Cambridge IGCSE™

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 0417/01

Paper 1 Theory For examination from 2021

2 hours

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS

● Answer all questions.

● Use a black or dark blue pen.
● Write your name, center number and candidate number in the boxes at
the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams, graphs or rough working.

INFORMATION

● The total mark for this paper is 100.

● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in
brackets [ ].
● No marks will be awarded for using brand names of software packages
or hardware.

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 1

 1. Several items of data are input to a computer using direct data entry methods.
Write down the most appropriate input device to input each item of data.

(a) data written in special ink at the bottom of bank cheques

…………………………………………………………………………………………[1]

(b) information on the label of a supermarket product

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

(c) shaded in boxes on a student’s examination answer sheet.

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

(d) debit card details input at an ATM.

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

2. Complete the following questions using the most appropriate items from the list
below.

DVD RAM SSD Laser printer Buzzer Web-cam

Hard disk drives Pen drive Blu-ray disc Magnetic tape

Mouse

(a) Identify two output devices from the list.

1 .........................................................................................................................................
............................................................

2 .........................................................................................................................................
.. …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
[2]

(b) Identify two optical storage media from the list.

1 .........................................................................................................................................
.............................................................

2..........................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................[2]

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 2

3. Tick true or false next to each of these statements.

True False
Computer programs are examples of hardware.
A Command Line Interface is a form of operating
system.
A tablet computer is larger than a desktop computer.
A compiler is an example of applications software.
[2]

4. A new computer system storing examination results out of 20 is to be tested using a

range of test data. Tick whether each of the marks is an example of normal data,
abnormal data or extreme data.

normal abnormal extreme

18
21
Twenty
20
[4]
5.
(a) Describe the role of the processing unit?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

(b) Describe memory?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

(c) Define system software (e.g. compilers, linkers)

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 3

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………[4]

6. Describe characteristics of a personal desktop computer standalone/network.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………....................
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………[3]

6. Describe the characteristics of a tablet 3G/4G.?

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………........................

...............................................................................................................................[3]

7(a) Describe the characteristics of a smartphone?

………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………[3]
(B). Describe the characteristics of laptop?
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………….[2]

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 4

8. Describe direct data entry and associated devices, e.g CRT monitor, TRT/ LCD
monitor.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[5]

9. Describe the differences between RAM and ROM.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………..[4]

10. Define secondary/backing storage?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[5]

11(a). Identify output devices and their uses, e.g Laser printer and inkjet printer.

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 5

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..[6]
.

(b)Describe the advantage and disadvantages of any of the above devices

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………. [4]

12.Descirbe direct data entry and associated device, e.g chip and PIN readers.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………….[4]

13. complete each sentence below using one item form list.

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 6

A bar code reader A buzzer A dot matrix printer
A graph plotter A monitor A light pen
A light sensor An optical character reader A trackball
A web camera

(a)………………………………………………….is used to input data in a

computer controlled greenhouse.

(b)………………………………………………….is used to input text to a

computer ready for processing.

(c) ………………………………………………….is used to input numbers from products

at a POS terminal.

(d)………………………………………………… is used to input moving pictures from a

fixed position into a computer.

(e) …………………………………………………..is used for drawing applications where a

graphics tablet might be too big. [6]

14. mobile telephones (cellphones) are used for accessing the internet.
Give two advantages and two disadvantage of using a mobile telephone rather than
using a laptop computer to access the internet.
Advantage
1……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Advantage
2……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Disadvantage
1……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 7

Disadvantage2……………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

15. Give three advantages of using a graphical user interface (GUI) rather than a
command line interface (CLI).
1……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………..............................................................................
2……………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3……………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………….[6]

16. Define application software ( e.g word processing, spreadsheet, control software)
1
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
3
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[4]

17. Describe advantage using network and disadvantage using network.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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………………………………………………………………………………………...……………
………………………………………………………………………….
………………………............................................................................................................
................................[8]

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 8

18. Define the two types of software - applications software and system software?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[6]

19. . Robots are now used on many car production lines.

Describe Four advantages of this to a car company.

1……………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2……………………………………………………………………………………………………
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3……………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4……………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………[8]

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 9

A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 10
A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 11
A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 12
A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 13
A M T TRAINNING EXAM PG. 14