Cambridge International AS & A Level

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 9626/12

Paper 1 Theory February/March 2024
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 70

Pre-standardisation

This document consists of 12 printed pages.

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
PRE-STANDARDISATION
Please read the MARK SCHEME STANDARDISATION – EXPLANATORY DOCUMENT before editing your Mark Scheme, and ensure that you
are using the correct template for your subject/qualification/ component. Please delete this paragraph after reading.

Cambridge Assessment International Education – 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 descriptions 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 descriptions for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptions 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
descriptions.

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
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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 descriptions in mind.

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
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Question Answer Marks Guidance

1 Six from: 6

• The rules of a model can be changed easily using replication (1)

• Absolute and/or relative cell referencing makes sure you only
increment the parts of a formula you need to when replicating a
formula (1)
• Allows what-if questions to be asked to test different scenarios (1)
• Cell protection makes sure that the data or formula you want to keep
do not change by accident (1)
• Conditional formatting allows you to highlight certain values that match
specific criteria (1)
• Use of graphs/charts to detect trends (1)
• The use of input forms/interface forms makes it easy to enter data (1)
• Macros can be used to create complex formulas/automate tasks (1)
• Goal-seek can be used to identify an input to obtain a particular
output/result/target (1)
• (Built in) functions allow users to create (complex) formulas (1)
• Allow users to sort the data (columns) (1)
• Allow users to do automatic recalculation if required (1)
• Allow users to search for objects in the data (1)
• Use of lookup tables//Use of pivot tables as an array indexing
operation (linked to ‘what-if’ scenarios) (1)

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
PRE-STANDARDISATION
Question Answer Marks Guidance

2 Eight from: 8 Review – “each field” etc in bold??

Max two marks for each matched pair: Look at candidate answers.

• Table names (1st)

…a unique/meaningful name for each table (in the database) (1)
• Field names (1st)
…a unique/meaningful name to identify each field (1)
• Data type (1st)
…allocated to each field (1)
…to identify the data type for each field (1)
• Field length (1st)
…specify the number of characters in each field (1)
• (Field) default value (1st)
…the value automatically entered when a new record is created (1)
• Description of each field (1st)
…explanation of the content of each field (1)
• Required/null field (1st)
…whether a field can be left blank (1)
• Validation (1st)
…test to be applied to data that is entered (1)
…to ensure data entered is sensible/reasonable
• Table security (1st)
…who has access to edit (accept examples, such as write or delete)
the table
• Primary Keys/Foreign keys (1st)
…to identify unique records (1)
…to link tables (1)
• Relationships (1st)
…types of relationship between tables are stated (1)

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
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Question Answer Marks Guidance

3 MAX six marks overall.: 6 Any acceptable extra answers seen –

discuss at STM
Max two marks for each:

Data compression tools (1st)

…to free up space by compressing files (1)
Anti-virus/anti-malware (1st)
…checks for malicious software (1)
…prevents viruses from being downloaded (1)
File management tools (1st)
…to organise directories (1)
Searching (1st)
…to find file duplication (1)
…to find files by name or another criterion (1)
Disk defragmentation (1st)
…reassemble files into contiguous clusters (1)
Create/resize (logical) volumes (1st)
…the organisation of disk structure (1)

4(a) Four from: 4 Candidate does not have to repeatedly

state “once transaction has taken place”,
• Computers deal with each input and gives almost immediate/real time but answer should clearly be a process. If
responses (1) candidates states “Once the transaction
• There is often a (very) short delay caused by the computer has taken place” and then list further
accepting/dealing with other inputs (1) actions, this is acceptable.
• Any delay may be so brief that it seems to the user as if the
transaction has happened straight away (1)
• Online processing deals with one transaction at a time (1)
• Once the transaction has taken place the database will be updated
immediately/same time as the booking (1)
• Once the transaction has taken place the booking system shows
individual seats as booked/unavailable (1)
• Once the transaction has taken place the computer sends a
message to the user to inform him/her the seat has been booked (1)

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
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Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(b) Two from: 2 Q does not identify to whom, so discuss at

standardisation based on answers – there
• Booking less likely to be overbooked as the database is updated will be answers based on advantage to the
immediately (1) airline company.
• Customers know immediately if they have successfully booked a
seat/get immediate confirmation (1) Concerned about final answer. Review at
• Customers are able to re-book immediately if they are unsuccessful standardisation.
the first time (1)
• Faster and easier to book seats at any time of day or night (1) PM note: I wrote in the question “two
benefits for passengers”, which fits the 4
answers in MS

5 Six from: 6 Motor?

• The required temperature is input using a remote control/touchscreen

/number pad (1)
• A sensor is used to read the current temperature (1)
• The data is converted to digital via an ADC (1)
• The microprocessor reads the data from the sensor?? Review
• Microprocessor compares this data to the required/input value (1)
• If the data is different than the required value, the microprocessor
sends a signal … (1)
o …to the actuator/motor (1)
• If lower, the microprocessor/actuator switches the heater on (1)
• If higher, then the microprocessor/actuator switches the heater off (1)
• This sequence continues until the system is switched off.

