CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education
MARK SCHEME for the May/June 2015 series
0478 COMPUTER SCIENCE
0478/12 Paper 1 (Written), maximum raw mark 75
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of
the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not
indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began,
which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers.
Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner
Report for Teachers.
Cambridge will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2015 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE®, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some
Cambridge O Level components.
® IGCSE is the registered trademark of Cambridge International Examinations.
Page 2 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
1 (a) 1 mark per correctly placed tick
Statement True False
they are a form of spyware
they are used in advertising only
they are used to track the browsing of a user
they act in the same way as a virus
[4]
(b)
malicious code installed on the hard drive of a
user’s computer or on the web server; this code hacking
will re-direct user to a fake web site without their
consent
software that gathers information by monitoring
key presses on a user’s computer and relays the pharming
information back to the person who sent the
software
program or code that replicates itself and is
designed to amend/delete/copy data and files on phishing
a user’s computer without their consent
the act of gaining illegal access to a computer spyware
system without the owner’s consent
creator of code sends out a legitimate-looking
email in the hope of gathering personal and
virus
financial data from the recipient; it requires the
email or attachment to be opened first
4/5 matches – 4 marks
3 matches – 3 marks
2 matches – 2 marks
1 match – 1 mark
[4]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 3 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
2 (i) Either of the three options, resistive, capacitive or infra-red must be chosen
maximum of two marks from chosen technology:
resistive
− uses multiple layers of material …
− … that transmit electric currents
− when the top layer/screen is pushed/touched into the lower/bottom layer …
− … the electric current changes and location of “touch” is found
capacitive
− current sent/flows out from all 4 corners of the screen
− when finger/stylus touches screen, the current changes
− the location of “touch” is calculated
infra-red
− an “invisible” grid on the screen (pattern of infra-red LED beams)
− sensors detect where the screen has been touched through a break in an infrared
beam(s)
− the position where the screen touched is calculated [2]
(ii) 1 mark for benefit, 1 mark for drawback
Resistive
benefits:
− inexpensive/cheap to manufacture
− can use stylus/finger/gloved finger/pen
drawbacks:
− poor visibility in sunlight
− vulnerable to scratching
− wears through time
− does not allow multi-touch facility
capacitive
benefits:
− good visibility in sunlight
− (very) durable surface
− allows multi-touch facility
drawbacks:
− screen (glass) will shatter/break/crack (on impact)
− cannot use when wearing (standard) gloves
infra-red
benefits:
− good durability
− allows multi-touch facility
− can use stylus/finger/gloved finger/pen
drawbacks:
− expensive to manufacture
− screen (glass) will shatter/break/crack (on impact)
− sensitive to dust/dirt [2]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 4 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
copies paper
barcode documents and voice
reader converts the text and recognition
pictures into a
computer-readable form
reads labels containing
parallel dark and light
microphone reading
lines using laser light;
passports
the width of each line
represents a binary
code
detects changes in
pH sensor automatic
acidity levels; data is
stock control
often in analogue form
audio device that allows
audio signals to be
converted into electric monitor soil in
scanner signals which can be a greenhouse
interpreted by a
computer after being
converted into digital
Input Device to Description Description to Application
3/4 matches – 3 marks 3/4 matches – 3 marks
2 matches – 2 marks 2 matches – 2 marks
1 match – 1 mark 1 match – 1 mark
[6]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 5 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
4 (a) Any one from:
− secure sockets layer
− encrypts data being transmitted
− use of https
− use public and private keys
[1]
(b) 1 mark for each number in the correct order, next to the correct stage.
Sequence
Stage
number
the encrypted data is then shared securely between the web browser and the
6
web server
the web browser attempts to connect to a web site which is secured by SSL (1)
the web server sends the web browser a copy of its SSL certificate 3
the web browser requests the web server to identify itself 2
the web server will then send back some form of acknowledgement to allow the
5
SSL encrypted session to begin
the web browser checks whether the SSL certificate is trustworthy; if it is then
4
the web browser sends a message back to the web server
[5]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 6 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
5 (a) 1 mark per correctly placed tick
Received byte Byte transmitted correctly Byte transmitted incorrectly
11001000
01111100
01101001
[3]
(b) (i) byte number: 7
column number: 6
[2]
(ii) Any two from:
− letter “A”(byte 7) transmitted as odd parity (three 1s)
− column 6 has odd parity (seven 1s)
− intersection of byte 7 and column 6 indicates incorrect bit value
[2]
(c) 190
[1]
(d) Any one from:
− 2 bits interchanged (e.g. 1 → 0 and 0 → 1) that won’t change parity value
− even number of bits/digits are transposed
− If there are multiple errors in the same byte/column, that still produce the same parity bit,
the error will not be detected
[1]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 7 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
6 (a) 1 mark per correct logic gate, correctly connected
C X
[5]
(b)
G C L Workspace X
0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0
] 1 mark
0 1 0 1
0 1 1 0
] 1 mark
1 0 0 1
1 0 1 1
] 1 mark
1 1 0 1
1 1 1 0
] 1 mark
[4]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 8 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
(c) 1 mark for correctly completed truth table
A B C
0 0 0
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0
[1]
7 (a) Maximum 5 marks in total for question part
Description of how street light is controlled: (max 4 marks)
− sensor sends signal/data to the microprocessor
− signal/data converted to digital/using ADC
− microprocessor compares value to a stored value
− if input value < stored value …
− … signal sent from microprocessor to actuator
− … and light is switched on/off
− whole process continues in an infinite loop
Avoiding frequent on/off switches: (max 2 marks)
− microprocessor continues to keep light on/off for a pre-determined period
− after pre-determined period, sensor output is again sampled
[5]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 9 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
(b) 1 mark for correct sensor, 1 mark for its matching application
(all THREE applications must be different)
sensor application
infra-red/motion automatic doors
burglar alarm systems
temperature chemical process
central heating/air con system
greenhouse environment
oven
sound/acoustic burglar alarm systems
leak detection system
disco lighting
moisture/humidity clothes drier
environmental control (greenhouse, air con)
pressure burglar alarm system
traffic light control
chemical process
carbon dioxide/ pollution monitoring in a river
oxygen/gas greenhouse environment (growth control)
confined area (e.g. space craft)
Fish tank/Aquarium
magnetic field mobile phone
anti-lock braking
CD players
[6]
8 1 mark per correct word
Freeware
Shareware
Free software
(Computer) Ethics
Plagiarism
[5]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 10 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
9 (a) 1 mark per correctly placed tick
statement interpreter compiler
creates an executable file that runs directly on the computer
more likely to crash the computer since the machine code
produced runs directly on the processor
easier to debug since each line of code is analysed and
checked before being executed
slow speed of execution of program loops
it is more difficult to modify the code since the executable
code is now in machine code format
[5]
(b) Any one from:
− code is required to be converted into machine code/binary
− code needs to be produced that can be understood by the computer
[1]
(c) Any one from:
− close to English/native/human language
− easier/faster to correct errors/read/write
− works on many different machines/operating systems (portable)
[1]
(d) Any one from:
− work directly on registers/CPU
− more control over what happens in computer
− can use machine specific functions
[1]
(e) 1 mark per correct letter, maximum 2 marks
Assembly code: B
High-level language code: C
Machine code: A
[2]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 11 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0478 12
10 (a) 1 mark for two correct lines, 2 marks for four correct lines
L (108): 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0
I (105): 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1
G (103): 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1
N (110): 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0
[2]
(b) 1 mark for each correct binary value
1 mark for each correct hexadecimal value
hexidecimal
L: 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 D8
G: 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 CE
[4]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
