Be able to insert and edit objects on a slide including text (headings, subheadings, bulleted lists), images (still images, video clips, animated images), charts, tables, audio clips (sound), symbols, lines, arrows, call out boxes and shapes

IGCSE ICT (0417) – Complete Revision Notes

How to Use These Notes

• Each numbered section corresponds to a major syllabus area (1‑21).
• Key assessment objectives (AO) are shown beside every sub‑topic:

  • AO1 – recall knowledge and terminology.
  • AO2 – apply skills to solve a problem.
  • AO3 – evaluate, analyse or justify a solution.

• Command‑word icons indicate the type of response required in the exam:

  • 🟦 Define, State, List → AO1
  • 🟩 Insert, Format, Calculate, Design → AO2
  • 🟧 Explain, Justify, Evaluate, Recommend → AO3

• Keyboard shortcuts are highlighted in bold for quick revision.

1. Foundations of ICT (AO1)

1.1 Computer Systems

• Hardware components: CPU, RAM, ROM, motherboard, storage (HDD, SSD, optical, USB).
• Software layers: operating system (OS), application software, utility software.
• Input devices (keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone) and output devices (monitor, printer, speakers).
• Basic networking terms: NIC, router, switch, LAN, WLAN, WAN, Internet, intranet.

1.2 Data Representation

• Binary, decimal and hexadecimal systems.
• Bits, bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB).
• Colour depth (e.g., 24‑bit true colour = 16.7 million colours).

1.3 Effects of ICT on Individuals & Society 🟧 (AO3)

• Positive: increased productivity, access to information, remote learning.
• Negative: digital divide, privacy concerns, cyber‑bullying, e‑waste.
• Sample exam answer: “Explain how cloud computing can reduce the cost of hardware for a small business.”

2. Systems Life‑Cycle & Safety/Security (AO2 / AO3)

2.1 Systems Development Life‑Cycle (SDLC)

2.2 Safety & Security Checklist 🟧 (AO3)

• Physical safety: unplug equipment before cleaning, avoid liquids, use surge protectors.
• Ergonomic safety: correct chair height, monitor eye level, regular breaks (20‑20‑20 rule).
• Data security: strong passwords, two‑factor authentication, regular backups, encryption.
• Legal & ethical: copyright, licensing, data protection (GDPR), responsible internet use.

3. Communication, File Management & Legal/Ethical Issues (AO1 / AO2)

3.1 Audience & Communication 🟦

• Identify audience (students, managers, customers) and choose appropriate tone, format and media.
• Use of headings, bullet points, tables, and visual aids to improve readability.
• Etiquette for email, instant messaging and social media (subject line, signature, polite language).

3.2 File Management 🟩

3.3 Copyright & Licensing 🟦

• Public domain, Creative Commons (CC‑BY, CC‑BY‑NC, etc.), proprietary licences.
• Always credit the source of images, music, video or text extracts.

4. Document Production (Word‑Processor) – AO1 / AO2 / AO3

4.1 Layout & Styles

• Set page size, orientation, margins, and columns.
• Use Styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, Normal) to ensure consistent formatting and to generate an automatic Table of Contents.
• Apply Headers, Footers, Page Numbers via the Insert tab.
• Insert Page Breaks (Ctrl + Enter) instead of multiple returns.

4.2 Proof‑Reading Tools

• Spelling & Grammar checker, Thesaurus, Find & Replace.
• Track Changes & Comments for collaborative editing.
• Accessibility: set language, enable screen‑reader support, add alt text to embedded images.

4.3 Inserting & Editing Objects (Images, Tables, Charts) – see Section 6 for detailed steps.

5. Data Representation – Charts & Graphs (AO1 / AO2)

5.1 Selecting the Right Chart

• Bar / Column – compare quantities.
• Line – show trends over time.
• Pie – illustrate parts of a whole (max 5‑6 slices).
• Scatter – display correlation between two variables.

5.2 Creating a Chart in a Spreadsheet

1. Select the data range.
2. Insert → Chart → choose type.
3. Use the Chart Design and Format tabs to add titles, axis labels, data labels and a legend.
4. Apply a colour scheme that meets accessibility contrast requirements.

