Repeated Topics in IT 9626 Paper 1 (2020–2024)

Analysis of the past AS/A-Level Information Technology 9626 Paper 1 (Theory) from 2020–2024
shows several themes recurring each year. Key repeatedly-tested topics include:

 Data vs. Information and Quality: Defining “data” versus “information”, with examples, and
factors affecting information quality (accuracy, currency, etc.) recurdynamicpapers.com.
Questions on validation and verification of data entry also appear frequently (2020 and
2024)gamatrain.comde.scribd.com.

 Data Collection & Sources: Use of direct vs indirect data sources and surveys/interviews is
common (e.g. traffic/pollution studies)cambridgeinternational.orgde.scribd.com. The digital
divide – reasons for gaps between groups or regions – is also a recurring
themecambridgeinternational.orggamatrain.com.

 Security & Privacy: Questions on encryption (definition/use of public/private keys) and

related data protection (firewalls, user training) appear nearly every
yearcambridgeinternational.orgdynamicpapers.com. Social engineering risks like
phishing/vishing likewise show up (e.g. vishing questions in
2023)cambridgeinternational.org.

 Systems Software: Concepts of system software (compilers, interpreters, linkers, operating

systems) are frequently tested. For example, comparing compilers vs. interpreters (2020),
and explaining the role of a compiler or linker
(2024)cambridgeinternational.orgdynamicpapers.com.

 File/Data Management: File-handling tasks and access methods recur: batch vs real-time
processing (e.g. order/payroll systems)gamatrain.com, transaction files and master-file
updatescambridgeinternational.orggamatrain.com, and storage access modes like
indexed/sequential filesdynamicpapers.com. Maintenance topics (disk formatting,
defragmentation) also appear (Oct/Nov 2024)de.scribd.com.

 Databases: Database topics such as relationships (1–1, 1–many, m–n) and query parameters
recur. Papers ask to describe one-to-many relationships or how to implement many-to-many
via junction tablesde.scribd.comde.scribd.com, and to compare static vs dynamic query
parametersdynamicpapers.com.

 Networking & Communications: Questions on networking tools (e.g. video conferencing,

email, IM) and internet-based services appear (2020). Electronic funds transfer and related
protocols show up (Oct/Nov 2022)gamatrain.com.

 Algorithms & Logic: Algorithmic skills are tested via flowcharts or pseudocode (2023 and
2024); e.g. completing a flowchart for processing numberscambridgeinternational.org or
writing pseudocode with CASE/ENDCASEdynamicpapers.com.

 Compression/Multimedia: Methods of data compression (lossy/lossless) and their effects on

file quality (especially audio) are a common topic (2023,
 2024)cambridgeinternational.orgde.scribd.com. Sampling concepts (audio sampling rate vs
resolution) also appearcambridgeinternational.org.

 Simulation & Expert Systems: Advantages/disadvantages of simulators (e.g. flight

simulators) recurdynamicpapers.com. Use of expert systems is often examined
(components, benefits, drawbacks) in contexts like banking or
diagnosticsdynamicpapers.comde.scribd.com.

 Emerging Tech: Questions on IoT/sensor systems (smart home, pollution sensors,

greenhouse controllers) are frequentcambridgeinternational.orggamatrain.com. Spreadsheet
usage and modeling (financial forecasting, population predictions) and software choice
(proprietary vs open-source) also recurgamatrain.comgamatrain.com.

🔹 Data & Information

 Difference between data and information

 Factors affecting information quality (e.g. accuracy, relevance, timeliness)

 Validation and verification methods

 Use of direct vs indirect data sources

🔹 Data Collection & The Digital Divide

 Benefits and limitations of surveys, interviews, and other data collection methods

 Digital divide: causes and consequences (e.g. income, education, infrastructure, age)

🔹 Security & Privacy

 Encryption: use, public vs private key

 Firewalls, anti-malware, and physical security

 Social engineering (e.g. phishing, vishing) and prevention methods

 Data confidentiality and protection methods

🔹 System Software

 Role of operating systems, utility software (defragmentation, compression)

 Difference between compiler and interpreter

  Role of linkers, loaders, and translators

🔹 File Management & Processing

 Batch vs real-time processing (e.g. payroll, order systems)

 Transaction file updates (update, insert, delete)

 Access methods: sequential, direct, indexed-sequential

 Use of master files and backups

🔹 Databases

 Types of relationships: one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many

 Use of junction tables to implement many-to-many

 Static vs dynamic parameters in queries

 Structure of MIS (Management Information Systems)

🔹 Networks & Communication

 Video conferencing, email, instant messaging

 Electronic funds transfer (EFT)

 Network components and internet-based services

🔹 Algorithms & Logic

 Writing and interpreting pseudocode (IF, CASE, loops)

 Flowcharts: logic problems and number processing

🔹 Multimedia & Compression

 Lossy vs lossless compression (especially audio files)

 Impact of compression on quality and file size

 Audio sampling: resolution and rate

🔹 Simulation & Expert Systems

 Simulators (e.g. flight training): pros/cons

 Components and uses of expert systems (e.g. banking, medical diagnosis)

🔹 Emerging Technologies

 Use of IoT/sensors: smart homes, greenhouses, pollution monitoring

 Benefits and drawbacks of proprietary vs open-source software

 Spreadsheets for modeling and forecasting

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 2022 Oct/Nov, Variant 11

 Deep utility-software questions (disk management + compression)

 Complex IoT sensor-control pseudocode (greenhouse example)

 Asymmetric encryption and digital-divide across age groups

 2023 May/June, Variant 12

 Multi-part flowchart logic plus algorithmic pseudocode

 Audio-sampling & compression impacts on quality

 Expert-system diagnostic scenario with benefits/drawbacks

 2024 May/June, Variant 11

 In-depth expert-system components question (banking)

 Static vs dynamic query parameters in a database context

 Detailed factors affecting information quality

 2021 May/June, Variant 13

 MICR character-input methods & validation/verification

 Comparing forecasting features of spreadsheets vs word processors

 Hierarchical DBMS structures and their trade-offs

  2020 May/June, Variant 12

 Many-to-many relationship design/normalization

 Real-time vs batch processing in payroll examples

 Video-conferencing network setup with diagram annotation

 (Honorable mention) 2024 Oct/Nov, Variant 11

 High-level MIS database relationships questions

 Evaluation of monitoring technologies for environmental data

 Advanced audio-compression quality trade-offs