May/June 2025

CXC CSEC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(General Proficiency)

Paper 03 – School Based Assessment

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENTS

WORD-PROCESSING
SPREADSHEET
DATABASE MANAGEMENT
WEBPAGE DESIGN
PROBLEM-SOLVING AND PROGRAM DESIGN
&
IMPLEMENTATION

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Table of Contents
PROJECT DESCRIPTION................................................................................................................................3
SPREADSHEET (20 Marks)............................................................................................................................4
TASK A.....................................................................................................................................................4
TASK B.....................................................................................................................................................6
DATABASE MANAGEMENT (20 marks)........................................................................................................7
TASK A - Tables........................................................................................................................................7
TASK B - QUERIES.....................................................................................................................................8
TASK C – FORM........................................................................................................................................8
TASK D – REPORT.....................................................................................................................................9
WORD PROCESSING (20 Marks)................................................................................................................10
TASK A - Brochure..................................................................................................................................10
TASK B - Letter.......................................................................................................................................10
Web-Based Design – 10 Marks.................................................................................................................11
PROBLEM SOLVING And Programming (15 Marks)....................................................................................12
Task A – Algorithm.................................................................................................................................12
Task B – Trace Table..............................................................................................................................13
Task C – Programming...........................................................................................................................13
Task D – Documentation........................................................................................................................13
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES..........................................................................................................................14
ROLE OF THE TEACHER..............................................................................................................................15

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Middle and low-income earners of Lancashire, a country in Lakeside District, are having
challenges purchasing houses for their families, mainly due to the high cost of real estate and
building materials. The government, through its Ministry of Housing and Development has
intervened and has embarked on a housing development project in three sections of the
county. Citizens are invited to apply for the opportunity to own one of these houses.

You are required to utilize suitable word processing, spreadsheet, database management,
webpage as well as a programming application to design and implement a computerized-based
solution to accomplish the following:

Create a b r o c h u r e to inform the public about the project and ensure that
suitably qualified and approved applicants are informed if selected for one of these
houses – MS Word.

Record applicant’s income and expense commitments – Excel.

Keep a record of the applicants’ information – Access.

Advertise the housing development over an online application - Website

Problem Solving involving:

 Create an algorithm – flowchart or pseudocode

 Create a trace table

 Implement a Pascal Program

In an attempt to complete the given project, you will use a computer with the Microsoft Office
suite and a Pascal compiler installed.

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SPREADSHEET (20 Marks)

The Ministry of Housing and Development is a state agency with the responsibility to build low-
income houses for the citizens of Lakeside District. The agency invites citizens who are
employed and can demonstrate that they would be able to meet their monthly mortgage
payments to apply for one of these houses. Each application should show the applicant’s
salary, monthly deductions, amount owed to bank and other financial institutions as well as the
applicant’s monthly living expenses.

Houses are being built to accommodate approved applicants in three communities:

 Cedar Valley , CV
 GeorgeTown, GT
 Calder Ridge, CR

Applicants must meet a net monthly income in order to qualify for consideration in each of
these communities.

TASK A
1. Open Excel and save as Applicant_Housing_Project
2. Rename the sheet to Income.
3. Enter the following data from applicants for each housing community:
 Last Name, First Name, Applicant’s Gross Salary and the Housing Code for the
community applied for.
4. You must enter at least ten (10) applicants for each community.

