A Level Computer Science 9618 Paper 13, May/June 2023

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9618/13 · May/June 2023

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1
Figure 1 of 1 for question 1
a

Write the logic expression for this truth table:

ABCX
0001
0011
0100
0110
1001
1011
1100
1110
[1]
b

Complete the truth table for this logic circuit:

ABCWorking spaceX
000
001
010
011
100
101
110
111
[2]
2

A university has two sites. Each site has several computer rooms. The computers are all connected as a WAN (wide area network).

a

Identify two differences between a WAN and a LAN (local area network). 1 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... 2 ................................................................................................................................................ ...................................................................................................................................................

[2]
b(i)

The network uses different topologies in different areas of the sites. In one building there are five computers connected in a mesh topology. Describe what is meant by a mesh topology.

[2]
b(ii)

Give two advantages of using a mesh topology instead of a bus topology. 1 ........................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................... 2 ........................................................................................................................................ ...........................................................................................................................................

[2]
c

The computers in one room are set up as thin-clients in a client-server model. Describe the role of the different computers in this model.

[2]
d

Students can connect their devices to the university network using cables or a wireless connection. Explain the benefits to the students of allowing them to use both wired and wireless connections.

[4]
e

One site has split the network into several subnetworks. An IP address in a subnetwork is divided into two parts. Identify and describe the two parts of an IP address in a subnetwork.

[3]
3

A mobile telephone is used to record a video.

a

The mobile telephone has a touchscreen. There are different types of touchscreen. Complete the description of the principal operation of touchscreens. A .............................................................. touchscreen has two layers. When the user touches the screen, the layers touch and a .............................................................. is completed. A .............................................................. touchscreen has several layers. When the top layer is touched, there is a .............................................................. in the electric current. A microprocessor identifies the .............................................................. of the touch.

[5]
b

The mobile telephone uses a built-in digital camera to record the video. The digital camera automatically focuses on the faces of people. Explain how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used by the camera to automatically focus on the faces of people.

[3]
c(i)

The video includes a sound recording. Describe how sound is represented in a computer.

[3]
c(ii)

A second video is recorded. The sound in the second video needs to be more precise. Explain the reasons why increasing the sampling rate and the sampling resolution will improve the precision of the second recording. Sampling rate .................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... Sampling resolution ........................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................

[4]
4

A shop rents cars to customers. The shop uses a relational database to store information about the rentals.

a

Describe two ways in which a relational database addresses the limitations of a file-based approach. 1 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... 2 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................

[4]
b

Complete the table by writing the missing term or description for each database feature.

TermDescription
........................................
........................................An object that data is stored about.
Tuple
Secondary key
........................................A field in one table that is linked to a primary key in another
........................................table.
[4]
c

The car rental database is not normalised. The current database design is: BOOKING(CarRegistration, StartDate, EndDate, CarModel, CarColour, CustomerFirstName) CUSTOMER(CustomerFirstName, CustomerLastName, EmailAddress, TelephoneNumber) Write a normalised database design for this database. All tables must be in Third Normal Form (3NF). Use the field names given and underline the primary key fields.

[4]
d(i)

The data is validated and verified when it is entered into the database. The car registration number must be: 1 letter, followed by 3 numbers, followed by 2 letters. For example, A123AA is valid but A12AA is invalid. One way that a registration number can be validated is by using a presence check to make sure the registration number has been entered. Describe two other ways that the car registration number can be validated. 1 ........................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................... 2 ........................................................................................................................................ ...........................................................................................................................................

[2]
d(ii)

Describe two ways that the car registration number can be verified when it is entered into the database. 1 ........................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................... 2 ........................................................................................................................................ ...........................................................................................................................................

[2]
d(iii)

State why the car registration number might be incorrect even after it has been validated and verified.

[1]
5

A programmer is developing a computer game in a high-level language to sell to the public.

a(i)

The programmer uses both an interpreter and a compiler at different stages of the development of the program. Explain the reasons why the programmer uses an interpreter while writing the program code.

[2]
a(ii)

Explain the reasons why the programmer uses a compiler when the program has been written.

[3]
b

The programmer needs to publish the game under a software licence so that it can be sold to the public. Identify the most appropriate type of software licence for the game and justify your choice. Licence ..................................................................................................................................... Justification ............................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................

[4]
6

Data needs to be kept secure when stored on a computer and during transmission over a network.

a

Explain how a digital signature is used to authenticate a digital document during transmission over a network.

[5]
b

Complete the table by identifying and describing two types of software that can be installed on a computer to prevent threats over a network.

Type of softwareDescription
………………………..........................................................................................................
………………………..........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
………………………..........................................................................................................
………………………..........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
[2]
7

A computer stores data in binary form.

a

Draw one line from each description to its matching denary value.

DescriptionDenary value
The smallest integer that can be represented in 8-bit two's complement.-127
127
-255
The largest integer that can be represented in 8-bit two's complement.-128
-256
256
The largest unsigned integer that can be represented in 8 bits.128
255
[3]
b

The computer has a Control Unit (CU), system clock and control bus. Explain how the CU, system clock and control bus operate to transfer data between the components of the computer system.

[4]
c

Complete the table by writing the register transfer notation for each stage of the Fetch-Execute (F-E) cycle given in the table.