6. Presentations – Insert & Edit Objects (AO2 / AO3)

6.1 Workflow Overview

1. Plan the slide sequence – sketch on paper or use Slide Sorter view.
2. Create/modify a Master Slide – set fonts, colours, placeholders, footer.
3. Insert objects – text, images, video, audio, charts, tables, shapes, symbols, arrows, call‑outs.
4. Apply transitions & animations – support the message, avoid distraction.
5. Add hyperlinks / action buttons for navigation or external resources.
6. Write presenter notes and choose the appropriate output format.
7. Check accessibility – alt‑text, slide titles, high‑contrast colours.
8. Preview in Slide Show mode before final export.

6.2 General Principles for Working with Slides

• Use Slide Sorter to view and reorder the whole deck.
• The Insert tab is the gateway for all objects.
• Every object can be selected, moved, resized, rotated and formatted via the Format pane or right‑click menu.
• Group related objects (right‑click → Group) to keep them together.
• Undo frequently (Ctrl + Z) and save versions (Ctrl + S).

6.3 Master Slides – Creating & Applying a Consistent Design

Why Use a Master Slide? 🟦 (AO1)

• Uniform layout (title position, footer, slide number, corporate colours).
• One change updates every slide that uses the master.
• Reduces manual formatting time.

Creating a New Master Slide (PowerPoint example) 🟩 (AO2)

1. View → Slide Master.
2. Edit the topmost layout (the actual Master):

   • Background colour or image.
   • Font family, size, colour for titles & body text.
   • Placeholders for title, subtitle, content, footer, slide number.
   • Insert logo or branding.

3. Insert additional placeholders (text, picture, chart) via Insert Placeholder.
4. Close Master view – the design is now applied to all slides.

Applying a Different Master to a Single Slide 🟩 (AO2)

1. Select the slide in Normal view.
2. Home → Layout → choose the required master layout.
3. The slide instantly adopts the new placeholders and formatting.

6.4 Inserting and Editing Objects

6.4.1 Text – Headings, Sub‑headings, Bulleted/Numbered Lists 🟦

• Title placeholder for the main heading.
• Insert → Text Box for sub‑headings; adjust size or apply a style.
• Bullets / Numbering: place cursor in a text box → click Bullets or Numbering → adjust indentation with Increase/Decrease Indent.
• Format via the Home tab (font, size, colour, alignment) or use Format Painter (Ctrl + Shift + C / Ctrl + Shift + V).

6.4.2 Images – Still, Video, Animated GIFs 🟦

1. Still images: Insert → Pictures → This Device / Online → Insert.
2. Video clips: Insert → Video → Video on My PC → select .mp4/.wmv → set playback options (Automatically, On Click, Loop).
3. Animated GIFs: Insert as a picture; animation runs automatically in Slide Show mode.

Editing images

• Drag to move; drag corner handles to resize (hold Shift to keep aspect ratio).
• Right‑click → Format Picture for borders, shadows, transparency, or to add Alt Text (accessibility).

6.4.3 Charts 🟦

1. Insert → Chart → choose Bar, Column, Line, Pie or Scatter.
2. An embedded spreadsheet opens; enter or edit data.
3. Close the spreadsheet – the chart updates instantly.
4. Use Chart Tools – Design to change style, colour scheme or switch chart type.
5. Use Chart Tools – Format to edit axes, titles, data labels, and to add a legend.

6.4.4 Tables 🟦

1. Insert → Table → drag to select rows / columns.
2. Enter data; use Tab to move between cells.
3. Table Design tab: apply a style, add banded rows, enable a header row.

Editing tables

• Resize the whole table via the outer border.
• Adjust column width/row height by dragging grid lines.
• Right‑click a cell → Merge, Split, Insert/Delete rows or columns.

6.4.5 Audio Clips 🟦

1. Insert → Audio → Audio on My PC → select .mp3/.wav → Insert.
2. An audio icon appears; use the Playback tab to set:

   • Start: Automatically, On Click, Play Across Slides.
   • Volume, Hide During Show, Loop until Stopped.

