gce model questions vol1 2025 computer_studies | Essay

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Question 1 View Details
Computers have undergone rapid development since the mid‑20th century. Answer the following questions based on this evolution.
Question Parts
(a)
Identify three major generations of computers and, for each generation, describe the key technological advance and a typical application of that generation.
(b)
Explain how the introduction of the microprocessor in the early 1970s transformed personal computing.
(c)
Evaluate the impact of cloud computing on the role of hardware in modern data‑centres.
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Question 2 View Details
A small business is planning a new IT set‑up consisting of a workstation for graphic design and a server for file storage and backup.
Question Parts
(a)
Recommend a suitable CPU, amount of RAM, type of storage and a graphics card for the workstation. Justify each recommendation in terms of performance requirements and cost‑effectiveness.
(b)
The server will use RAID 5 with four identical hard drives, each of 2 TB capacity. Calculate the total usable storage capacity of the RAID 5 array.
(c)
Both the workstation (150 W) and the server (300 W) will be connected to a UPS that is 90 % efficient. Determine the minimum battery capacity (in Wh) the UPS must provide to keep both machines running for 30 minutes.
(d)
Suggest two maintenance strategies that would help the business achieve the required server uptime of at least 99.5 % per month.
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Question 3 View Details
A small enterprise is planning to introduce a new accounting software system to manage its financial transactions.
Question Parts
(a)
Outline the systematic procedure the enterprise should follow to identify its software requirements and select a suitable package.
(b)
Compare the implications of choosing a proprietary software licence versus an open‑source licence for this accounting system, focusing on cost, support, customisation and legal considerations.
(c)
Suggest two strategies the enterprise could use to ensure a smooth migration of existing financial data to the new system, and explain the rationale behind each.
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Question 4 View Details
A research team has conducted a paper‑based survey of 250 customers to assess satisfaction with a new mobile‑banking service.
Question Parts
(a)
Describe the complete process of converting the raw survey responses into a meaningful information report, highlighting the stages of data collection, validation, storage, analysis and presentation.
(b)
Design a simple relational database schema to store the survey results. Identify the tables, key fields, primary keys and the relationship(s) between tables, and justify why this design is appropriate for the data.
(c)
Explain two ways the team can ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the survey data during the storage and analysis phases.
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Question 5 View Details
A small retail business, GreenMart, plans to replace its current flat‑file inventory system with a computerised relational database. The manager has supplied a sample table that records each stock item as follows: ItemID, ItemName, SupplierName, SupplierAddress, Category, Quantity. The business also wants to ensure that data is protected against loss.
Question Parts
(a)
State three advantages of using a relational database rather than a flat‑file system for GreenMart’s inventory records.
(b)
Explain how the supplied table can be normalised to Third Normal Form (3NF). Use the fields provided to illustrate each normalisation step (1NF, 2NF, 3NF).
(c)
Recommend two backup strategies suitable for GreenMart and justify why each would be appropriate for the business.
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Question 6 View Details
A secondary school has installed a new computer laboratory with 30 workstations that provide internet access for students. The school wishes to protect the lab’s resources and ensure responsible use of the computers.
Question Parts
(a)
Identify three common security threats that could affect the laboratory and explain one practical mitigation measure for each threat.
(b)
Discuss two ethical considerations that the school must address when monitoring students’ computer activity. Reference at least two recognised ethical principles.
(c)
Outline a step‑by‑step incident response plan the school should follow if a ransomware attack encrypts the lab’s server files.
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Question 7 View Details
A secondary school is planning to upgrade its computer laboratory and the four adjoining classrooms to provide reliable network connectivity for both wired and wireless devices. The school wishes to use a combination of LAN topologies and to ensure safe Internet access for students.
Question Parts
(a)
Identify three common LAN topologies (bus, star, mesh) and compare them in terms of cabling requirements, fault tolerance and ease of future expansion.
(b)
The school decides to implement a hybrid topology that combines a central star for the server room with extended‑star branches to each of the four classrooms and the laboratory. Each classroom is 20 m from the server room, the laboratory is 30 m away, and the cable that links the central switch to each peripheral switch is 10 m. (i) Describe the physical layout of this hybrid network, stating how many switches are required and how they are interconnected. (ii) Calculate the total length of Category‑6 cable needed for the whole LAN (ignore cable for the wireless access points).
() Describe the physical layout of this hybrid network, stating how many switches are required and how they are interconnected.
() Calculate the total length of Category‑6 cable needed for the whole LAN (ignore cable for the wireless access points).
(c)
Explain the role of a router, NAT and DNS in providing Internet access to the students, and recommend one practical security measure that the school should implement to protect the network.
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Question 8 View Details
A teacher wants to develop a Python program that manages the scores of a class of 30 students. For each student the program must read the name and the three assessment scores, compute the total and average, assign a grade (A ≥ 70, B = 60‑69, C = 50‑59, D = 40‑49, F < 40) and finally display a summary report sorted by descending average.
Question Parts
(a)
Write a Python function `calculate_grade(avg)` that returns the appropriate letter grade for a given average. Explain the logic used and mention any edge cases that must be considered.
(b)
Outline, in clear pseudocode, the complete algorithm for the program described above. Include steps for data input, storage, grade calculation, sorting and output.
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Question 9 View Details
A small retail store wants to computerise its inventory and sales records. The store sells various products, each identified by a product code, name, unit price, and category. Sales are recorded with a sale ID, date, customer ID, and details of each product sold (product code, quantity). Customers have a customer ID, name, address, and phone number.
Question Parts
(a)
Propose a set of relational tables (including primary keys) to store this information, ensuring no redundant data. Justify your design with reference to normal forms.
(b)
Write an SQL statement to retrieve the total amount spent by each customer in the month of March 2024, showing the customer name and total amount, ordered from highest to lowest total.
(c)
The store wants to ensure that a product cannot be sold if its quantity in stock falls below the quantity being sold. Explain how you would enforce this rule using database constraints or triggers. Provide a brief example of the trigger code (in SQL syntax).
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Question 10 View Details
A university department maintains a spreadsheet to track student grades for a course. The spreadsheet contains the columns: StudentID, Name, Assignment1, Assignment2, Assignment3, Midterm, Final. The department also prepares a report in a word processor to publish the final grades and a summary of class performance.
Question Parts
(a)
Describe how to calculate each student's total weighted mark, given the weightings: Assignments 20 % (each assignment equally weighted), Midterm 30 %, Final 30 %. Provide the formula to be entered in the spreadsheet and explain how to copy it for all rows.
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