Transcript 534 - Relational and Online Database Management Systems

Exam Technique
USE OF EXAMINATION TECHNIQUE TO IMPROVE
YOUR GRADES
Objectives
 What are we trying to achieve?
 Examination technique can increase your mark by up to
10%
 You can go up at least one grade, maybe two grades
 What do you need to do to make it happen?
 Listen, concentrate, but most importantly:
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Put the techniques into practice
Language of Exams
 Questions contain specific words
 Task 1: Key Words – 10 mins
 Look at the exam paper you have been given and
take time to read the questions carefully
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In the 10 questions, underline/circle the word that tells you
how you should answer the question.
State, Describe, Discuss, Compare, Give, Identify,
Explain
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Why is it important to identify these words?
Language of Exams – State, Describe
 State
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Average Marks: 1
Words Per Mark: 1
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State is a low level question. It is a designed to allow you to give single word or phrases as
answers.
DO NOT give long sentences or paragraphs
Single words will get you the marks – no explanation, no discussion, no justification
 Describe
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Average Marks: 3
Word Per Mark: 10
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Describe is a question that allows you the opportunity to apply your knowledge and
requires enough information that the examiner can follow what you are saying – it must
flow as a sentence
Language of Exams – Explain, Compare
 Explain
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Average Marks: 4
Word Per Mark: 15
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Explain needs you to give reasons with your answer. You cannot give an advantage or
disadvantage without backing it up in some way. There is usually one mark for the
statement and one mark for the reason.
 Compare
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Average Marks: 6
Word Per Mark: 10
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You must make a comparison. Do not give a definition of one and then a definition of
another but focus on similarities and differences.
Language of Exams – Discuss, Identify
 Discuss
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Average Marks: 6
Word Per Mark: 15
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This is a high mark question focused on the top grades. You need to make a point, and
then back that point up with evidence. With discuss based questions you must consider
both sides of the argument and come to a conclusion. These are essay based answers.
 Identify
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Average Marks:1
Word Per Mark: 1
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Very similar to state – single words are acceptable and get you the same marks as essays.
Language of Exams – Give
 Give
Give is interesting. It is a strange word and its meaning and
the answer required depends on the question. It can be a
state/identify type question:
 Give three ways to protect data on a computer
 Or it may be a describe:
 Give two advantages and disadvantages of shopping from
home
 It may even be an explain/discuss type question:
 Give reasons why a company should register with the
Data Protection Registrar.
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Look at the question and identify which other word it is
pretending to be.
This also applies to words such as: How, Why and What.
Matching Questions to Answers
 Task 2: Matching Question to Answers – 15 mins
 You have ten questions and ten answers.
 Match the questions to the answers
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Look at:
 Type of question
 Length of answer
 Subject matter
All the answers are correct!
Explain
Average Marks: 4
Word Per Mark: 15 – 52 Words
A travel company is producing a page of a brochure that is
illustrated.
Explain when each of the following is the most suitable method
of obtaining the information. (4)
scanner - If the image exists in non-digital form then you could use
a scanner to get it into the work
digital camera- The Image is instantly available in digital format.
clip art - To obtain a deliberately artificial image eg. cartoon, sign
etc.
painting package - To create original work.
Discuss
Average Marks: 6
Word Per Mark: 15 – 131 words
John is doing his GCSE coursework on the school network. He would like to
continue this work on his computer at home.
Discuss ways he could arrange to do this.
[6]
John could email his work home. But he needs to have an email address. He
could save his work to a USB stick or a CD-ROM because they are suitable
devices but he would need permission from the network administrator. He
would need a compatible device or software at home. He could print out his
work but then he would have to re enter it or scan it at home. He could access
his work directly from home on the Internet but he would need the facility
installed at school to enable him to do this or access to the Internet at home.
From the choices he has I would say that e-mailing his work home is the
simplest, quickest and probably the most secure, providing he has an email
address.
State
Average Marks: 1
Words Per Mark: 1
Describe
Average Marks: 3
Word Per Mark: 10
State the two main types of barcode scanners currently available. Describe one
advantage of each type.
Type 1 Hand held scanners
Advantage they are mobile so they can be used on the move
[1]
[2]
Type 2 Flat bed/fixed scanners
Advantage They are very accurate
[1]
[2]
Describe
Average Marks: 3
Word Per Mark: 10– 56 words
You use your computer to send an e-mail message to a company in
New York.
Describe how an e-mail is transmitted to New York after it has left
your computer.
The signal needs to be changed into analogue data by using an
ADC. The signals travel down cable or telephone lines. It is
transmitted to New York ISP. Where it is converted back into
digital format by using an ADC. Then it is downloaded onto
recipient’s computer. Then it is ready to be read by recipient.
[4]
Language of Exams – Give
Give four reasons why a publisher might choose to publish
an Internet-based encyclopaedia rather than a paperbased one.
Reason 1 there would be fewer printing/production costs.
Reason 2 it would reach a larger audience.
Reason 3 it may include sound.
Reason 4 it could contain direct links to other relevant
sites.
Describe
Average Marks: 3
Word Per Mark: 10 – 27 words
Describe what is meant by software copyright.
It means that software may not be copied or shared without
permission as the author has ownership of intellectual
property. Software companies can issue or sell licences
[2]
Language of Exams – Give
When setting up a database a user is asked to choose between different data types for
each field.
Give an example of each of the following data types and give a reason why you would
choose this data type for a field.
Real number
Suitable example eg. 2.30
The field contains a decimal fraction (money).
Integer
Suitable example eg. 2
The field only contain whole numbers.
Boolean
Suitable example eg. N
A field with only two values.
Alphanumeric
Suitable example eg. X21345
A field that needs to be a mixture of letters and numbers.
Language of Exams – Give
The term ‘network topology’ describes how a computer
network is arranged.
Give the name of one network topology.
[1]
Ring
Explain
Average Marks: 4
Word Per Mark: 15
Look Lively will take orders for books and videos over the Internet
using its website. Each item they sell will be shown on the
website, and the customer will be able to search the catalogue for
items they want and then fill in an order form to be sent
electronically.
The designer of the website wants to use data validation on the
order form.
Explain the meaning of validation in this situation.
[2]
A way of reducing the number of errors by blocking data that does
not fit the validation rules.
Tick - read the question carefully
Wordsworth Dental Practice stores data about patients.
The Data Protection Act protects patients from the
incorrect use of data.
Tick four statements from the table below that are true:
True?
Each patient must agree to the storage of sensitive data about him/herself.
The practice must state the purpose for which the data is required.
x
x
The practice can collect any amount of data on each patient.
It does not matter if some of the data stored is inaccurate.
Data must be kept up to date.
x
Once data has been collected, it can be kept indefinitely.
The practice must take steps to ensure that data is not lost or misused.
x
Summary
 Identify the key word
 Look at the number of marks
 Answer accordingly using an appropriate number of words
 Make sure that you answer each type of question properly
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state does not need a description
explain needs an example
etc.
What to take Away- Plenary
 State is single word or phrase
 Describe is a full sentence
 Explain is a describe, with an example or reason
 Compare is picking a feature and looking at both sides in
turn
 Discuss is a compare, with each side being an explain