Personalised Feedback Sheet for IGCSE Section 1 Types and Components of Computers

Name: Emily-Rae Hubball

Target grade:
Score on this assessment: 35/58
Grade for this assessment: C

General feedback/class needs:
On the plus side, most of you understood what hardware and software is and could identify
examples of each. Also, most of you managed to do well with a bit of common sense on the
true/false questions.
However, overall performance in this test by the whole class was poor. Basic knowledge was lacking
and it was painfully evident that most students had not prepared or revised properly for this test.
Worst of all, students were not even reading questions carefully and provided poor answers which
had nothing to do with the question.
Common issues:
USB is NOT a storage device. In fact the answer USB is useless in any question, it means
Universal Serial Bus, and there are countless devices that use it. You must specify WHAT USB device,
A USB Memory stick for example, otherwise your answer is meaningless.
RAM and ROM clearly many students had not learned the definitions, were confused as to the
meaning of the word Volatile and could not provide adequate descriptions as to what each does and
is for.
Operating Systems Students could not explain what it does, worse, virtually no one understood the
advantages and disadvantages of GUIs and CLIs, despite this being clearly written in your notes.
Reading the question countless marks were lost due to students not reading a question carefully
and giving a totally irrelevant answer.
Your personal targets (to be filled in during the lesson):
1. Explain my answers
2. Read the questions
3. Check my answers
Review
One written question I got right was question 2a
a. Add a star (*) next to each of the following which make up the components of a
computer system. [5 marks]
Kernel

Backing Storage
*
Input
*
Interface

PDA

USB

Process
*
Main Memory
*
Search Engine

Output
*

I got this question right because I revised and remembered all the components that make up a
computer system we also learnt about is a lot in the lesson which meant I knew the answer in the
test.
A question I nearly got right was question 6.
2. Give a reason why each of the following are needed in a computer system: [3 marks]
(1 mark for each)

RAM So that users are able to make changes to the data they are working on/to store
the program or data they are currently using.

ROM So that programs/coding/software can be stored permanently/cannot be
changed.

Backing storage So that users can have a permanent copy of the work they are
doing/can have a copy of their work when the computer is switched off.

I nearly got this question right but I needed to explain it more to get the marks as my answers didnt
make sense.
Challenge/Extension
You will have been allocated an exam question to further your knowledge or help you to overcome a
misconception. Copy out the question here in full and answer it.

Describe 4 features of ROM
1 It is used to store the BIOS of a computer
2