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
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Question Answer Marks Guidance

6 Six from: 6

• Users with physical disabilities may find CLI hard to use (1) as not able
to use a keyboard or mouse (1)
• Instructions have to be typed in (1)
• (so) instructions have to be learned (1)
• (may be) a slower way of initiating a response from a device (1)
• Outputs from a CLI may be available to the user in a shorter time (1)
• CLI commands are more difficult to edit (1)
• If the syntax is incorrect there maybe unforeseen circumstances (1)
• CLI is more difficult to view different items on one screen when
multitasking (1)
• CLI processing speed tends to be faster than other interfaces REP of
BP5?
• CLI uses less memory than other interfaces (1)
• Requires specific training (1)

Max. four marks if bullets/list of points

7(a) Three from: 3 Review at standardisation based on

candidates’ answers
• The software is more readily available/available now (1)
• They can choose between different manufacturers of software (1st)
….therefore, it may be cheaper (1)
• The software is more likely to have been fully tested (1)
• The implementation of the software may be faster (1)
• More support available from books/manuals/ company staff/user
groups (1)
• The development cost of the software is spread between multiple
customers (1st)
… therefore, it is cheaper
• Includes a wide range of features to meet users’ needs
• Updates/patches to the software can be more regular (1)

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
PRE-STANDARDISATION
Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(b) Three from: 3

• The software is more likely to be written to work with the existing

software (1) and hardware (1)
• Can get (direct) support from the developer (1)
• The software can more easily evolve to meet changing circumstances
within RockICT (1)
• Can be written so that less computer resources are used (1)
• Only includes the required features (1)
• RockICT will own the software and could legally sell it on to others (1)
• RockICT has more control of the writing of the software (1) and will be
able to specify exactly what it wants. (1)

8 Six from: 6 Allow one mark each for a valid example

with reasons for validation and verification
• Verification is checking that data that has been/is being entered into a checks
computer has been copied correctly from the data source (1)
• Validation is checking that the data entered is reasonable/sensible (1)
• These methods on their own/when not used together do not ensure
that the data entered is (fully) accurate/correct (1)
• Although verification helps to stop users from making mistakes when
entering data, it cannot check that the data was originally correct (1)
• Validation is needed because although the data might be copied
correctly, the original data might be invalid (1)
• Therefore, both are needed to make sure that the data is both
correctly copied and valid (1)

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
PRE-STANDARDISATION
Question Answer Marks Guidance

9 Seven from: 7 Do Not Award:

Allow one mark for description of encryption (1) • Data is unreadable

• Data cannot be intercepted
Benefits:
• Encryption makes data unable to be understood/accessed (1)
• …encryption is needed to stop unauthorised people from
understanding the data (1)
• If not encrypted, a person/malware could potentially read someone's
emails (1st)
• ...when it is stored on the server (1)
• …when the data is being transferred (1)
• Encryption is needed to keep the data secure (1)

Drawbacks:
• Hackers can still delete emails (1st)
…data can still be lost (1)
• Encryption/decryption/private key must be transferred between sender
and receiver (1)
• Anyone with the key can understand the email (1st)
…so gives the intended user a false sense of security (1)
• If the same key is used repeatedly there is a security issue (1)
• Managing digital certificates can become complex and time consuming
(1)
• Requires more computer processing power (1).

At least one benefit and one drawback are required to obtain full marks
Max. five marks if bullets/list of points

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
PRE-STANDARDISATION
Question Answer Marks Guidance

10(a) Two from: 2 Do we need the first two answers? Not

answering question
• Digital audio is a series of discrete bursts called samples
• The frequency that these samples occur is so fast it sounds like a
• continuous sound
• The sampling rate is the number of samples (1) within a given period
of time …(1)
• …usually within 1 second (1).

10(b) Two from: 2 Allow opposites

• A higher sampling rate sounds better than a lower rate (1st)

…the more accurately the original sound can be represented (1)
• Each sample uses up storage space so the lower the sampling rate
(1st)
• …the less storage capacity is required (1).

11 Three from: 3 Allow creative commons (CC).

• It is a format for storing (digital) data (1)

• Defined by a publicly published specification (1)
• Specification maintained by a standards organisation (1)
• Can be used and implemented by anyone (1)
• An open-source file format can be used by both proprietary/free/open-
source software (1)
• Also called free file formats if they are not covered by any
copyrights/patents (1)
• They can be used at no monetary cost for any desired purpose. (1)

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9626/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme
PRE-STANDARDISATION
Question Answer Marks Guidance

12 Six from: 6 One mark for two examples of technology

that can be affected:
• The global digital divide is the different levels of access of countries to
modern information and communications technology (1) e.g.
• Less industrially developed nations cannot afford to invest as much in
technology (infrastructure) as the more well-developed countries can • the telephone, television, personal
(1) computers and the internet
• It does not necessarily mean that a nation does not have technology
just a difference in the type of technology (1)
• In some of the more technologically aware countries software is
merged into a single device (1)
• Not all countries are able to keep up with the constant changes in
technology (1)
• There is a large inequality worldwide in terms of the distribution of
installed telecommunication bandwidth/some countries may not have a
well-developed broadband infrastructure/rely on dialup connections (1)
• The majority of the globally installed bandwidth is spread among a
small number of countries (1)
• Some countries may have lower-performance computers therefore
may not have full access to all services (1)
• Some may have difficulty in obtaining technical assistance (1)

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