Stage descriptionRegister transfer notation
The Program Counter (PC) is incremented.......................................................................
The data in the address stored in the
Memory Address Register (MAR) is copied
to the Memory Data Register (MDR).......................................................................
[2]

Mark scheme

9618/13 · May/June 2023

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1a · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    NOT B

1b · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    first 4 rows correct

  • 1 mark

    second 4 rows correct

2a · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    WAN covers a large geographical area and LAN covers a small geographical area

  • 1 mark

    LAN connections between devices are usually physical, whereas the WAN connections are often virtual

2b(i) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    All computers are connected to at least one other device

  • 1 mark

    There are multiple routes between devices

2b(ii) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    If one line goes down there are more routes available

  • 1 mark

    Improved security as not using one main line

2c · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    Server performs all processes required by the task and/or data storage

  • 1 mark

    Clients only sends requests to the server and displays the returned results

2d · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    Some students might only have one sort of connection on their device

  • 1 mark

    Wired provides better performance for the student's device

  • 1 mark

    ... for example, enabling faster access to university databases

  • 1 mark

    There will be less interference if students connect via a cable

2e · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    IP address is made up of a network ID and a host ID

  • 1 mark

    Each device in a subnetwork has the same network ID // Each subnetwork has a different network ID

  • 1 mark

    Every device in each subnetwork has a different host ID but the same network ID // the host ID uniquely identifies the device within the subnetwork

3a · 5 marks

  • 1 mark

    Resistive

  • 1 mark

    Circuit

  • 1 mark

    Capacitive

  • 1 mark

    Change

  • 1 mark

    Coordinates

3b · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    Scans the scene in real time

  • 1 mark

    Identifies if there are faces in the image

  • 1 mark

    Uses facial recognition

3c(i) · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    The amplitude is recorded a set number of times a second

  • 1 mark

    Each (instance of an) amplitude is given a corresponding binary number

  • 1 mark

    The binary number (of each amplitude) is saved in sequence

3c(ii) · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    Sampling rate: There are smaller 'gaps' in the sound wave // sound is recorded more often

  • 1 mark

    Sampling rate: Digital waveform is closer to the analogue waveform

  • 1 mark

    Sampling resolution: There are more bits per sample // a wider range of amplitudes can be stored

  • 1 mark

    Sampling resolution: Each binary amplitude/note (in the digital recording) is closer to the analogue amplitude/note

4a · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    Reduces data redundancy

  • 1 mark

    ... because linked tables mean that each data item is stored only once

  • 1 mark

    Reduces program-data dependency

  • 1 mark

    ... because the data is separate from the software so changes to the data do not require programs to be re-written

4b · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    Entity: An object that data is stored about.

  • 1 mark

    Tuple: A row of data in a table about one instance of an object.

  • 1 mark

    Secondary key: An additional/alternative key used as well as the primary key to locate specific data // a candidate key that has not been chosen as a primary key.

  • 1 mark

    Foreign key: A field in one table that is linked to a primary key in another table.

4c · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    Only 3 tables with appropriate identifiers (i.e. one table for customer, one for booking and one for car)

  • 1 mark

    Appropriate Primary key in each table underlined

  • 1 mark

    Booking table includes Primary key from car and Primary key from customer as Foreign keys

  • 1 mark

    All original fields are in correct tables

4d(i) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    Length check: the registration number must be 6 characters long

  • 1 mark

    Format check: the registration number must be in the format letter-digit-digit-digit-letter-letter

4d(ii) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    Visual check: Manually compare the registration number entered with the source document

  • 1 mark

    Double entry: Enter the registration number twice and the computer compares to check they are the same

4d(iii) · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    The registration number on the original document might be in the correct format but may be the incorrect registration number for that car.

5a(i) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    Programmer can test sections of the code without every part working / being written

  • 1 mark

    Programmer can debug in real time

5a(ii) · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    The compiler produces an executable file

  • 1 mark

    ... so the user cannot access / edit / sell the code

  • 1 mark

    ... and users do not need the translator to run the game

5b · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    Commercial software licence // Shareware licence

  • 1 mark

    User has to pay for the product so the programmer can gain an income // User can try the program for free and then pay for the full game which allows the programmer to gain an income

  • 1 mark

    Enables the program to be copyrighted

  • 1 mark

    ... so the user cannot legally edit the program // the programmer retains control over product

6a · 5 marks

  • 1 mark

    The sender hashes the document

  • 1 mark

    ... to produce a digest

  • 1 mark

    The sender encrypts the digest to create the digital signature

  • 1 mark

    The message and the signature are sent to the receiver

  • 1 mark

    The receiver decrypts the signature to reproduce the digest

6b · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    Identification and appropriate description of first piece of software

  • 1 mark

    Identification and appropriate description of second piece of software

7a · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    The smallest integer that can be represented in 8-bit two's complement. connected to -128

  • 1 mark

    The largest integer that can be represented in 8-bit two's complement. connected to 127

  • 1 mark

    The largest unsigned integer that can be represented in 8 bits. connected to 255

7b · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    The system clock gives out timing signals

  • 1 mark

    … which are sent on the control bus

  • 1 mark

    …to synchronise the other system components

  • 1 mark

    The Control Unit initiates data transfer

7c · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    PC ← [PC] + 1

  • 1 mark

    MDR ← [[MAR]]

Questions

  1. 1
    Question 13 marks
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  2. 2
    Question 215 marks
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  3. 3
    Question 315 marks
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  4. 4
    Question 417 marks
    Mark scheme ›
  5. 5
    Question 59 marks
    Mark scheme ›
  6. 6
    Question 67 marks
    Mark scheme ›
  7. 7
    Question 79 marks
    Mark scheme ›

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