Year 11 · ICT · Summer 1

Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Last Paper 1 practice

Exam practice4.2 Network issues and communication6.10 Recognition systems7.4 Implementation

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

You will learn to

  • Complete a Paper 1 practice in 1 hour 30 minutes.
  • Correct every lost mark using the mark scheme.
  • Describe what to bring and what to do on the day of each paper.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Success criteria

You have got it when you can say:

  • I can finish the paper and check it in the time given.
  • I can write a full-mark correction for every question where I lost marks.
  • I can list my exam-day routine for the theory paper and for the practical papers.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Retrieval starter

Questions from before. Write your answers, then show them.

  1. Last lesson

    A style can set…

    A Only the colourB The file nameC Font, size, colour, alignment and spacing

    C. Font, size, colour, alignment and spacing

  2. Last unit

    A dongle is used to…

    A Store photosB Speed up the internetC Stop software running without it

    C. Stop software running without it

  3. Earlier this year

    A format check on a postcode…

    A Checks the postcode existsB Checks only the lengthC Checks the pattern of letters and numbers

    C. Checks the pattern of letters and numbers

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Key words (1 of 8)

Network
Two or more devices connected so they can share data and resources.
NIC
Network interface card: hardware that connects a device to a network.
IP address
An address that identifies a device on a network or the internet.
Switch
Connects devices on a LAN and sends data only to the right device, using MAC addresses.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Key words (2 of 8)

LAN
Local area network: covers one building or site.
Authentication
Proving a user is who they say they are.
Biometrics
Using unique body features such as fingerprints for authentication.
One-time password
A code that works only once, made by a token.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Key words (3 of 8)

Zero login
Authentication without typing, using biometrics and behaviour.
Anti-malware
Software that detects, quarantines and removes malicious software.
Computer model
A program that uses rules and formulas to act like a real system.
What if
Changing a model's inputs to see what would happen.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Key words (4 of 8)

NFC
Near field communication: very short-range radio used for phone payments.
ANPR
Automatic number plate recognition: reading number plates from camera images.
GIS
Geographic information system: location data shown as layers on a map.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Key words (5 of 8)

Systems life cycle
The stages used to create a new system: analysis, design, development and testing, implementation, documentation, evaluation.
Systems analyst
The person who studies the current system and plans the new one.
Questionnaire
A set of written questions given to many people to collect their views.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Key words (6 of 8)

System specification
A list of the hardware and software the new system needs.
Check digit
An extra digit calculated from the other digits, used to detect input errors.
Data capture form
A paper or on-screen form used to collect data.
Test plan
A table listing each test, its data, the expected and actual outcomes and any remedial action.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Key words (7 of 8)

Live data
Real data from the organisation, used to test the system with known results.
Direct changeover
The old system stops and the new one starts immediately.
Parallel running
Old and new systems run together until the new one is trusted.
Pilot running
The new system is tried in one branch before the rest.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Key words (8 of 8)

Phased implementation
The new system is introduced one part at a time across the organisation.

The explanation · step 1 of 14

The day before

Check the date, the time and the room of each paper.

  • Two black or dark blue pens for Paper 1.
  • A simple watch. Smartwatches are not allowed.
  • Your centre number and candidate number written down, for the practical papers.
★Remember

Sleep is part of revision. A tired brain recalls less. Stop revising early and go to bed.

The explanation · step 2 of 14 · part 1 of 2

In the exam room

Paper 1 (theory):

  1. Write your clock times on the front page.
  2. Underline the command word. Circle the marks.
  3. Answer every question. A blank always scores zero.
  4. Use the last 10 minutes to check.

Papers 2 and 3 (practical):

The explanation · step 2 of 14 · part 2 of 2

In the exam room (continued)

  1. Read the whole paper first.
  2. Put your name, centre number and candidate number on every printout and in the evidence document.
  3. Save and name files exactly as asked.
  4. Use the last 15 minutes for the final check routine.
!Watch out

Phones and smartwatches must be handed in before you enter the room. Having one on you can lead to disqualification.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 3 of 14

Security of data transfer

Data on a network can be intercepted, changed or stolen. Networks also spread malware quickly.

Authentication means proving that a user is who they say they are, before they get access.

Common protections: user IDs and passwords, firewalls, encryption of data being sent, and anti-malware software.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 4 of 14 · part 1 of 3

Strong and weak passwords

A weak password is short or easy to guess: a name, a birthday, a word from the dictionary, `123456` or `password`.

A strong password is long and mixes upper-case letters, lower-case letters, numbers and symbols. It is not a real word and is not linked to the user.

