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

Name: Thomas Stokes

Target grade:
Score on this assessment: 32/58
Grade for this assessment: D

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. To revise the components of a computer and their functions
2. To learn the generic diagram of a computer and be able to reproduce this accurately from
memory
3. To ensure my work is completed to a high enough standard that it is accurate and I am able
to revise from it effectively
REVIEW
4. I Think I did well on question 8 and I only got one incorrect mark on it.


Hardware

Software
Printer
*
Network Card
*
Microsoft Excel
*
Adobe Reader
*
Motherboard
*
Windows 7
*
Microphone
*
Printer driver
*


5. I Did not do well on Question 16 as I had to guess it.
What does PDA stand for?

Answer: Personal Digital Assistant

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.
Give a reason why each of the following are needed in a computer system.
RAM: So Memory works quicker while the computer is in use.
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: When you save a file it goes onto ROM
So that programs/coding/software can be stored permanently/cannot be changed.
Backing Storage: So if RAM and ROM Fails you still have your files.
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.