4. On another worksheet of your workbook, create a table indicating the Housing Community
Code and the qualifying income. Rename the sheet Qualifying Income(see table below).
Name the range of cells in the table QIncome. Give the table a suitable title. On the Income
worksheet insert a column Qualifying Income to the right of Housing Code, the qualifying
income is to be automatically assigned based on the following:

HOUSING CODE QUALIFYING INCOME

CV $50,500.00
GT $30,500.00
CR $15,000.00

5. On the Income worksheet, insert a column PAYE Tax to the right of Qualifying Income to
hold the PAYE. PAYE is calculated as a flat rate of 7.5% on any amount in excess of
$10,000. No PAYE is deducted if the salary is less than or equal to $10,000(DONE)
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6. On the Income worksheet, insert a column Education Tax to the right of PAYE to hold the
amount deducted for education tax. This amount is calculated as 3% of the applicant’s gross
salary. Please note that this percentage is subject to change.(DONE)

7. On the Income worksheet, insert a column Pension to the right of Education Tax to hold the
pension paid by the applicant. Pension is calculated at 16% of the applicant’s gross salary.
Please note that this percentage is subject to change.(DONE)

8. Insert a column Total Deductions to hold the total monies deducted from each applicant’s
salary. A fixed charge of $1,100 for National Health Plan (NHP) is also deducted monthly.
(DONE)

9. Insert a column Net Income to the right of Deductions. Use appropriate formula to calculate
the net income for each applicant. Net Income is the gross salary less the total deductions.
(DONE)

10. Insert a column Status to the right of Net Income. If the Net Income meets the qualifying
income for the community being applied for, the applicant’s status would be “Qualified”
otherwise “Not Qualified”.(DONE)

11. On another worksheet, information on applicants’ loan indebtedness should be recorded

and calculated. Rename the sheet Loans. Enter the following data for each applicant:

 Applicant’s Names (Use the applicants’ names from the income worksheet),
Bank Loan and Credit Card Loan(DONE)

12. Insert a column Bank Payment. Repayment on bank loans is calculated at 9% per annum
over three years. Use an appropriate function to calculate the bank payment for each
applicant. (DONE)

13. Insert a column Credit Card Payment. Repayment on credit card loans is calculated at 10%
per annum over 18 months. Use an appropriate function to calculate the credit card
payment for each applicant. (DONE)

14. Insert a column Total Loan Payments. Calculate the total loan payment for each applicant.
(DONE)

15. On another sheet, information on each applicant’s monthly expenses must be calculated.
Rename this worksheet Expenses. Enter the following data for each applicant:

 Name, Groceries, Utilities, Transportation and Number of dependents.

(DONE)

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16. Insert a column Miscellaneous Expenses. Miscellaneous expenses are calculate as the
number of dependents x $100.00.(DONE)

17. Insert a column Total Expenses to calculate each applicant’s total expenses. (DONE)

18. Format your spreadsheet appropriately. Bold the headings and wrap the text where
appropriate. Apply necessary formatting features to enhance the presentation of your
spreadsheet. Appropriate formatting such as currency and decimal places should be used.
Enter appropriate headings for the spreadsheets, using a suitable font and font size. Centre
the heading across the columns used in the spreadsheet. Save spreadsheet.

TASK B
1. Create a summary table in a new worksheet to display the following information for each
applicant:(Rename the worksheet: SUMMARY)
(a) Name(DONE)
(b) Housing Code(DONE)
(c) Net Income(DONE)
(d) Total Monthly Loan Repayment
(e) Total Monthly Expenses
(f) Applicant’s Disposable Income (Balance) calculated as:
Balance = the net income - ( total loan repayment + total expenses)(DONE)
(g) Add a column that states whether the applicant is approve or not. An applicant is
approved if the Balance is greater than or equal to half of the net income.(DONE)
(h) Above the table, insert a suitable heading, centred across the titles. Use a
suitable font and font size. Apply necessary formatting features to enhance the look of
your spreadsheet.(DONE)

2. Sort the data first on Housing Code in ascending order, then by Net Income in
descending order.(DONE)

3. In an appropriate section of your spreadsheet, use a complex criterion to extract a list of all
approved applicants.(DONE)

4. Using the Expenses sheet. Apply the auto filter feature to show applicants with 2 or
more dependents.(DONE)

5. Create a column chart on a new worksheet, which compares the financial records of
these approved applicants. Name the worksheet Chart. Give your chart an appropriate
title and label your axes.(DONE)

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6. On the Summary sheet, create a pivot table to show the total balance for approved
applicants in each housing community.(DONE)

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DATABASE MANAGEMENT (20 marks)

Information must be maintained on all applicants for housing units. Using information from
your spreadsheet you are required to design and populate a database with applicants’ data.
You should accept all applicants from your spreadsheet.