Each extra character multiplies the number of possible passwords. So length matters most. Type passwords into the checker and watch the time to crack change.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 4 of 14 · part 2 of 3

Strong and weak passwords (continued)

e.g.Example
Assume an attacker's computer tries 10 billion guesses a second. 8 lower-case letters: 26^8 = about 209 billion options. Cracked in about 21 seconds. 8 characters from all 95 keyboard characters (including the space): 95^8 = about 6.6 × 10^15. About 8 days. 12 characters from all 95: 95^12 = about 5.4 × 10^23. About 1.7 million years.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 4 of 14 · part 3 of 3

Strong and weak passwords (continued)

!Watch out

A strong password is still unsafe if it is reused on many sites, written on a sticky note, or never changed after a data breach.

There is something to try for this step in the IGCSE library.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 5 of 14 · part 1 of 2

Passwords and biometrics

Passwords are the most common method. They are cheap and easy, but can be guessed, forgotten, seen by shoulder surfing or stolen by spyware.

Biometrics use a unique part of a person's body or behaviour: fingerprint, face, iris or retina, voice or handwriting.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 5 of 14 · part 2 of 2

Passwords and biometrics (continued)

BiometricAdvantageDisadvantage
FingerprintQuick and cheap; unique to each personDirty or cut fingers may not be recognised
Face recognitionNo contact neededLighting, glasses, beards or ageing can cause errors
Iris / retina scanVery accurate and very hard to fakeExpensive; retina scanning is intrusive
Voice recognitionWorks over the phone; no extra hardware on a phoneColds and background noise cause errors; can be recorded and replayed
?Why?

Biometrics are more secure than passwords because a body feature cannot be forgotten, shared or easily guessed.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 6 of 14 · part 1 of 3

Cards and tokens

A magnetic stripe card holds data such as a staff ID on its stripe. It is swiped to open doors. Cheap, but easy to copy and damaged by magnets.

A smart card has a chip that stores and processes data, often with an RFID antenna. It is harder to copy and can hold more data. Often used with a PIN.

A physical token is a small device that shows a one-time password (OTP). Some need the user's PIN first. Banks use them for online banking.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 6 of 14 · part 2 of 3

Cards and tokens (continued)

An electronic token is software, usually an app on a phone, that creates a one-time code or approves a log-in. Codes change every 30 to 60 seconds, so a stolen code is soon useless.

e.g.Example
Logging in to online banking: 1. Type user ID and password (something you know). 2. Open the bank's app, which shows a 6-digit code that changes every 30 seconds (something you have). 3. Type the code. Two different factors make it much harder for a hacker.

4.2 Network issues and communication · The explanation · step 6 of 14 · part 3 of 3

Cards and tokens (continued)

!Watch out

A token's code is a one-time password. Say why it helps: even if it is intercepted, it cannot be used again.

The explanation · 8 more steps

More on the lesson page

The lesson page has the rest of the explanation, step by step:

  • Zero login
  • Anti-malware
  • Electronic conferencing
  • Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)
  • OMR, OCR, RFID, NFC and biometrics
  • Four ways to change over
  • Advantages and disadvantages
  • Choosing the right method

Open the lesson page

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Quick quiz · 1 of 3

ANPR reads…

  1. A Number plates
  2. B Barcodes
  3. C Fingerprints

A. Number plates

Automatic number plate recognition, in car parks and on roads.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Quick quiz · 2 of 3

In automatic stock control, the stock level drops when…

  1. A The shop closes
  2. B The barcode is scanned at the till
  3. C The manager counts

B. The barcode is scanned at the till

When stock reaches the reorder level the system orders more.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Quick quiz · 3 of 3

A spreadsheet weather model is used because…

  1. A It needs no data
  2. B It is always exactly right
  3. C It is cheaper and safer than real experiments

C. It is cheaper and safer than real experiments

Models predict; they are only as good as their data and rules.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Exit ticket

Answer on paper before you go. Then check.

  1. EFTPOS means…

    A Paying by card at the tillB Posting a chequeC Sending an email

    A. Paying by card at the till Electronic funds transfer at point of sale.

  2. Parallel running means…

    A Testing in one branch firstB Old and new systems run together for a whileC Switching over in one go

    B. Old and new systems run together for a while Safe but twice the work. Direct changeover is quick but risky.

Year 11 · ICT · Final revision and the exams · Lesson 5 of 5

Homework and the challenge

Homework

The Glossary tab, one letter a night; the quiz mixes.

End-of-unit challenge

The Cambridge examinations: Papers 1, 2 and 3, June series.