6.4.6 Symbols, Lines, Arrows, Call‑outs & Shapes 🟦

• Symbols: Insert → Symbol → choose (©, ™, °, …) or use Alt codes (e.g., Alt + 0169 for ©).
• Lines & Arrows: Insert → Shapes → Lines (straight, elbow, curved). Draw, then format colour, weight and arrowheads via the Shape Format tab.
• Call‑out Boxes: Insert → Shapes → Callouts (Rounded Rectangle, Cloud). Type directly into the shape.
• Other Shapes: rectangles, circles, triangles, flow‑chart symbols (process, decision, data). Apply fill colour, outline and effects.

6.5 Transitions & Animations 🟩 (AO2)

6.5.1 Default Transition for the Whole Deck

1. Select any slide → Transitions tab.
2. Choose a transition (e.g., Fade).
3. Click Apply To All.

6.5.2 Individual Transitions

• Select a slide → pick a transition → set duration (seconds) and optional sound.
• Use Effect Options to control direction (From Left, From Bottom, etc.).

6.5.3 Animating Objects

1. Select the object → Animations tab.
2. Choose an effect (Entrance, Emphasis, Exit, Motion Path).
3. Open the Animation Pane to reorder, set start options (On Click, With Previous, After Previous) and adjust timing.
4. Justify the choice in the exam – the effect should reinforce the message, not distract.

6.6 Hyperlinks, Action Buttons & Bookmarks 🟩 (AO2)

6.6.1 Hyperlinking Text or Objects

1. Select the text or object.
2. Insert → Link (or Ctrl + K).
3. Choose:

   • Existing File or Web Page – enter a URL.
   • Place in This Document – link to another slide.
   • E‑mail Address – mailto:example@school.org.

4. Click OK.

6.6.2 Action Buttons (Navigation Controls)

1. Insert → Shapes → Action Buttons (Home, Back, Forward, Custom).
2. Draw the button on the slide.
3. In the Action Settings dialog, select:

   • Hyperlink to – another slide, a file, a URL, or a program.
   • Trigger: Mouse Click or Mouse Over.

4. Add a label or icon if desired.

6.6.3 Bookmarks (Slide Sections)

Use Slide Sorter → right‑click → Add Section. Hyperlinks can point to a section, aiding navigation in long presentations.

6.7 Presenter Notes & Output Options 🟩 (AO2)

6.7.1 Adding Presenter Notes

1. In Normal view, click the Notes pane below the slide (or View → Notes Page).
2. Type cues, speaker prompts, or extra data – these do not appear on the slide itself.
3. Notes are visible in Presenter View** during a live presentation.

6.7.2 Required Output Formats (IGCSE)

6.7.3 Using Presenter View

• Slide Show → Set Up Slide Show → check Use Presenter View.
• During the show you see the current slide, next‑slide preview, timer and your notes.
• Helps you stay on track and deliver confidently.

6.8 Accessibility – Alt Text & Screen‑Reader Support 🟧 (AO3)

• Add Alt Text to every image, chart, video or audio icon (right‑click → Edit Alt Text). Example: “Bar chart comparing 2022 sales in Europe, Asia and America.”
• Provide captions or subtitles for video clips.
• Ensure each slide has a clear title – screen readers use this to identify the slide.
• Use high‑contrast colour schemes and minimum 18‑pt font for readability.

6.9 Editing Objects – Common Tasks 🟦

6.10 Keyboard Shortcuts for Presentations 🟦

• Ctrl + M – New slide
• Ctrl + Shift + C – Copy formatting (Format Painter)
• Ctrl + Shift + V – Paste formatting
• Ctrl + G – Group selected objects
• Ctrl + Shift + G – Ungroup
• Alt + N, P – Quick insert picture
• Alt + N, C – Quick insert chart
• F5 – Start Slide Show from the beginning
• Shift + F5 – Start Slide Show from current slide

7. Databases – Design, Queries & Forms (AO2 / AO3)

7.1 Core Concepts 🟦

• Table = collection of records (rows) and fields (columns).
• Primary key – uniquely identifies each record.
• Foreign key – creates a relationship between tables.
• Data types: Text, Number, Date, Currency, AutoNumber, Yes/No.

