Too many students try to wing their practical exams. I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to go through past practical papers in preparation for your practical assessments. Here are some important tips highlighting aspects that are often neglected.
1. General
Your IGCSE assessments are divided into 3 exam papers:
- Paper 1: Theory
- Paper 2: Document Production, Databases and Presentations
- Paper 3: Spreadsheets & Website Authoring
Papers 2 & 3 are practical assessments using a computer. You will receive a printed question paper and complete the assessment on a computer.
Whilst you must complete all questions in all papers, for your practical papers you may want to work on some questions before others or follow the instructions for a specific question in a slightly different order. The most important thing is to read the entire question before you attempt it.
This is especially important when answering the website question as you may for example want to attach your stylesheet to your HTML page before you are instructed to do so in the question paper.
2. You must swear to…
- Modify the View in File Explorer to display file extensions
- Switch your rulers on and activate Show/Hide in Word
3. Screenshotting
You need to become a pro at screenshots! If you are using Windows, you are probably going to use the Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch.
4. Printing
You need to be able to print evidence. This means knowing how to lay pages out as well as actually sending them to the printer.
You may also be required to print your formulae & functions in Excel — remember your Ctrl + ~ keyboard shortcut!
5. Footers, footers, everywhere
Your full name, candidate number and center number must appear on every printed sheet. This means you must be comfortable with (headers &) footers in:
6. CSV Data
All data as such (for Excel, Access) is provided in CSV format. You must be well-versed in working with CSV data. You must understand:
- CSV is a text file format — NOT a spreadsheet (Excel) format
- When working on spreadsheet questions, you must open the CSV with Excel and then save it with the latest Excel file format, i.e. .xlsx
- How to import data from CSV into Access with ease (including working with non-standard Regional Settings)
7. Data dictionary
Don’t let fancy terminology freak you out. A Data Dictionary is the documentation for a database. The Data Dictionary specifies all the technical information about the design of your database.
8. HTML & CSS
I have recently seen people offering terrible advice regarding the choice of software for learning HTML & CSS. Please do not even consider using Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Expression, or Dreamweaver to learn to code. I have even seen Microsoft Publisher recommended; no!
The Cambridge IGCSE exams do not include an HTML or CSS “cheatsheet” (if you have come from the DBE CAPS CAT curriculum you will be used to receiving the HTML Tag Sheet). You need to be fluent in HTML and CSS.
Know your code editor and use it well. This includes being able to change settings such as Word Wrap when you start your assessment.
If you are a private candidate, please contact your Exam Center as early as possible to confirm what software they will have installed on their computers. They may offer Notepad++, VSCode or simply Notepad.
9. See also
References:
- Syllabus Cambridge IGCSE Information and Communication Technology 0417 (no date) Cambridge Assessment International Education. Available at: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/595352-2023-2025-syllabus.pdf (Accessed: 04 October 2023).