Cambridge IGCSE™

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 0417/12

Paper 1 Theory May/June 2023
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 80

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 May/June 2023 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and some
Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 9 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.

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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Mark scheme Abbreviations and Rules

/ separates alternative words / phrases within a marking point

// separates alternative answers within a marking point
underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants accepted)
max indicates the maximum number of marks that can be awarded
( ) the word / phrase in brackets is not required, but sets the context

Note: No marks are awarded for using brand names of software packages or hardware. These must
be created

Examiners must ensure that annotations are placed to show that the whole answer has been
seen.

Annotations MUST be placed in white space close to where the mark is awarded.

Before submitting a script please check all ticks match marks.

At the end of prose answers place a TV to show that the whole answer has been marked.

Any blank pages place the SEEN annotation.

If an answer is left blank then use SEEN and award NR, but if anything has been written for
example ‘Don’t know’, ‘?’ etc. then use NAQ and award 0. If an answer has been attempted and
crossed out then attempt to mark it.

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Question Answer Marks

1 Check digit 1

Question Answer Marks

2(a) Read Only Memory/ROM 1

2(b) Sound card 1

2(c) CPU/Processor 1

Question Answer Marks

3 Four from: 4

Similarities
Both capture images
Both store digital data
Both create digital images

Differences
Digital camera is more portable
Scanner captures the image in more detail
Scanners do not have a keystone effect
Digital camera may capture glare/shadow off the image
Digital camera has faster data capture

To gain full marks the comparison must have correct answers for both
similarities and differences.

Question Answer Marks

4(a) Two from: 2

An extranet is part of a company's intranet
The company gives permission for customers and suppliers to access it
Enables businesses to exchange information over the internet in a secure way
Requires credentials/username and password to access it

4(b) Two from: 2

Internet allows public access to information whereas Extranet allows limited
access
Extranet is more secure
The internet is not owned by anyone whereas the Extranet is owned by a
company
More information on the internet

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Question Answer Marks

5(a) Repetitive strain injury/RSI/carpel syndrome 1

5(b) Eye strain/headache/neckache 1

5(c) Neck ache/back ache 1

Question Answer Marks

6(a) Three matched pairs from: 6

The passwords could become similar …

… security/passwords could be weakened

May be more difficult to find a different password …

… the passwords/security could be weakened

Users could easily forget the current password …

… leading to system lock out

It may be typed incorrectly as the password is like the previous one …

… could lead to login errors

Users may have to write the passwords down so they are not forgotten …
… this may lead to others seeing the passwords

6(b) One from: 1

To ensure a website is trusted/authentic/genuine
Verifies if the company owns the website
To share a public key for encryption when communicating with the website

6(c) Three from: 3

Company/owner's name
Owner's/company public key
Date issued
Expiry date
Company/owner's digital signature
Issuer's/Sender’s name
Serial number

Question Answer Marks

7(a) 2 – 1 mark 3
31 – 1 mark

One from:
To test the boundaries (of the formula)
To test the comparisons are correct

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Question Answer Marks

7(b) Three from: 3

To test that data outside the range is not acceptable
To test that the correct data type is entered
To test that the error message works
To test that the errors are trapped correctly

Question Answer Marks

8(a) Three from: 3

Form of real-time/live/online communication
Multiple users/devices connect …
… using the internet
All users see the same screen.
Communication using video cameras/microphones

8(b) Six from: 6

Positives
The students save time as they do not need to travel to the school
The students save the cost of travelling to the school.
The school saves costs as it does not need to open in the holidays
Students and teachers can work from anywhere in the world
Can be recorded for students who miss the lesson

Negatives
Hardware/software could be expensive
Requires a good/reliable internet connection
There could be issues with child protection
More difficult to concentrate/motivate
If the hardware breaks/loss of connection/lack of hardware then the student
cannot participate
Only students with the correct specialist devices will be able to access

To gain full marks candidates must have correct answers for both
positives and negatives

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Question Answer Marks

9(a) Six from: 6

Similarities
Both readers scan the product code
Both readers use direct data entry
Both readers allow tracking of products
Both readers are contactless

Differences
Bar code readers only scan one bar code at a time whereas RFID readers
read multiple tags at the same time
Bar code readers require a direct line-of-sight with the code
RFID readers use near-field technology
Bar code readers need to be close to the bar code
Bar code needs to be in the correct position for reader to be able to read it
Bar codes readers might not be able to read a damaged/scratched bar code
whereas RFID can read data as long as chip/tag is not severely damaged.
Bar code reader might have read errors if the bar code is damaged/scratched
whereas RFID readers are more likely to read damaged/scratched tags
Bar code readers emit/use light whereas RFID uses electromagnetic/radio
waves

To gain full marks the comparison must have correct answers for both
similarities and differences.

9(b) Two from for example: 2

Race timing Tracking
Event Attendee Tracking
Livestock Tracking
Library book Tracking
Contactless/credit/debit card payment
Passports/ID cards

Question Answer Marks

10(a) Three from: 3

Name attributes
Charset//Character set
Content attributes

10(b) The <head> element 1

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Question Answer Marks

11(a) Two from: 2

Where the human body interacts with the device
Where a human gives a command ...
… without using a keyboard/mouse/pointing device

11(b) Four from: 4

Fatigue/gorilla arm
User can unintentionally activate the device …
… by moving their arms/fingers
Not as accurate as other interfaces
Issues with stopping the gesture …
… if user touches a button, interface knows the command is completed
Have to learn what the gestures do//Having to remember the gestures
Could cause damage if in restricted space
May have a limited number of gestures that can be used
Users with physical disabilities may not be able to make the gestures
Have to use/learn the gestures accurately otherwise they may not be
identified

Question Answer Marks

12(a) Four from: 4

Data cannot be erased/edited
Blu-ray discs are portable
As it is on an external device it does not take up internal storage
You can have large number of Blu-ray discs therefore more storage
Hard Disk is fixed in the computer

12(b)(i) Two from: 2

Non-volatile
Stores data permanently
Slower to access than internal memory

12(b)(ii) Two from: 2

Magnetic tape
CD
DVD
DVD RAM
Memory cards
Pen drives
SSD
Cloud storage
Flash memory

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Question Answer Marks

13(a) Four from: 4

The large number of variables makes it more difficult for a human to forecast
correctly/accurately
Can predict long range weather trends/global warming
Faster way of producing weather patterns than using a human
Can deal with the more complex calculations quicker
More accurate results produced
Can give residents early warning of severe weather

13(b) Two from: 2

Pressure
Temperature
Moisture/Humidity
Wind speed

13(c) Two from: 2

Monitor
Printer
Plotter

Question Answer Marks

14(a) Four from: 4

Allows multimedia to be embedded in the pages
Allows auto change of pages
It is digital so can be used in other documents
Sections can be linked internally/externally
Readers can interact with the ePublication
Can be used by many users simultaneously
More up-to-date than physical magazines

14(b) Two from: 2

Users type in a unique licence key/serial number/authorisation key
Users install DRM (parts of the code which stop you from copying it)
Use of licence agreements
Running the software with a dongle/CD/Pendrive attached
Getting permission from the owner

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