Marking guide

Uganda advanced certificate of education

S850/1 subsidiary ICT

Theory paper

Qn 1 (a) Motherboard is a circuit board on which other components are mounted or

connected. Motherboard is a printed circuit board that allocates power to the CPU, RAM
and other hardware components, and allows them to communicate with each other.
(b) A microprocessor of a smartphone has:
ALU which handles logical operations.
Control unit which manages various components of the computer. It interprets
instructions from the memory and changes them into signals which activate other parts of
the computer calculations.
Registers act as high speed memory where instructions and data can be copied to and
retrieved.
Qn 2
Video card also known as graphics card, can generate images, translate them and output
them to a display.
A sound card lets you hear, record and play back sounds.
The power supply converts alternating current (AC) electricity from the mains supply to
direct current (DC) electricity, and then supplies it to the other components.
A hard disk drive is for storing programs and data.
SATA cable helps to connect the hard disk drive to the motherboard.

Qn 3 (a)
Linkers are computer programs that take files generated by a compiler and then combines
them into a single file that can be executed while drivers are programs that control devices
such as printers.

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Note: In programming languages you can break down a large program into different pieces
of code to make the task simpler; the linker puts these modules together so that the
program can run.
(b)
Programming languages are used to write other computer programs. All individuals who
wish to write apps need programming languages.
(c)
Drivers belong to system software.
Qn 4

INPUT OUTPUT
Web cam monitor
Gamepad plotter
Touch screen Touch screen

Qn 5 (a)
Form based user interface allows users to interact with the application by selecting one of a
number of possible values and entering text into the fields that accept it while
Menu based user interface allows a user to select from a menu (list of options) provided by
the system.
(b)
It is fast at processing instructions.
It takes less memory.
(c)
Graphical user interface
Qn 6

statement word

Hardware consists of computer programs FALS

E

A linker is an example of application software FALS

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 E

A graphical user interface is part of an operating system TRUE

A driver is part of the hardware of a computer system FALS

E

An antivirus is a program that destroys normal functioning of a PC FALS

E

Qn 7
Router: a device that is used to forward data packets along networks; it selects best routes
for each data packet so that data travels as quickly as possible to its destination.
Note: A data packet: data sent over the internet is broken down into small parts called
packets.
Switch: it handles messages more intelligently by inspecting the address of the device to
which they should be sent. The switch knows the addresses of the different devices on the
network and only sends the message to the correct devices.
Bridge: A bridge joins together different networks.
Hub: When a hub receives a message, it broadcast the data to all the connected devices.
Modem: it is used to connect a computer or a network to the internet. It changes the digital
signal to analogue one for transmitting over a telephone line. When the message reaches
the other end of the telephone line another modem can change back the analogue signal to
a digital one for the computer to understand.
Qn 8 (a)
Videoconferencing. The use of computers, video cameras, microphones, and networking
technologies to conduct face-to-face meetings over a network.
(b)
Video camera
Display screen
Microphone
Loudspeakers

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Internet connection
Qn 9
Note: An intranet is a private computer network within an organisation, such as a bank or
business.
Advantages of intranet.
Security of information and encrypted access to sensitive information
Information only available to people inside the organisation
Secure communications between employees
Teamwork is facilitated because authorised users can all access the same information
It can strengthen the corporate culture
Disadvantages.
Cost of maintenance
Cost of implementation
Unauthorised access or abuse of access
User need to keep their passwords secure as different levels of access to information are
used
Qn 10 (a)
Tethering refers to the use of a mobile device that is connected to the internet as a modem
for another device, such as a laptop or a WIFI only tablet.
(b)
Steps followed in tethering
Ensure that your phone is connected to the internet
Get to settings of the phone
Search for network & internet
Choose hotspot and tethering
Turn tethering on.
Qn 11 (a)
Extranet. An intranet that is at least partially accessible to authorized outsiders.

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Note: An intranet is a private network (such as a company LAN) that is designed to be used
by an organization’s employees and is set up like the Internet (with data posted on Web
pages that are accessed with a Web browser)
(b)

Device Advantage Disadvantage

Tablet Portable internet access Can’t work with massive

Can connect from anywhere using wireless amounts of data.
technology

laptop Can have larger memory and storage space Portable internet access but
for downloading heavier than tablet

Qn 12
Checking account balance
Depositing money on your account
Checking mini statement on your account
Withdrawing money from your account
Paying bills
Sending money to your mobile phone
Qn 13 (a)
Robotics. The study of robot technology. Robot. A device, controlled by a human operator
or a computer, that can move and react to sensory input.
Digital forensics involves recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices,
often in relation to computer crime
(b)
Robots can be used to monitor patients’ conditions
They can help in giving medicine to patients on time
Robots can be used to monitor areas around health facilities
Qn 14. (a)

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 Vote tallying can be done in real time
Voters can vote conveniently in the comfort of their homes
(b)
Misinformation. Individuals can easily pass wrong information about an individual
Lack of emotional connection between contestants and voters
Underhanded tactics of campaigns
Use of bots to influence results
Qn 15 (a)
They can be used to keep patients’ records
Used to remind patients to take medicine
Smartphones can be used to monitor patients’ conditions especially when used with fitness
trackers.
(b)
Computers have voice recognition options
Qn 16 (a)
Troubleshooting involves identifying and solving problems in a computer system
(b)
i. Woollen carpet
In case computer components fall, they should not be damaged by the floor. They are
normally kept intact by the woollen carpet
ii. Antiglare screens
Used to protect eyes of the computer users
iii. CCTV camera
They are used in monitoring security of the place
Qn 17

File extension identification

.bmp Bitmap file
.db Database file
.jpg Image file
.ppt presentation file
.rtf Rich text format file

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 .pdf Portable document format file

Qn 18 (a) Define the term file extension. (02 marks)

File extension refers to the three or four letters after the file name used to identify the type of
file

(b)

Give every file a name that immediately tells you what is in it

Make folders to hold files of a similar nature

Keep your folders in a hierarchal order

Qn 19 (a)

Microsoft Access

MySQL

(b)

i. Validation rule
Allows you to enter only the specified content in a given field
ii. Validation text
Error message shown after the violation of a validation rule
iii. Primary key
Uniquely identifies the records in a database
Qn 20 (a)
A transition is the visual movement of slides in a slide show while an animation is the
movement of text during a presentation
(b)
Prezi
Powerpoint presentation
Zoho show
Google slides

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Keynote
Haiku Deck

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