TASK A - Tables
1. Create a database file called Applicant_HousingProject_database

(a) Create a table APPLICANTS in your database. This table will hold demographic data about
applicants. The table should contain the following fields shown below:

TABLE 1 – APPLICANTS
FIELD DATA TYPE DESCRIPTION SIZE
APP_ID Applicant’s ID Number
TITLE Applicant Title
LASTNAME Applicant’s Surname
FIRSTNAME Applicant’s First Name
GENDER Applicants Gender
ADDRESS Applicant’s Current Address
DOB Applicant’s Date of Birth
DEPENDENTS Number of Dependents
TELEPHONE Applicant’s Contact Number
HCC Housing Community Code

(b) Populate your table with data from your spreadsheet. Use data from the Summary
sheet in Task B.

(c) Create a table FINANCIAL which will hold the financial data of the applicants.

FIELD DATA TYPE DESCRIPTION FIELD SIZE

APP_ID Applicant’s ID Number
NET_INCOME Applicant’s Net Income
EXPENSES Total Monthly Expenses
LOANS Total Loans Repayment
State whether the applicant is approved or
APPROVED
not

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(d) Create a table COMMUNITY that will hold the name of the community and qualifying
salary

FIELD DATA TYPE DESCRIPTION FIELD SIZE

CODE Community Code [ GT, CR, CV]
COM_NAME Name of Community
Q_SALARY Qualifying Salary

(e)
i. Create all necessary relationships among the tables.
ii. Set an appropriate primary key for each table.
iii. Sort the Applicants table in ascending order by last name.

TASK B - QUERIES
1. Create the following queries:
(a) List the names, address, phone number, net income, and number of dependents of all
applicants who listed Spanish Court as their choice for housing allocation.
Name the query SC_Applicants.

(b) Create a query listing the applicants title, name, ID, address, community applied for, net
income, loan payment and expenses of all approved applicants.
Save the query as Approved.

(c) List the name, applicant ID, dependents, and total loan payment of all applicants whose
monthly loan payment exceeds $10,000.00 and number of dependents greater than 2.
Name this query LoanRepay.

(d) Count the number of persons who apply applied for houses in Cedar Valley Estate.
Name this query CV_Applicants.

(e) The Ministry of Housing and Development wants to know the disposable income of all Rio
Grande Villa applicants. Disposable income is calculated by subtracting the sum of the
total loan repayment and total expenses from their net income. Print the name, loan
payment, expenses and balance. Name this query Balance.

TASK C – FORM
Create a form using the Applicant’s table and a sub-form using the Financial table. Name the
form Applicants Data Entry Form.

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TASK D – REPORT
Create a report, which lists all approved applicants. The report should include:
(a) Applicant’s title, name, ID, address, Community, net income, loan payments and
expenses.
(b) Group by community
(c) Sorted by last name
(d) Applicants average net income for each community
(e) An appropriate title with two levels
(f) Save the report as Approvals.

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WORD PROCESSING (20 Marks)

In an effort to inform the citizens about the housing project, you are required to create a
double column brochure advertising the housing project (Brochure will be distributed
electronically). Your brochure should include the following:
TASK A - Brochure
(a) Landscape orientation should be used
(b) A table listing the housing communities and their qualifying income. The table should
consist of three columns and four rows. There should be a column for the name of the
community, community code and qualifying income. The table should have
appropriate bordering and the title row should have a different colour background
from the rest of the table. Headings should be bold and centred.
(c) Suitable graphics
(d) On the back page, you are to design a fillable application form on which citizens may
apply to the Ministry of Housing and Development for housing allocation. Relevant
personal information as well as the applicant’s financial information must be captured
on the form. There should be space for the applicant’s signature. At least three form
features must be used (text box, option box etc.).
(e) The address and telephone number for The Ministry of Housing and Development
informing the applicant where to return the completed form.
(f) Save the document as Applicant_Brochure

