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

Name: Loukia Dafnia

Target grade:
Score on this assessment: 34/58
Grade for this assessment: D

General feedback/class needs:
The majority of you in this class really nailed this test. You clearly knew the main components of a
computer and most of you could give a definition for RAM and ROM.
Software and Hardware didnt seem to pose any problems for you, most students achieved the full 8
marks on question 8.
Common problems seemed to be that you didnt know the reasons why components such as RAM
and ROM are needed in a computer system and that Backing Storage is NOT backup!
Next, most of you seemed to struggle on things that an operating system does. Many of you told me
it was software that controls the whole system but we were looking for more in depth answers such
as handles any program errors or crashes to prevent the whole computer freezing.
Finally, the weakest area for you all was types of computers and their uses. It was clear that many of
you didnt know what a mainframe was, for example, nor the types of situations it would be used in.
Your personal targets:
1. To check the number of marks available for each question and to ensure I always provide at
least one clear point for each mark.
2. To include more detail (not answering with one word answers) when answering questions
with more than 1 mark.
3. To understand and be able to describe the purpose of Backing Storage, recognising that it
has nothing to do with backup.
Review
I didnt get many written questions right but one that I did was, give on advantage of using a
netbook instead of a laptop because I give one advantage without making the answer
complicated.
One question I nearly got right was describe the different between RAM and ROM. I missed
out on marks on this question because I didnt structure my answer correctly and didnt add
enough key points and detail.
One question I got totally wrong is which is the odd one out: Laptop, mainframe, desktop,
netbook. This is because I wasnt sure what a mainframe computer was so guessed the
answer.
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 four features of ROM.
Rom stands for Read-Only Memory.
It is used in computers to hold the BIOS (basic input output system) which checks the computers
hardware and then loads the operating system.
It is non-volatile which means that it never loses the content it contains, even when the power is
turned off.
The contents of ROM can never be changed by the user.

Explain why computer systems have both backing storage and RAM.
RAM is volatile which means that when the power is turned off, all the contents of RAM is lost. RAM
stores data temporarily and allows the user to change the contents when programs are running.
Backing storage is needed in a computer to save all the contents when the power of the computer is
turned off.