ITGS REVISION GUIDEPrepared by Pat D‘Arcy, International School, Düsseldorf

From an idea supplied by Barbara Stephanics, Vienna International School

• Key word overview • (Source:B Stephanics)

• Important clarification• Sample Question Stem 1• Questions with key words• Sample Question Stem 2• Questions with key words• Some definitions• Sample Question Stem 3• Questions with key words• Sample Question Stem 4• Questions with key words• Some sample questions• Sample Question Stem 5• Questions with key words• Sample Question Stem 6• Questions with key words

• Analyse• Compare• Contrast• Define• Describe• Discuss• Distinguish• Evaluate• Examine• Explain• Identify• To What Extent...• (All text from ITGS syllabus 2007)

an "identify one" question, students will be allowed 1 minute to write the key words.

-a "describe two" or "explain two" question looking for a description and example, students will be allowed 2-3 minutes to organize.

- a "discuss three" question which also requires evaluation, students will be allowed 10 minutes to organize.

We will try one question with you organizing your answers, but not writing out the answers. Then we will discuss that question. If time allows we will try a second question to see if your approach improves.

The strategy is intended to stop you from just racing ahead and writing without organizing your responses.

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• Answer XXX questions. Candidates should note they are unlikely to achieve high marks for part (c) or part (d) of each question if the answer is not developed and presented in a planned and structured way.

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• Many schools are buying mobile computer labs to use in different classrooms. The mobile lab has a set of laptop computers, a printer and a server all in a mobile cart (see Figure 1). The server, connected to a network port in the classroom, allows the laptops to connect to the school network.

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Sample Question Stem 1

• A teacher of French has booked the mobile lab for a lesson. Describe one use that her class could make of the Internet during the lesson.

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• A science teacher has booked the mobile lab. Describe one use that his class could make of the equipment without network access.

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• (c) Describe two problems that the school administration may face by introducing mobile computer labs.

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• (d) Many issues may arise from the use of mobile labs. Discuss three distinct issues that may affect the students’ education. Evaluate your arguments.

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Some definitions

• DISCUSS• Considered opinion, balanced view• Present your points clearly• Support your points with evidence• Sound arguments• EVALUATE:• Weigh up the strengths and weaknesses;• Limitations; positive, negative.

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1. British Telecom (BT), the United Kingdom’s (UK) largest telecommunications company uses call centres to answer customer queries about account details, call charges and general business practices. In 2003, BT decided to use businesses in India, instead of in the UK, to handle their services. The call centres in India recruit local staff.

Sample Question Stem 2

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Identify two developments in recent years that make India, and other developing countries, suitable locations for BT call centres.

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Describe two technical issues that need to be addressed to allow the call centres in India to access the necessary BT files.

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Describe two benefits to developing countries of establishing these overseas call centres.

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Discuss two possible concerns that residents of the UK may have about the trend of establishing overseas call centres. Evaluate your arguments.

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• An office has installed a LAN connected to a file server. This LAN includes one fast colour printer and four black and white laser printers distributed around the office.

Sample Question Stem 3

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• Identify two peripherals, other than printers, that could be connected to the LAN.

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• Describe two advantages of having a network of computers in the office instead of several stand-alone computers.

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• Describe two ways in which a network administrator could protect the computers in the network against virus attack.

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• Outback Tours is a company that organizes tours for people in Australia. It uses the spreadsheet below to calculate prices of its tours. Cost per Person and costs of Meals and Insurance, often change. The office workers have copies of the spreadsheet on the hard drives of each of their office computers so that they can keep prices up to date.

Sample Question Stem 4

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• E12 contains a formula that can be expressed as an absolute cell reference.

• (a) (i) Identify this formula. [1 mark]• Please see document folder for the

example)

• State one advantage of an absolute cell reference over a relative cell reference.

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• Identify two ways in which the integrity of the Outback Tours spreadsheet could be at risk and outline a solution for each.

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• Describe two advantages for Outback Tours of using an electronic spreadsheet over a manual paper system.

