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Date November 2021 Marks available 2 Reference code 21N.1.HL.TZ0.7
Level HL Paper 1 Time zone no time zone
Command term Outline Question number 7 Adapted from N/A

Question

A group of programmers are involved in creating a new software product. They create many new sub-programs but also use existing sub-programs within the product.

Outline why a sub-program is considered an example of abstraction.

[2]
a.

Evaluate the use of designing and developing different parts of software products concurrently.

[3]
b.

Outline one way in which users can be informed of software updates.

[2]
c.

Markscheme

Award [2 max] 

A sub-program is a named section of code that performs a specific task (in a program) / can be called by name / referred by the identifier when needed;
without knowing the details (of code and data structures) as these are wrapped / hidden within the sub-program;

a.

Award [3 max] 

different stages (of programming) (Accept examples!) run simultaneously (rather than consecutively);
this decreases product development time / decreases the time to market;
leading to improved productivity/reduces costs;
however, it requires more resources/more software developers;

b.

Award [2 max] 

A message can be sent to the user (When the software is installed and registered, the user provides an email address / phone number);
With a link to the update;

notifications/alerts are sent to the computer (a cookie is placed on the user's computer which communicates with the software developer);
about automatic updates;

(when the program is run) it queries a URL the program developer has built in to check whether the current version matches the latest version;
if not, notifications/alerts are sent;

c.

Examiners report

Many candidates provided vague or too general answers.

a.

Many candidates correctly answered this part.

b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Topic 4: Computational thinking, problem-solving and programming » 4.1 General principles
Topic 4: Computational thinking, problem-solving and programming

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