Name …………………………………………ADM……..…………..Class……………..

451/1
COMPUTER STUDIES
Paper 1
(THEORY)

FORM 4
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

COMPUTER STUDIES
Paper 1
(THEORY)

2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
a) Write your name and admission number in the space provided above.
b) Sign and write the date of examination in the space provided above.
c) This paper consists of two sections; A and B.
d) Answer all the questions in section A
e) Answer question 16 (Compulsory) and any other three questions from section B.
f) All answers should be written in the spaces provided on the question paper.
g) This paper consists of 9 printed pages.
h) Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are
printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.
i) Candidates should answer the questions in English.

For Official Use Only

Section Question Score
A 1 – 15
16
B 17
18
19
20
TOTAL SCORE

This paper consists of 8 printed pages

Candidates should check the question paper to ensure that all the pages are printed as
indicated and no questions are missing.

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 1 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

 2

SECTION A (40 MARKS)

Answer ALL questions in this section in the spaces provided after each question.

1. Describe two types of RAM? [2mks]

Static RAM (SRAM)– low capacity, fast speed, no need to refresh
Dynamic RAM (DRAM) – high capacity, slow speed, requires refreshing
2. Identify the main technologies used on the following computer generations.
[2mks]
i). Second generation -Transistors
ii). Third Generation – Integrated circuits
3. Describe the meaning of the following terms as used in computer studies: -
i). Booting [1mk]
Powering a computer to come on

ii). Live-ware [1mk]

Computer users
iii). Hertz [1mk]
Unit of measuring the CPU speed

4. Differentiate between the following terms: -

i). Footnote and endnote [2mks]
As the name suggests, footnotes are attached to the bottom of the page
containing the sentence they correspond to. Endnotes, on the other hand,
are added to the end of a section or document

b) Differentiate between a serial port and a parallel port [2mks]

Serial port allows transmission of data bit by bit while parallel port allows
transmission of data several bits at a time

5. State three forms of Optical Disks [3mks]

CD ROM
DVD
Blue-Ray
6. Using examples describe the meaning of the following terms
i). Absolute Cell Reference [1mks]
=$A$3 when copied to another cell the formula remains the same
Relative Cell Reference [1mks]
=A3 – when copied to another cell, the cell address changes relative to the new location
7. Write down the syntax for each of the following Excel Functions.
i). RANK [2mk]
=Rank(E2,$E$2:$E$12,0)
ii). IF [2mk]
=IF(E2>10, “PASS”)
iii). COUNTIF [2mk]
=COUNTIF(E2:E12,”>2”)

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 2 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

2
 3

8. List four database objects found in MS Access [2mks]

i).
ii). Tables v). Reports
iii). Forms vi). Macros
iv). Queries vii). Modules
9. State three properties of a secure password [3mks]
- Not too short
- Include a combination of different characters
- Should be easy to remember but not obvious
- Mix both upper and lower cases
10. State three types of an operating system [3mks]
- Single user
- Single processing
- Multi-user
- Multiprocessing
- multiprogramming
11. State four characteristics of systems [2mks]

_- Made up of entities working together for an objective

- Take in input, does some processing and give output
- Is surrounded by an environment
- Usually have a feedback mechanism
- A human being (the decision-maker) is part of a system
12. State two applications of ICT in transport systems. [2mks]
Technology + Use
e.g. GPS to track vehicles, traffic lights software to control road interchanges

13. State four functions of an operating system. [2mks]

- Memory management - File management
- Interrupt handling - Communication with user
- Input and output management - security
- Secondary storage management
14. State two circumstances under which warm booting of a computer may be necessary. [2mks]
- When a program/computer is not responding
- After the installation of a new software or hardware
15. Name two types of computer monitors. [2mks]
LCD
CRT
LED
Gas Plasma

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 3 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

3
 4

SECTION B: 60 MARKS
Answer question 16 (compulsory) and any other three questions in this section
16) a) Name two implementation strategies during the Implementation phase of software development.
[2mks]
- Phased/Module - Direct
- Parallel - Pilot
b) Identify the program control structures represented by the following charts segments. [3mks]

A B C
Repeat If..Then..Else. While..do
A ………………………….. B …………………………… C …………………… [3mks]
(c)(i) The Global Science Museum is not large and can become over-crowded when more than 300 people are
in the building. They would like a program that will stop visitors from entering when more than 300 visitors
are in the building.
Draw a flowchart for this problem. You do not have to worry about visitors who leave the building, just those
who have entered. [7mks]
Sta

Total=0, X = 1

Read

Total = Total + 1

Is N
X=X+1
Total
>300?