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• The Royal Bank of Canada provides both traditional banking and online banking services. It has many branches in Canada and has customers all over the world.

Sample Question Stem 5

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• Identify two online banking services, which the bank can provide for its customers

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• Outline two advantages for the customer of an online bank over a traditional bank.

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• Discuss three social and/or ethical concerns that customers should have about storage of their personal data. Evaluate your arguments.

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• 1. Many computer networks are not well prepared against attacks caused by viruses and worms.

Sample Question Stem 6

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• (a) Distinguish between the terms computer virus and computer worm.

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• (b) Outline two actions of employees that could increase the risk of a virus infecting their company’s computers.

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• (c) Explain one type of damage caused by a computer virus.

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ANALYSE

• Definition—asks students to:

• break down in order to bring out: • the essential elements

• structure

• any underlying assumptions and any interrelationships involved.

ITGS EXAMPLE

• Analyse the impact of introducing an Internet use policy into a workplace. (6 marks) in

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DESCRIBE.

• present the characteristics of a particular topic.

ITGS Example:

• Describe one use of information technology in a dentist’s office. (2 marks)

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EXAMINE:

• consider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers the assumptions and interrelationships of the issue.

• describe, giving reasons.

ITGS Example:• Examine two benefits of adopting

consistent interface standards throughout a company. (4 marks)

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EXPLAIN:

• Describe, giving reasons

ITGS Example

• Explain one way that facial recognition technology can assist an airline traveller. (3 marks)

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IDENTIFY:• Recognise and state briefly a distinguishing

fact or feature

ITGS Example:• Identify the protocol used to transmit web

pages. (1 mark)• Identify two features of any expert system. • Identify two developments in recent years that

make India, and other developing countries, suitable locations for BT call centres.

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TO WHAT EXTENT:• evaluate the success or otherwise of an

argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported with empirical evidence and sound argument.

ITGS Example:• Ordinary citizens have been able to capture

world events using their camera phones. These pictures can be sent to newspapers for immediate publication. To what extent is freedom of information outweighed by a potential invasion of the privacy of individuals being photographed. (10 marks)

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COMPARE:• describe two (or more) situations and present

the similarities between them.• In ITGS the phrase “describe the similarity

between …” will be used instead of compare.• Describe one similarity between an Intranet and

the Internet. (2 marks) CONTRAST:• describe two (or more) situations and present

the differences between them.• In ITGS the phrase “describe the difference

between …” will be used instead of “contrast”. • Describe one difference between a flat-file

database and a relational database. (2 marks)

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DEFINE• give a clear and precise meaning of a

given word, term or concept.ITGS example • Define the term data redundancy. (2

marks) DISTINGUISH:• make clear the differences between two or

more concepts/terms. ITGS Example:• Distinguish between a computer model

and a computer simulation. (3 marks)

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DISCUSS:

• offer a considered and balanced review of a particular topic. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by empirical evidence and sound argument.

ITGS Example• Discuss how a client–server network can

help provide reliable IT services to a company. (5 marks)

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EVALUATE:

• make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations of different evidence and arguments.

ITGS Example

• The network administrator has proposed a backup system for the library that creates a full backup every Friday. Evaluate this proposal. (8 marks)

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Describe two advantages to an individual cardholder of having a smart card containing medical information. Describe two benefits for doctors or medical institutions from having a national system for accessing and storing medical records. Describe two problems involving technical standards, which must be overcome in order for effective on-demand services (of videos) to be provided to home users. Describe three advantages for consumers of distributing video films through on-demand services on the Internet instead of on DVDs. Describe two reasons why such governments would want to limit the access to foreign search engines.

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Identify two different browsing activities that could be collected from a cookie by a website.

Identify two distinct types of medical information that could be stored about an individual on a smart card.

Identify two distinct types of medical information that could be stored about an individual on a smart card.

Describe two methods that governments can use to control online information available to the national population.

Describe one advantage of a cookie for the owner of the website and one advantage for a person accessing the website. Include one practical example in each description.

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