CSEC IT Paper 01 Sample

• The document is a sample paper for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination in Information Technology, Paper 01 (General Proficiency)
• The exam is timed for 1 hour and 15 minutes
• There are 60 multiple choice questions

Core Computer Concepts

• When a computer executes instructions, it's processing
• A supercomputer processes information at the fastest rate
• Control unit functions include reading, directing, and executing instructions
• A disadvantage of cloud storage is accessibility issues when offline or without internet

Storage and Output

• CDROM uses laser technology for data storage
• A plotter is suitable for printing architectural drawings
• A bill from a printer is an example of a hard copy
• An advanced graphics card is most needed during video editing

Software and Interfaces

• Programs written for specific jobs are called custom-purpose software
• Blind persons use Braille to perform operations on a computer

Troubleshooting and Security

• A likely cause for a desktop computer displaying no image is a loose monitor power cable
• Sending an email copy of an SBA (School Based Assessment) is considered sending a soft copy
• Entering a password twice online is a verification process
• Caution should be applied when asked to click a link to reset your password as it may be a phishing attack

Data and File Management

• The best option to expand laptop storage is a memory card
• Files in a cloud account are accessed using random access
• Meaningful data is referred to as information
• The most suitable technology to transfer data between two mobile phones is Bluetooth
• Uploading or downloading data from a remote computer uses file transfer protocol
• Each website uses a unique address called the URL

Networking and Security

• Connecting LANs in a metropolitan area benefits from a router
• Teachers use computer assisted learning to mark registers online and provide instant feedback
• Cyberbullying is defined as using an electronic device to harass someone

Ethics and Data Security

• Viewing a chat between two friends in real-time using electronic devices without their knowledge is a violation of privacy
• The use of asterisks to hide a password entered into a computer system is encryption
• A requirement to set a password in a specific format is an example of a software data security measure

Social Media and Hyperlinking

• A job task of a social media specialist is to generate and share content daily over a social media network
• Firewall, locking up hardware, and biometric systems are physical restrictions regarding data security
• Encryption is not considered a computer crime
• Using material from the internet in an assignment and not citing the source is plagiarism
• Telecommuting is working from home by connecting home and office
• Hyperlinks on a webpage redirect you to another webpage

Document Production

• An efficient way to move the third paragraph in word processing after the fifth is to cut and paste
• Documents used during a mail merge are the primary document and data source

Website Design

• Consider the intended audience when creating a website

Spreadsheets

• =SUM(A1:A3) is an example of a spreadsheet function
• Text is aligned to the left by default and is called a label
• A unique formatting feature for numbers in spreadsheets is custom formatting
• Merge and centre the title rows to centre them across columns

Databases

• A spreadsheet is best to create a budget
• Primary keys are unique identifiers, do not contain blank values, and may consist of multiple attributes
• They are NOT always in text form
• A field in a table that matches the primary key in another table is a foreign key
• A query lists the names of male students from a particular class
• A numeric data type is appropriate for a field holding class test marks
• A collection of related fields is a record

Programming

• "Read number" in a flowchart is represented by a parallelogram
• Variables in programming are a memory location whose value changes during execution
• Pascal and COBOL are high-level languages
• Bonding is not a legitimate step in program implementation
• Machine language is only understood by computers
• `If-then-else`` is an example of a conditional construct
• Errors that occur when programming language rules are broken are syntax errors