
It is limited by using only one type of relationship (so is confined to some
very specific uses)

Three from:

The department can be used as a parent record

The individual employees will represent secondary/child records
Each child record links back to one parent record in a hierarchical structure
Each director can be used as a parent record
The individual departments will represent secondary/child records
The managing director can be used as a parent record
The individual directors will represent secondary/child records
Most types of business databases today use more flexible models to
accommodate more sophisticated types of data management.

© UCLES 2018 Page 6 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

8(a) Six from: 6

It looks for the discount code in cells C3:D5/for each animal

Looks for an exact match
It reads the percentage discount from cells D3:D5, corresponding to the
discount code
Multiplies the percentage discount by the Price and subtracts from the
original price
The values in the lookup range/discount code must remain constant
When the formula in cell E8 is replicated the range C3:D5 requires absolute
cell referencing
If relative referencing were used for cells C3:D5 the formula in cell E9 would
contain C4:D6
This would produce an error as discount code A cannot be found in the
range C4:D6
The lookup value cell reference (accept example) must increment for each
successive row
The Price cell reference (accept example) must increment for each
successive row
When the formula in cell E8 is replicated C8 (and) D8 need to increment to
(C9, D9) which requires relative cell referencing.

8(b) Highlight E8:E13/cells containing discounted price – 1 mark 5

Select/use conditional formatting – 1 mark
Manage rule/create rule if >40 format colour blue – 1 mark
Add rule if between 30 and 40 format colour green – 1 mark
Add rule if <30 format colour yellow – 1 mark

8(c) Pie chart – 1 mark 4

Select A8:A13 and using ctrl key select G8:G13 – 1 mark
Go to Insert chart – 1 mark
Select pie chart – 1 mark

© UCLES 2018 Page 7 of 13

9626/12
9 Cambridg
ge Internatio
onal AS/A Level
L – Mark Scheme Ma
ay/June 201
18
P
PUBLISHED D

Question Answerr Marks

9 Six from: 6

A rules base
b is a set of rules whhich an infe
erence engine uses
The inferrence engin ne uses the data or factts in the kno owledge baase, to
reason thhrough the symptoms
s
Inferencee engine is able to find possible diiagnoses by y using a foorm of
reasoning
The reassoning involv ves forward d chaining, backward chaining
c or a
combinattion of both
User inte
erface asks questions ((about illnes ss)
Patient/d
doctor type in i answers//types in sym mptoms to the
t user inte terface
Inferencee engine compares sym mptoms to those
t in the
e knowledgee base
Inferencee engine uses the ruless base of IF F THEN rules/compparisons/
rules basse consists of IF THE EN rules
Knowledge base editor enabless the knowle edge engineer to edit rrules/and
facts (witthin the knoowledge basse)
Description of forwa ard chaining g
Description of backw ward chainin ng
Possible//suggested diagnoses are output to user inte erface
Explanattion system produces rreasons for suggestions
Reasonss for sugges stions outpu ut using the user interfa
ace.

Question Answerr Marks

10(a) Title 4

Cu
ustomers se
econd name
es beginning
g with queryy

Priice of car qu
uery

ustomers forrm
Cu

All cars in stocck report

Price less tha n $20 000 report

r

Appropriaate title – 1 mark

Appropriaate spacing g – 1 mark
5 consisttent buttonss with appro
opriate labels – 1 mark
Exit butto
on – 1 mark k

© UCLES 2018 Page 8 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

10(b) Four from: 4

Allow follow through from 10(a)

Customers second names beginning with query – allow you to enter one
letter and all names beginning with that letter displayed
Price of car query – allow you to enter a price/range of prices and all
cars of that price/range will be displayed
Customers form – opens a form showing customer details/allows you
to edit data/add new customer record using form entry
All cars in stock report – will give you a printout/display in report form
of all cars in the showroom
Price less than $20 000 report – will give you a printout/display in
report form of all cars lower than $20 000 in price
Exit button – will close the switchboard/application.

10(c) Eight from: 8

Select create
Select query design
Add all tables into query design window
In first column of query select from Cars table (from drop down list)
and choose Make (from drop down list)
In second column select Cars table (from drop down list) and choose
Model (from drop down list)
In next column select Customers table (from drop down list) and
choose first name (from drop down list)
In fourth column select Customers table (from drop down list) and
choose second name from (drop down list)
In next column select Orders table (from drop down list) and choose
Order_No (from drop down list)
In first column next to criteria type in (Like) Frod
In fourth column in the Or row
In the 4th column type in (Like) B*
Save the query.