TASK B - Letter
Create a letter (primary Letter) to be used in the mail merge to generate letters to be posted to
the approved applicants. The data should come from your database. The letter should be
appropriately formatted and free from grammar and spelling errors.
Your letter should include:
(a) A congratulatory message to the applicant as well as a statement telling the applicant
that a list of approved applicants is included and that he/she should check the list to
make sure his/her name is on the list. You should insert the applicants ID, name, and
housing community from the Approved Applicants Table in your database. The
paragraphs should have a 1.5 line spacing.
(b) A final paragraph should give the applicant information about the proposed dates for
the formal opening of the housing community. The date should be bold and
underlined
(c) A suitable header showing the
 Name of The Ministry of Housing and Development
 Mailing address telephone number and email address of the MHD.
 Suitable graphic (logo)
(d) A footer showing the Ministry’s motto. The footer should be centre aligned with font
size 14 of your selected Font.
(e) Save the document as Applicant_GenericLetter

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(i) Using the database as your data source, complete the merge showing the first five (5)
letters.
(j) Save this document as Applicant_Letters

Web-Based Design – 10 Marks

Create a website with no more than 3 linked pages.

1. Home Page – this page should provide at least 2 paragraphs of information about the Ministry.
This page must contain images.
2. Housing Communities – this page should contain information on the 3 housing communities –
their amenities, location, cost, and qualifying income. A link should also be made to the
brochure created informing individuals to have view it and make their application using the
application form.
3. Contact Us– This page should contain contact information (address, phone number etc.),
directions (include a google maps image).

Note: You are to submit ONE Zipped folder with all the above listed documents. The Folder is to be
called LastName_FirstName_Website Each page must have appropriate graphics and relevant
information. The layout and design of the page must be suitable to a government entity.

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PROBLEM SOLVING And Programming

(15 Marks)

Task A – Algorithm
1. Write a Problem Statement that defines the problem that the program will be designed
to solve.

2. Write an algorithm using flowchart or Pseudocode to determine if an applicant is

approved for allocation of a house in a named housing community – up to 20 applicants
are processed in a day. Your algorithm should:
(a) Prompt the user to enter the applicant’s name, ID, housing community code,
gross salary, salary deductions, total expenses, and total loan repayments.

(b) Accept and store the values entered

(c) For each applicant, calculate the net income and determine if the applicant
qualifies for the selected community based on the qualifying income from
the spreadsheet section of the SBA.

(d) If qualified, calculate the applicant’s disposable income and determine if the
applicant is approved. Approval is given if the applicant’s disposable income
(balance) is greater than or equal to half of the net income.
Balance = Net income – (expenses + loan payments)

(e) For each applicant, print a detailed record showing the following:
(i) Name
(ii) Housing community.
(iii) Status – Qualified or Not Qualified
(iv) Status – Approved or Not Approved
(f) Calculate and print the following:
(i) The total number of applicants for each community
(ii) The total number of approved applicants
(iii) The average net income of the approved applicants
(iv) The average balance of the approved applicants.

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Task B – Trace Table

3. Design a Trace Table that traces the algorithm done in step 2. Use 5 records from your
spreadsheet:
(a) Applicant’s name, gross salary, deductions, expenses, total loan payment and
housing community
(b) Determine the applicant’s net salary and state if applicant qualifies for the
housing community selected
(c) Determine the applicants balance and approval status
(d) Total number of applicants for each community and approved applicants
(e) Determine the average net income and average balance of approved
applicants.
Task C – Programming
4. Use the programming language PASCAL to implement your algorithm done in step 2.
Ensure you include comments to explain your Pascal code. Your program should also
include the following documentation:
 Your Name
 Name of Program
 Brief description of your program
 Month and year of completion.
 Comments to explain the use of loops and conditional branches.

