| Date | November 2017 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 17N.1.HL.TZ0.10 |
| Level | HL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | no time zone |
| Command term | Describe | Question number | 10 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
An application package used in an office includes a word processor.
The office manager decides to buy and install new software and hardware.
The changeover to the new system can be achieved by either direct changeover or phased conversion.
The new software allows basic text summaries and analysis to help check text files, including functions such as calculating word frequency.
Describe how a spellchecker checks whether a word in a text file is correctly spelt or not.
Outline one problem that may arise from the installation of new hardware and software in the office.
Compare direct changeover and phased conversion.
Identify one way of testing this software.
Markscheme
Each word in the text file is compared with words in a dictionary (held in memory/online);
If the word is found in the dictionary it is correctly spelt / if the word is not found in the dictionary, spellchecker will recognize that it is incorrectly spelt;
Award [1] for stating a problem and [1] for an elaboration, up to [2 max].
Users/employees might be afraid of these changes (for various reasons);
And not willing to help in this change;
Data migration problems;
For example, different file formats so conversion must be performed;
Employee efficiency may drop;
As they learn to use the new system;
Issue of compatibility with legacy software/hardware;
So features of new software/hardware may not work correctly;
Award [1] for outlining what is meant by direct changeover, [1] for outlining what is meant by phased conversion, and then [1] for an advantage or disadvantage of each, up to [4 max].
Example answer
In direct changeover, the old software and hardware is completely replaced, in one move, by the new software and hardware;
Phased conversion involves selecting one section in the office for the direct changeover and other sections will be switched when the first section selected is running satisfactorily. Eventually the whole office has been changed;
A phased conversion is less risky than a direct changeover as any problems that might arise will be isolated in only one section in the office;
Direct changeover means everyone in the organization has same software/hardware and so there are no compatibility issues;
Award [1 max].
Debugging (Accept: white-box testing – i.e. structural testing/flow testing;
black-box testing / requirement testing);
User acceptance testing (alpha-testing) / Beta-testing;
Examiners report
Syllabus sections
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18M.1.SL.TZ0.3:
Calculate how many different colours can be represented using two hexadecimal characters.
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21N.1.HL.TZ0.2:
State the hexadecimal representation of the binary number 10001010.
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.8:
Identify one function of a single-user operating system.
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.6:
Draw the truth table for the following logic circuit.
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.7a:
Calculate, showing your working in each case: the binary (base 2) value of the denary (base 10) number: 105.
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.9:
Define the term usability.
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.11:
Explain how cache memory affects system performance.
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21M.1.SL.TZ0.3:
Draw the logic circuit represented by the following truth table.
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22M.1.SL.TZ0.7b:
Calculate, showing your working in each case: the hexadecimal (base 16) value of the denary (base 10) number: 200.
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.5:
Copy and complete the following truth table.
- 17N.1.SL.TZ0.8a: State where all instructions and data are stored.
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.11b:
State one advantage of this feature.
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.15c:
Identify two types of general application software that would be installed on the training computers.
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.4:
Construct a logic diagram for the following expression.
NOT A OR (A AND B)
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.8c.i:
State how the data stored in the byte will be represented in hexadecimal.
- 19M.1.SL.TZ0.5: State the hexadecimal equivalent of the following binary number: 11011111
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.6:
Construct the truth table from the following logic circuit.
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18M.1.SL.TZ0.2:
Outline the role of the memory data register in the machine execution cycle.
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.8:
State the part of the central processing unit (CPU) that is responsible for carrying out calculations.
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.2:
Identify two features of a graphical user interface (GUI).
- 19M.1.SL.TZ0.15b: State the purpose of persistent storage on the computers.
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18M.1.SL.TZ0.4:
Explain the importance of the memory management function of an operating system.
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18M.1.SL.TZ0.5:
Construct a logic diagram for the following Boolean expression.
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21M.1.SL.TZ0.5:
Calculate the denary (base 10) equivalent of the hexadecimal number BF.
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.11a:
Describe how a spellchecker checks whether a word in a text file is correctly spelt or not.
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.11c:
Identify two additional features of a word processing package that could be useful for this office.
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.2a:
Outline what is meant by a database management system.
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.8a.ii:
Outline the function of an operating system in managing primary memory.
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.8c.ii:
State how many integers could be represented in this byte.
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.8d:
Construct a truth table with two input variables. If the input variables are equal the value of the output variable should be True, otherwise it should be False.
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.4b:
State the number of bits used to represent a non-primary colour, such as yellow.
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.15a:
Identify two characteristics of RAM.
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.4c:
Outline the function of the memory address register (MAR).
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19M.1.SL.TZ0.7:
Outline the purpose of the memory address register (MAR) in the central processing unit (CPU).
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21M.1.SL.TZ0.11:
Construct the truth table for the following logic circuit:
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.8a.i:
Distinguish between random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM).
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.8b:
Outline the role of the data bus and address bus in this process.
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.3b:
Explain the purpose of cache memory.
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.8c.iii:
Outline why this byte could not be used to represent characters such as those used in Chinese.
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.8c.ii:
Explain how the operating system ensures that each customer’s data is secure when multiple users are accessing the data at the same time.
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.3a:
State the function of the control unit (CU) in the central processing unit (CPU).
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.4b:
State the part of the central processing unit (CPU) that performs the decoding.
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.8c.i:
State where the customer data is held during the process of modifying their data.
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.11d:
Outline the purpose of one application software package other than a word processing package that could be used in this office.
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.6:
Construct a logic diagram for the Boolean expression
NOT A OR B AND C.
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17N.1.SL.TZ0.9:
Define the term bit.
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.4a:
State where the program is held.
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20N.1.SL.TZ0.6:
Construct a truth table for the following logical expression.
(A XOR B) AND NOT C
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18N.1.SL.TZ0.8b:
Explain the roles of the data bus and the address bus in the machine instruction cycle.
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.4a:
State why hexadecimal numbers are frequently used in computing.
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.4c:
State the maximum number of colours that can be represented in a computer pixel.
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19N.1.SL.TZ0.5:
Copy and complete the following truth table where:
X = A XOR B
Y = A NOR C
Z = X OR NOT Y