© UCLES 2018 Page 9 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

11 To be marked as a level of response: 8

Level 3 (7–8 marks)

Candidates will describe the benefits and drawbacks of monitoring for both
employer and employee.
The issues raised will be justified.
The information will be relevant, clear, organised and presented in a
structured and coherent format.
Specialist terms will be used accurately and appropriately.

Level 2 (4–6 marks)

Candidates will describe the benefits and drawbacks of monitoring for both
employer and employee although development of some of the points will be
limited to employer/employee.
For the most part the information will be relevant and presented in a
structured and coherent format.
Specialist terms will be used appropriately and for the most part correctly.

Level 1 (1–3 marks)

Candidates may only address one side of the argument, and give basic
benefits/drawbacks. Answers may be simplistic with little or no relevance.
There will be little or no use of specialist terms.

Level 0 (0 marks)
Response with no valid content.

© UCLES 2018 Page 10 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

11 Candidates may refer to e.g.:

Employer benefits:

Employers can keep track of the amount of time an employee spends away
from the computer or idle time at the terminal
Video monitoring can deter theft thus maintaining security
Video monitoring can monitor employee productivity/work is up to
standard/employees are working efficiently
Provides an opportunity to watch for mistakes and errors throughout the
workday to help an employee cut down on his mistakes in the future by
pointing out ways he can improve
Use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) devices to track employees in
employer-owned vehicles
If employees understand that the monitoring system is not being used solely
to point out weaknesses, they may become more accepting of being
monitored
Can have video monitoring to catch all safety issues and so able to bring
safety issues to the forefront
Catching blatant disregard for safety on video may also save employer from
potential lawsuits
Can catch those who willingly violate company policy and immediately
employ disciplinary action
Can increase productivity if employees know they are being monitored
Software can also be used to monitor or track employee activity and
productivity...
...ensuring data is secure by using the software to block certain websites
With a GPS device, dispatchers can give drivers very specific driving
directions to a location saving time and money for fuel
If dispatchers know where every van is they can dispatch the one closest to
a particular job
By tracking which drivers are exceeding the speed limit companies can
educate those drivers about the result of speeding, and discipline them as
necessary
Vehicle fleet managers can also improve efficiency by tracking and
eliminating employees’ unauthorised breaks

© UCLES 2018 Page 11 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

11 Employer drawbacks:

Software is expensive to purchase

System is expensive to set up
Can lend itself to lawsuits for infringement of privacy
Can make employees resentful (and less productive) of infringement of
privacy
Mistrust of their employer leads some workers to leave and thus creates
increased turnover of employees

Employee benefits:

A company may also use video monitoring in a parking garage as a security

measure for employee safety
Provides employer with detailed snapshots of how an employee is going
above and beyond the call of duty and can acknowledge employee
excellence

Employee drawbacks:

Most computer monitoring equipment allows employers to monitor without

the employees' knowledge...
...although some employers do notify employees that monitoring takes place
Messages sent within the company as well as those that are sent to another
company or from another company to employee can be subject to
monitoring by employer.

© UCLES 2018 Page 12 of 13

9626/12 Cambridge International AS/A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2018
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks

12 Eight from: 8

Benefits:

Calculations can be performed more quickly/more easily/recalculated

automatically
What if statements can be asked without rebuilding a model from scratch
each time the test is carried out
Models provide quick answers to events that may take months to actually
happen
Graphs that are produced to help understand the result will automatically
change (as new values are added/old values altered)
Graphs can be produced automatically/more quickly/no manual method
required
They provide consistent results/not affected by user's inconsistent decisions
There are templates for regularly used spreadsheet models
Spreadsheets can also interact with databases
Data can automatically be imported (from a database) into a spreadsheet
Data can be entered more accurately because of computer-based validation
and verification

Drawbacks:

You cannot account for every possible variable in a financial model

Banks cannot model exactly how much money they think people will save or
borrow
There is no way of predicting the effect that financial crises will have on real
life behaviour
Many variables need to be considered and it is easy to omit some
Some situations will need purpose-built software/technical expertise which is
expensive to buy.

© UCLES 2018 Page 13 of 13