Personalised Feedback Sheet for IGCSE Section 4 - Networks

Name: Matthew Cotter

Target grade: A
General feedback/class needs:
There was a lot of material covered in this unit from the definition of a network,
to LANs, WANs, WLANs, network hardware, security, authentication methods,
video conferencing, Fax, Email and the Data Protection Act. This meant that there
really wasnt anywhere to hide if you didnt do your revision. Unfortunately for
many of you, this was your problem in this test. If you look back over the lessons
you did:

Notes from each topic

Multiple practise exam questions
Revision lessons

Worse you all went over the correct answers in class and you also had access
to ALL past exam questions, answers and revision material on my site, so even if
you didnt get it the first time you couldve improved by doing some revision.
Those who didnt do so well also fell in to the same old traps:

Not reading the question or relating to it in your answer

Giving short or one word answers when you need to explain yourself!

These three things should now be considered so basic that no one is making
these mistakes. There is no magic formula for passing a test and no one is just
better than you, it all comes down to how much work youve done and are
prepared to do. If you are able to sit yourself down, practise questions from my
site and test yourself then you stand a chance of doing seriously well.
Finally, you have GOT to stop talking about hackers in your answers! It seems
that as soon as one of you is unsure of an answer you revert to itll get
hacked!!! This is NEVER going to be an exam answer so please, stop using it
unless I explicitly tell you that its ok.
Your performance:
Marks: 38/54
Percentage: 70.370370370370367%
Grade: B
Your personal targets:
1.
2.

To make sure I can explain what I mean by certain points.

To NEVER give answers such as Its quicker its cheaper its easier
without having an EXCELLENT justification afterwards. These answers will
never be acceptable without explanation
3. To check the number of marks available in a multiple choice question and
ensure I never select more than the allowable number of choices.
Challenge/Extension

Copy out and answer questions 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14 from the test, with
their full and correct answers.

2. A large company has a LAN. The manager of the company wants to replace it
with a WLAN. Explain the differences between a LAN and a WLAN, giving an
advantage and a disadvantage of a WLAN.
The difference between a WLAN and a LAN is that a WLAN is wireless and a LAN
isnt. An advantage of a WLAN is that it has portability but a disadvantage is that
it has limited range.
7. Give two advantages and two disadvantages of having computers networked.
Advantage 1: You can share data between computers.
Advantage 2: Data is easy to backup as all the data is stored on the file server.
Disadvantage 1: Purchasing the network cabling and file servers can be
expensive.
Disadvantage 2: Viruses can spread to other computers throughout a computer
network.
8. To protect the customers data the company owner will make sure the system
uses encryption. Describe encryption.
Encryption is the scrambling of files which means only a person with a certain
key can access the files.
9. Describe the role of a proxy server when a LAN is connected to the Internet.
A proxy servers role is to filter through web pages, to keep anonymity so no
ones IP address can be found, used in school to block out inappropriate content
such as violence.
11. Describe four differences between an Intranet and the internet
Intranet are usually used on small scales such as school
Intranets can be only be accessed by certain people
Internet is a public network whereas intranet is a private.
Intranets are usually more protected than the internet
12. Mobile phones are used for accessing the Internet. Give two advantages and
two disadvantages of using a mobile phone.
You can use it anywhere because phones are portable
You dont need to find a computer if you want to quickly google something.
A phone loads the internet slower.
A phone has a smaller screen and is hard to read sometimes.
13.Explain the data protection Act and one of the principles.

The Data protection Act is a law designed to protect peoples personal data
stored on companies computers. One of their principles are that they must
process personal data fairly and lawfully.
14. Give three advantages of video conferencing
You dont need to travel to meet up.
You can do it anytime.
Can be called on with little notice.
15. Give three Disadvantages of video conferencing.
You must have the hardware do it.
If the devices are far apart bad connection could ruin the conference.
You have to work out time differences if you are doing it worldwide.