Y
Museum is full

Sto

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 4 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

4
 5

17) Describe three advantages of fiber optic cables [3mks]

- Fast data transfer rate
- Not affected by environmental factors
- Not affected by EMI
- Less risk of fire
b) State four disadvantages of computer networks [4mks]
- Security from hackers, viruses etc
- In case central server fails there is risk of disruption
- There is extra cost of network personnel to manage
- Associated with high costs of installation

c) What is meant by the following computer network terms? [4mks]

i. Bandwidth
- Can refer to range of frequencies available in a given band for transmitting
signal
- Can also be used to associate the speed of transmission

ii. Attenuation
- Loss of signal strength as a signal propagates

iii. Half Duplex

- Refers to two-way communication but not simultaneously

iv. Omni-directional

- Signal transmission in all directions. Same as broadcast

ii). Describe any four communication devices used in networking. [4mks]

- Modem
- Repeater
- Switch
- Hub
- Network card
-

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 5 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

5
 6

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 6 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

6
 7

18) Define the following terms as used in data processing [3mks]

a) GIGO – Garbage in Garbage Out

b) A record - a group of related fields

c) Time sharing - a mode of data processing where a central processing unit serves
two or more users apparently at the same time

Describe the following data processing modes. [2mks]

i) Real time processing

The response time of these systems is instant, they don’t lag and provide real-
time information or services

ii) On-line processing

The input device is connected to a processing device such that as soon as data is input
the processing is done immediately. However, they do not provide in-time
information means these systems lag

d) Describe two types of transcription errors [2mks]

- Transposition
- typographical

e) What is meant by the term data integrity? [3mks]

- Correctness and completeness of data, i.e. error free

f) Outline five security threats to data in an organization. [5mks]

- Malware threats
- Technical threats such as power failure
- Natural disasters
- Human (Personnel) threats such as hackers, espionange

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 7 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

7
 8

19) Convert the following numbers to their decimal equivalents.

a) 100.1102 [2mks]

1 x 22 = 4
+
0.5 + 0.25 = 0.75
4.7510

b) 5E416 [3mks]

5 x 162 + 14 x 161 + 4 x 160

= 1280 + 224 + 4 = 150810

Perform the following binary calculations

i) 101102 + 10112 [2mks]
10110
+1011
100001

ii) 1000002 – 11112 [2mks]

100000
-001111
10001
c) Describe three ways of representing negative binary numbers. [3mks]

- Sign and Magnitude – the leading bit indicates whether number is positive or
negative, e.g. 0 for positive and 1 for negative.
- Ones complement – bits are inverted, i.e. the 0s become 1s and the 1s become
0s.
- Twos complement – conversion of the number first to ones complement
followed by addition of 1 to the result.

d) State what is meant by the following terms as used in computer studies [1mk]
i) Nibble
- Half a byte or 4 bits

ii) Byte

- A group of bits that represents a character, usually 8 bits

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 8 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

8
 9

20) a) What is meant the term primary key as used in databases? [2mks]
- A unique key(field) that uniquely identifies records in a table

b) State two types of relationships used in databases [2mks]

- One to many
- One to one
- Many to many
c) State what is meant by the following data types
i) OLE [1mk]
Object Linking and Embedding – a data type used for attaching objects such as
photos
ii) Autonumber [1mk]
the autonumber consists of an automatically incrementing number
iii) Currency [1mk]
A numerical data type that stores the number in currency format by prefixing a
currency symbol
d) State what is meant by a composite key in databases [2mk]
A primary key that is made up of more than one field
e) State the duties of the following ICT personnel
i) Network administrator [1mk]
_ In charge of network security e.g. creates user accounts and access privileges
Designs networks e.g. topologies to be used
System Analyst [1mk]
- Examining and evaluating current systems
- Identifying system requirements
- Liaising with users to track additional requirements and features
- Conducts feasibility studies
Webmaster [1mk]
Designs websites
Updates web content

f) Using a diagram describe the hierarchical data model. [3mks]

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 9 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

9
 10

Visit www.mwalimuresources.co.ke 10 Call/WhatsApp 0735649658

10