Answering an A Level Question

Don’t start writing straight away!

Read the instructions e.g.

◦ 1hour 30minutes

◦ The maximum mark for this paper is 80.

◦ You will not gain credit for the use of brand names in your answers.

◦ Question 7 should be answered in continuous prose. In this question you will be marked on your ability to:

use good English organise information clearly use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.

The Basics

You must answer the actual question set

Underline the instruction(s) (discuss, explain, describe, define,)

Check how many marks each question is worth (2 marks, 8 marks, 20 marks)

Each of the above will give you a better understanding of what the examiner is looking for in the answer

Analyse the Question Carefully

The marks offer a good indication of how many ‘points’ you must cover within the question

The Marks

The instruction(s) is the keyword(s) within the question that indicate the type of answer you must give

Common instructions are:

◦ Comment◦ Compare◦ Contrast/Distinguish between/Differentiate◦ Define◦ Discuss◦ Explain◦ Identify◦ Illustrate◦ Justify◦ State

The Instruction(s)

Comment – give your opinion Compare – Find similarities and differences, then weigh up whether the

items have more or less in common Contrast/Distinguish between/Differentiate – Find differences Define – Give exact meaning of Describe – Give a detailed account of Discuss – Examine important aspects of; argue all sides before drawing a

conclusion one way; outline the arguments, backing them up with evidence; consider the implications

Explain – Paraphrase (a restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning), give reasons for, interpret, make clear/plain, Analysis rather than account, explain WHY WHAT you are seeing is happening/needed

Identify – refer to by name Illustrate – Show by giving examples, diagrams or drawings Justify – Give evidence for a particular point of view, give reason State – Present clearly but briefly

Common Instruction(s)

Describe – Give a detailed account of Discuss – Examine important aspects of; argue all sides

before drawing a conclusion one way; outline the arguments, backing them up with evidence; consider the implications

Explain – Paraphrase (a restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning), give reasons for, interpret, make clear/plain, Analysis rather than account, explain WHY WHAT you are seeing is happening/needed

Identify – refer to by name Justify – Give evidence for a particular point of view, give

reason State – Present clearly but briefly

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Describe – Give a detailed account of

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jun10

Describe – Give a detailed account of

Here I would expect you to mention one/both of the different H&S legislations (Health and Safety at work Act / Display Screens Equipment Act)

I would also expect you to state the purpose of these legislations (To ensure safe workstation use)

I would then expect you to state at least one EMPLOYEE responsibility (e.g. Employees should adjust the height of their swivel chairs) and the reason they should do this (to prevent back ache)

Then do the same for EMPLOYER responsibility (e.g. Provide employees with ergonomic keyboards to prevent RSI)

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jun10

Discuss – Examine important aspects of; argue all sides before drawing a conclusion one way; outline the arguments, backing them up with evidence; consider the implications

This is obviously a very similar question to the previous one, however, you can see by the potential ‘marks’ on offer and the fact it is asking you to Discuss, more is required in your answer.

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jan10

Responsibilities

Discuss – Examine important aspects of; argue all sides before drawing a conclusion one way; outline the arguments, backing them up with evidence; consider the implications

Here I would expect you to mention one/both of the different H&S legislations (Health and Safety at work Act / Display Screens Equipment Act)

I would also expect you to state the purpose of these legislations (To ensure safe workstation use). I would expect you to expand on this and maybe mention how it is governed, how a complaint is made ‘ombudsmen’ etc.

I would then expect you to go into great detail about the employers responsibilities, how it might be managed within the company, consequences of no abidance etc. (e.g. Employers are responsible for ….. A Health and Safety coordinator might be employed to manage and enforce this….. If these issues are not addressed consequences are…….)

Then do the same for employee responsibilities, actions to take, consequences and reporting (e.g. Employees are responsible for ….. They should ensure that they… so that….. If issues arise they should….)

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jan10

Responsibilities

Discuss – Examine important aspects of; argue all sides before drawing a conclusion one way; outline the arguments, backing them up with evidence; consider the implications

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Responsibilities

Explain – Paraphrase (a restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning), give reasons for, interpret, make clear/plain, Analysis rather than account, explain WHY WHAT you are seeing is happening/needed

For this question I would expect the WHAT (role) with an example and the WHY (functions) of Systems software to be written about.

The marks suggest that more than one function is required (possibly 2-3, ◦ 1mark for WHAT◦ 1 mark for EXAMPLE◦ 2 marks for 2 separate functions

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jan10

Explain – Paraphrase (a restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning), give reasons for, interpret, make clear/plain, Analysis rather than account, explain WHY WHAT you are seeing is happening/needed

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jan10

Identify – refer to by name Justify – Give evidence for a particular point of view, give

reason

In this example you would simply write down the piece of data you have tested e.g. 29, homepage button this is to IDENTIFY

In order to JUSTIFY the why you must you expand, give reason and possibly an example (evidence) e.g. I tested the homepage button to see if it hyperlinked to the homepage of the website, this was to make sure that the navigation worked correctly

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jun10

Identify – refer to by name Justify – Give evidence for a particular point of view, give

reason

Common ICT Instruction(s)

State – Present clearly but briefly

Here I would simply be looking for the type of printer e.g. Laser printer

However because it says ‘with reason’ I would also expect a reason for why this printer would be most appropriate e.g. because they print faster than other types of printers e.g. inkjet

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jan10

State – Present clearly but briefly

Common ICT Instruction(s)

Jan10

Whenever you see this (examples of

software) in an ICT exam NEVER EVER

EVER use brand names e.g. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word etc.

ALWAYS use the generic application type e.g. Spreadsheet, Word processor etc.

Examples of software

Word Processor – e.g MS Word, notepad

Spreadsheet – e.g MS Excel, Numbers

Presentation – e.g MS PowerPoint, Keynote

Web Authoring – e.g Dreamweaver, Web

Developer

Image Manipulation – e.g Photoshop,

GIMP

Graphics – e.g Paint, Illustrator

Applications