Cambridge IGCSE™

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/13

Paper 1 May/June 2020
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 75

Published

Students did not sit exam papers in the June 2020 series due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.

This mark scheme is published to support teachers and students and should be read together with the
question paper. It shows the requirements of the exam. The answer column of the mark scheme shows the
proposed basis on which Examiners would award marks for this exam. Where appropriate, this column also
provides the most likely acceptable alternative responses expected from students. Examiners usually review
the mark scheme after they have seen student responses and update the mark scheme if appropriate. In the
June series, Examiners were unable to consider the acceptability of alternative responses, as there were no
student responses to consider.

Mark schemes should usually be read together with the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers. However,
because students did not sit exam papers, there is no Principal Examiner Report for Teachers for the June
2020 series.

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

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the June 2020 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™ and Cambridge International A & 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.

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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 descriptors in mind.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) − 21 3
− 258
− 169

1(b) 1 mark for each correct hex value 4

− 50
− 3D

Question Answer Marks

2(a) 6
Input Output Storage
Hardware device
() () ()

Solid state drive (SSD) 

Sensor 

Headphones 

Microphone 

USB flash drive 

Actuator 

One mark for each correct tick

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Question Answer Marks

2(b) − Input 5
− Black
− White
− Sensors
− Binary

One mark for each correct term in the correct place

Question Answer Marks

3(a) Any three from: 3

− Sends request to webserver
− Receives web pages back from webserver
− Converts HTML to display web page
− Manages protocols

3(b) Any three from: 3

− Many requests are sent from a computer
− Requests are sent to the webserver
− The webserver becomes flooded with traffic
− The webserver cannot handle the requests / fails
− The website can no longer be accessed
− Attack maybe distributed

Question Answer Marks

4 − Serial (ignore any ref to simplex etc.) 4

− IP (address)
− Browser
− MAC (address)

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Question Answer Marks

5(a) Any four from: 4

− Stock control system has a database of stock
− Each product has a (unique) barcode
− Barcode is scanned, and product looked up in database
− Stock levels for product are reduced (by 1)
− Stock is checked against minimum level
− If stock at/below minimum level an order is placed
− When stock is re-ordered flag is reset

5(b) − It has RAM to store the data / programs / by example currently in use 3
− It has ROM to permanently store the boot up instructions
− It has HDD to store the stock database / software / OS / by example

5(c) Any four from: 4

− MAR
− MDR
− PC
− ALU
− CU
− ACC
− CIR
− Buses
− Registers

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Question Answer Marks

6(a) 4
A

B X

One mark for each correct gate.

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Question Answer Marks

6(b) 4
A B C Working space X

0 0 0 1

0 0 1 0

0 1 0 1

0 1 1 1

1 0 0 1

1 0 1 1

1 1 0 1

1 1 1 0

Question Answer Marks

7(a) Any four from: 4

− Examines outgoing traffic to check what is being requested
− Examines incoming traffic to check the content of what is being received
− Sets rules/criteria for websites that can/cannot be accessed // creates a blacklist
− Check if traffic meets/does not meet rules/criteria
− If it does/does not, access to website granted/denied

7(b) Any three from: 3

− Software that can replicate itself
− It could cause the computer to crash / run slow / generate errors
− It could delete/damage files
− It could fill up the storage space
− It could stop the hardware being able to communicate
− It could spread to other devices on the network
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Question Answer Marks

7(c)(i) Any two from: 2

− Locked padlock
− HTTPS
− View the certificate

7(c)(ii) Any four from: 4

− requests web server to identify itself/view the (SSL) certificate
− receives a copy of the (SSL) certificate, sent from the webserver
− checks if (SSL) certificate is authentic/trustworthy
− sends signal back to webserver that the certificate is authentic/trustworthy
− starts to transmit data once connection is established as secure

Question Answer Marks

8 6
3D Inkjet Laser
Statement
() () ()

Uses a moving print head  

Uses liquid ink 

Produces output using materials such as plastic and resin 

Uses piezoelectric or thermal technology () 

Uses a rotating drum to transfer the image to the paper 

Uses layer upon layer of material to create the output 

One mark per each correct row.

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Question Answer Marks

9 − 1 4
− 0
− 1
− 1

Question Answer Marks

10(a) Any four from: 4

− Example of spyware e.g. Keylogger is used
− Spyware is downloaded without knowledge (by example)
− Spyware records key presses / screen clicks / screen activity
− Data is relayed back to third party
− Data is analysed // Patterns in data could reveal log-in details …
− … details can then be used to log into the laptop (remotely)

10(b) − Biometric device 1

− Two step authentication

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