Cambridge IGCSE™

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/12

Paper 1 May/June 2021
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 75

Published

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 International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2021 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 8 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit
is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme,
referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these
features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The
meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed
instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question
(however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate
responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should
not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.

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Please note the following further points:

The words in bold in the mark scheme are important text that needs to be present, or some notion
of it needs to be present. It does not have to be the exact word, but something close to the
meaning.

If a word is underlined, this exact word must be present.

A single forward slash means this is an alternative word. A double forward slash means that this is
an alternative mark point.

Ellipsis (…) on the end of one-mark point and the start of the next means that the candidate cannot
get the second mark point without being awarded the first one. If a MP has ellipsis at the beginning,
but there is no ellipsis on the MP before it, then this is just a follow-on sentence and can be
awarded without the previous mark point.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) One mark per each correct binary value. 6

One mark per each correct hex value.

Denary Hexadecimal 8-bit binary

49 31 00110001

123 7B 01111011

200 C8 11001000

1(b) Any two from: 2

− Easier/quicker to read/write/understand
− Easier/quicker to identify errors/debug
− Takes up less screen/display space
− Less chance of making an error

1(c) Any three from: 3

− MAC address
− URL
− Assembly language
− Error codes // error messages
− IP addresses
− Locations in memory
− Memory dumps

Question Answer Marks

2(a) One mark per each correct row. 6

Magnetic Solid Optical

Statement () state ()
()

no moving parts are used to store data 

pits and lands are used to store data 

data is stored on platters 

flash memory is used to store data 

parts are rotated to store data  

data can be stored permanently   

2(b)(i) Any one from: 1

− Hard disk drive // HDD
− Magnetic tape

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Question Answer Marks

2(b)(ii) Any one from: 1

− CD
− DVD
− Blu-ray disk

2(b)(iii) One for type of storage, two for matching justification from: 3
− Magnetic // HDD
− (Web server) is likely to receive many requests a day
− (Web server) will likely need to store a lot of data and magnetic is high
capacity
− Magnetic is cheaper to buy for storage per unit than solid state
− Magnetic is capable of more of read/write requests over time // has more
longevity // SSD has more limited number of read/write requests (before
it is no longer usable)
− No requirement for it to be portable, so moving parts does not matter

− Solid-state // SSD
− (Web server) is likely to receive many requests a day
− (Web server) will likely need to store a lot of data and solid-state is high
capacity
− Solid-state is more energy efficient
− Solid-state runs cooler so will not overheat
− Solid state has faster read/write speeds to handle volume of traffic

2(c) Any three from: 3

− Data is flashed onto (silicon) chips
− Uses NAND/NOR technology // can use flip-flops
− Uses transistors/control gates/floating gates …
− … to control the flow of electrons
− It is a type of EEPROM technology
− When data is stored the transistor is converted from 1 to 0 / 0 to 1
− Writes (and reads) sequentially

3(a) One mark for each correct logic gate with correct input. 6

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Question Answer Marks

3(b) One mark per each correct row. 4

− Row 2
− Row 3
− Row 7
− Row 8

Question Answer Marks

4(a) One mark per each correct row. 6

Virus Spyware Denial of

Statement () () service
()

captures all data entered using a keyboard 

can be installed onto a web server  

prevents access to a website 

is malicious code on a computer  

is self-replicating 

damages the files on a user’s hard drive 

4(b) Any three from: 3

− Phishing
− Pharming
− Hacking // cracking

4(c) Any three from: 3

− Human error
− Power failure/surge
− Hardware failure
− Software failure
− Fire
− Flood

5(a) − Light sensor 2

− Motion sensor // infra-red sensor

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Question Answer Marks

5(b) Eight from: 8

− Sensors send data to microprocessor
− Data is converted to digital (using ADC)
− Microprocessor compares data to stored value(s) …
− … if one value or neither values are within range/out of range/match no
action is taken
− … If both values are out of range/in range/match microprocessor sends
signal to switch light on …
− … 1-minute timer is started
− Actuator used to switch on/off light
− When timer reaches 1 minute, microprocessor sends signal to switch
light off
− Whole process is continuous

6(a) Any three from: 3

− Webserver sends (cookie) file to user’s browser
− User’s payment details stored in encrypted text file // data is encrypted to
be stored
− Cookie file is stored by browser/on user’s HDD/SSD
− When user revisits website, webserver requests cookie file // webserver
can access the data stored in the cookie file (to automatically enter
details)
− … and browser sends cookie file back to webserver (to automatically
enter the details)

6(b) Four from: 4

− User does not see what information is stored // might collect data that
user does not know about …
− … so, user may feel their privacy is affected

− A profile could be built about the user …

− … that could expose a user’s identity // lead to identity theft

− Sensitive information stored in cookies could be intercepted in

transmission …
− Other websites could gain access to the cookies stored on a user’s
computer …
− Computer could be hacked to obtain data stored in cookies …
− … so, payment information could be stolen and used by a third party

Question Answer Marks

7(a)(i) Any one from: 1

− Placement of text/image
− Margins
− Line break
− Padding

NOTE: Any relevant example of structure can be awarded

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Question Answer Marks

7(a)(ii) Any two from: 2

− Font colour
− Font style
− Font size
− Background colour
− Image size
− Border properties

NOTE: Any relevant example of presentation can be awarded

7(b) Any two from: 2

− Can easily change/edit the style of the webpage
− So, CSS can be used to create a template/style sheet
− Can add new content and apply the same style easily
− Can re-use the presentation/style for other websites

8 One mark for each correct term in the correct order 6

− Switch
− Circuit
− Current
− Calculated
− Character
− Binary

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