Task D – Documentation
The problem solving and program design should be submitted in one document. The document
should be called Applicant_ProgramDocumentation.pdf

This documentation will include the following:

 Cover Sheet – A cover page with your candidate information. It should include: Your Full Name,
School, Centre Number, Candidate Number, and Territory.
 Table of Content (auto generated) – All pages must be numbered.
 Problem Definition – Statement of the problem from Task A
 Algorithm – The pseudocode OR flowchart with the line numbers.
 Source Code – a copy of the pascal code.
 Trace table and Test Data – a copy of the table in Task B.
 Program Execution – Screenshots of the working program with each set of data entry and the
results produced. Use the same data given in Task B.

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Your SBA will be submitted in section over the course of the 6 months. The first drafts will be uploaded
to email that will be made available on or before the due date.

Final submissions will be placed in a Google Drive folder that will be shared with you close to the end
your 5th form Easter term.

Files to be submitted:

 Spreadsheet - Applicant_Housing_Project.xlsx
 Database – LApplicant_HousingProject.accdb
 Word Processing – Applicant_Brochure.docx,
Applicante_GenericLetter.docx, LastName_FirstName_Letters.docx
 Website – Applicant_Website.zip
 Problem Solving and Programming - Applicant_ProgramDocumentation.pdf and
Applicant_AppProgram.pas (Plus Excel with trace table)

Proposed Timeline for Submission. Deadline dates stated here are only a guide and are subject to
change as deemed fit by the class teacher.

 Spreadsheet Draft – June 3, 2024

 Spreadsheet Final – September 9, 2024
 Database Draft – June 8, 2022
 Database Final – September 9, 2024
 Word Processing Draft – September 9, 2024
 Word Processing Final – September 30, 2024
 Webpage Draft – September 9, 2024
 Webpage Final – November 13, 2024
 Problem Solving and Programming Draft Task A–
TBA
 Problem Solving and Programming Draft Task B– TBA
 Problem Solving and Programming Draft Task C– TBA
 Problem Solving and Programming Final– TBA
NO EXCUSES! GET YOUR SBA DONE ONTIME!

Students should try to make their projects user friendly. Presentation is very important, and students
should separate each section of the project with relevant separators so that a reader can easily decipher
what a particular section is about.

Do not wait for the deadlines you may complete all and turn them in before the due dates.

If you need to use the computers in the lab or to borrow a laptop from the library, speak to your teacher
so that arrangements can be made to accommodate you.

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If you are coming to ask questions about the SBA, be sure to have your question paper with you and a
copy of what you have done so far.

ROLE OF THE TEACHER

The role of teacher is to:

(a) Assign the project for the School-Based Assessment.

(b) Provide guidance throughout the life of the projects. The teacher should work with candidates to
develop a project management chart with definite timelines for achieving clearly identified objectives,
from project inception to project completion.

(c) Guide students through the SBA by helping to clarify the problem or by discussing possible
approaches to solving the problem. Teachers, while giving guidance, should guard against providing a
complete solution to the problem for the candidate or prescribing a specific format that should be
followed.

(d) Assess student’s skills in problem-solving and algorithm development using flowcharts or
pseudocode, coding an algorithm using the selected programming language and the effective use of
productivity tools to perform prescribed activities. The development of the project is a continuous
exercise that occurs during scheduled class hours as well as outside class times. At a time to be
determined by the teacher the relevant component will be assessed and the marks recorded. Copies of
the completed documents should be kept by both the teacher and students. The teacher should use the
mark scheme provided by CXC® and include any comments pertinent to the conduct of the assessment.

(e) Guide students through the SBA by helping to clarify the problem or by discussing possible formats.

(f) Ensure that students are allowed sufficient access to equipment to allow successful completion of
their projects.

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