Cambridge IGCSE™

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 0417/12

Paper 1 Written Paper March 2020
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 100

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

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

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the March 2020 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 13 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) Webcam 2
Mouse

1(b) RAM 2
Video card

Question Answer Marks

2 2
internet intranet

This type of network is public 

This is the more secure type of network 

This type of network is global 

This type of network is more likely to be monitored 

Question Answer Marks

3 Two from, for e.g.: 2

Oil prospecting
Mineral prospecting
Diagnostic systems
Careers
Medical diagnosis

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Question Answer Marks

4(a) 4
desktop tablet
smartwatch
computer computer

A computer made up of separate units 

Is an example of wearable technology 

A portable device that allows text to be typed relatively easily 

Most easily used for fitness and health monitoring by runners 

4(b) Three from: 3

More portable as it is lighter in weight
Smaller in size therefore can fit in in your pocket
More likely to have the smartphone with you at all times
Easier to receive and make phone calls on the move
More of a chance of retaining the signal//can be used in more places than a laptop computer
Less power consumption

Question Answer Marks

5(a) IF(A2<>"",VLOOKUP(A2,E3:F6,2), "") 5

If the contents of A2 are not empty – 1 mark

Otherwise display a blank cell – 1 mark

Three from:
Looks up/searches the value in A2
Looks up in the range E3:F6
Retrieves/displays the corresponding value
From the second column of the range
Displays the value/produces ICT in A3

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Question Answer Marks

5(b)(i) Three from: 3

Used if the range of cells is to be used many times
Easier to remember a name rather than cell references
Only has to type in the name rather than the cell references
Less chance of errors when entering the range
If the range of cells moves/copied the name still refers to the cells

5(b)(ii) Example name – Subjects 1

5(c) Counts the number of candidates/people that are opting for the ICT examination 2

or

Counts the number of ‘E’ in the range A4:A15

Question Answer Marks

6(a) \Work\Class_A1\Examination_Marks\ 3

\Work – 1 mark
\Class_A1 – 1 mark
\Examination_Marks – 1 mark

6(b) .txt is a text file format – 1 mark 2

.rtf is a rich text format – 1 mark

6(c) Three from: 3

RTF has basic formatting (embolden, underline, etc.) while TXT is plain text
RTF is capable of paragraph formatting while TXT is not
RTF is capable of creating bulleted lists while TXT is not
RTF files can include images while TXT cannot
TXT takes up less memory while RTF takes up more memory

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Question Answer Marks

6(d) Four from: 4

To save time typing the personal details of each student onto the document
To help reduce the number of errors in the typing of the data
Used to save time editing the document
Produces a personalised document for each student
So the teacher does not miss out a student

Question Answer Marks

7(a) Max five from: 6

The biometric data is unique to the user
Biometric data is always with you
Passwords can be copied/forgotten/guessed/cracked
Difficult to copy/forge biometric data
Eliminates shoulder surfing
Prevents key logging software

Max two from, e.g.:

fingerprints, Retina scans, Voice recognition, Iris scans, Handprint

7(b) Four from: 4

If the user wears glasses/grows a beard/damages the face/aging effects, then the laptop computer may not read the face
correctly
Position of the face and distance from the screen is important
Possible concerns about personal liberty infringement/intrusive
Equipment/set up is more expensive
The system has to be set up before use and this can take more time than setting up a password
May activate accidentally
Once set up it is difficult to reset

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Question Answer Marks

8(a) Two from: 2

A flat file database stores data in one table//a relational database uses multiple tables
In a relational database the tables are linked
In a relational database must have a primary key and a foreign key in the linked tables

8(b) Four from: 4

Open database package
Select database tools
The teacher’s file and subject file would be imported to separate tables
A primary key is identified/set
The foreign key is identified in the subject table
Click/create/select relationships
The primary key is dragged to the foreign key
Save the database

Question Answer Marks

9 4
header footer margin

Text entered that can appear at the top of each page automatically 

An area between the main content of a page and the edge of the page 

An additional space between facing pages 

Text entered that can appear at the bottom of each page automatically 

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Question Answer Marks

10(a) Four from: 4

Cell phone
He could use his cell phone to send text messages
Text messages can be sent at any time of the day//Text messages are not affected by time zone differences
He can capture image/audio and send them

VoIP
Used on any computing device that can connect to the internet
Can connect using hot spots
Live videos can be sent

To gain full marks it needs at least one benefit of using a cell phone and at least one benefit of using VoIP

10(b) One from: 1

Pay in cash/money
Withdraw cash/money

10(c) 2
Appropriate Not Appropriate

How old are you? 

What is your mother’s maiden name? 

What is your PIN? 

Which town were you born in? 

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Question Answer Marks

10(d) Three from: 3

Saves money by not having to pay for transport to the bank
Saves time by not having to travel to the bank
He does not carry cash therefore less chance of robbery
Banking is 24/7
Money from his parents can be sent at any time therefore speeding up the time it takes to reach his account
Saves time rather than queueing in the bank
He can select his own language

10(e) Two from: 2

May not have a stable internet connection
It is easier to make an error with online banking
There may not be the facilities to carry out online banking in remote parts of Kenya
Security issues as he could be using public hot spots
May need cash as isolated communities may not have facilities

Question Answer Marks

11 Max four from: 6

The introduction of robots has reduced the number of car production/factory floor workers
Vehicle production factories/robots work ‘24/7’
Workers could be working unsociable hours
De-skilling of staff
Increase in training for staff

Max four from:

Increase in the number of supervisors/quality control workers
Increase in the number of maintenance staff
Increase in part time/job sharing
Increased number of staff compressing hours
Increase in the number of engineers/designers/programmers to build the robots

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Question Answer Marks

12(a) Four from: 4

The web address should start with https
There is a closed/green padlock
When the padlock is clicked a message will state the connection is encrypted/secure
The web page has a digital/SSL certificate
The green padlock shows it has an Extended Validation (EV) certificate/CA certificate

12(b) Max four from: 6

Differences
Pharming downloads a file/program/malicious code onto the user’s smartphone
When the user enters a correct website the software redirects them to the fake website
When the user enters his password/personal data it is sent to the hacker’s computer
Pharming can be stopped by not downloading .exe, .bat files

In Smishing the user receives a text message from an unknown person

In Smishing the user is asked to phone a number/reply to the text/click on a link
Smishing can be stopped by not replying to unknown text messages

Max three from:

Comparisons
Both are attacks on the smartphone
Both redirect the user to a fake company/person/fake website
Both require the user to enter/divulge personal information
Both obtain/steal personal/your data

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Question Answer Marks

13(a) Advantages 8
Max five from:
Allows the use of sound/animation/video/transitions to make the presentation//leaflets cannot use sound/animation/video
Can be more interactive therefore can be used on a company website/interactive whiteboard
Hyperlinks can be used//the users of the leaflet would have to type in the hyperlink
No printing costs
More accessible (speak text, etc.)
People can throw away leaflets without reading them
Easier to update

Disadvantages
Max five from:
Special equipment is needed to view the presentation
Power/equipment failure/corrupted software can be an issue
There could be more focus on the presentation rather than the content
People have to be present in the lecture room
The leaflet can be read at any time
Presentations cannot be written in braille

13(b) Four from: 4

Open the presentation
Take/photograph an image of the product
Upload an image of the new product from a camera/file/the company website//export from camera
Save the image
Select the correct slide
Create a frame on the slide
Browse/search for the image
Import/insert/copy and paste the image into the presentation/slide
Place/drag the image in correct place
Edit the image
Save the presentation

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Question Answer Marks

13(c) Two from: 2

The image is not in the current/same folder
The name of the image/format/extension is incorrect
The image does not exist//software does not support the file extension
The image has not been uploaded

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