7.2 Creating a Simple Database (e.g., Microsoft Access) 🟩

1. File → New → Blank Database → name (e.g., Students.accdb).
2. Table Design view: define fields, set a primary key, choose data types.
3. Enter data in Datasheet view or import from CSV.
4. Save the table (e.g., tblStudents).

7.3 Relationships 🟦

1. Database Tools → Relationships.
2. Add the tables, drag the primary key from one table to the matching foreign key in the other.
3. Enforce referential integrity; choose One‑to‑Many or One‑to‑One.

7.4 Queries – Selecting & Calculating Data 🟩

• Query Design → add tables → drag fields to the grid.
• Use criteria (e.g., > 2020) to filter.
• Aggregate functions: SUM(), AVG(), COUNT() (Group By).
• Save as qryAnnualSales for reuse.

7.5 Forms & Reports 🟦

• Forms – user‑friendly data entry; create via Form Wizard or Design view.
• Reports – formatted output for printing; include headings, footers, totals.
• Both can be linked to the same underlying table/query.

7.6 Example AO3 Question 🟧

“Evaluate the advantages of using a relational database rather than a spreadsheet for storing student records.” – Answer should cover data integrity, multi‑user access, query capability, and scalability.

8. Spreadsheets – Formulas, Functions & Data Analysis (AO2 / AO3)

8.1 Cell Referencing 🟦

• Relative reference (e.g., A1) – changes when copied.
• Absolute reference (e.g., \$A\$1) – remains fixed.
• Mixed reference (e.g., \$A1 or A\$1).

8.2 Essential Functions 🟦

8.3 Data Validation & Conditional Formatting 🟩

• Data Validation: restrict entries (e.g., whole numbers 1‑100) → Data → Data Validation.
• Conditional Formatting: colour cells based on values (e.g., red if < 50) → Home → Conditional Formatting.

8.4 Charts in Spreadsheets 🟦 (see Section 5 for chart basics)

8.5 Example AO3 Question 🟧

“The spreadsheet below shows monthly sales. Using appropriate formulas, calculate the total annual sales, the average monthly sales, and highlight any month where sales fell below £5 000. Justify each step.”

9. Website Authoring – HTML & CSS Basics (AO2 / AO3)

9.1 The Three‑Layer Model 🟦

• Content layer – HTML (structure, headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, images, audio, video).
• Presentation layer – CSS (colours, fonts, layout, responsive design).
• Behaviour layer – JavaScript (optional for interactivity; not required for IGCSE).

9.2 Essential HTML Tags 🟦

9.3 Basic CSS (External stylesheet) 🟦

/* style.css */
body {font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 20px;}
h1 {color: #003366; text-align: center;}
p {margin-bottom: 1em;}
img {max-width: 100%; height: auto;}

Link in the HTML head: <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">

9.4 Publishing & Testing 🟩

• Save files with .html and .css extensions.
• Test locally in multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
• Upload to a web‑host via FTP or use a school server; verify links and media work.

9.5 Example AO3 Question 🟧

“Design a simple web page for a school club. Include a heading, a paragraph, an image with alt text, a navigation menu linking to three other pages, and a table of upcoming events. Explain how you would make the page accessible for visually‑impaired users.”

10. Accessibility & Inclusive Design (AO3)

• Provide alt text for all non‑text objects.
• Use meaningful slide titles and document headings.
• Maintain a colour contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 (WCAG AA).
• Offer captions/subtitles for video and transcripts for audio.
• Avoid flashing or rapidly moving objects that could trigger seizures.
• Keyboard navigation: all controls should be reachable via Tab and Enter.

11. Exam‑Focused Revision Checklist

1. Identify the relevant AO(s) for each question and choose the correct command‑word icon.
2. Master the SDLC flowchart – be able to label each stage and give a brief description.
3. Recall key terminology for hardware, software, networking and safety.
4. Demonstrate file‑management best practices (naming, hierarchy, compression).
5. Produce a correctly formatted document: styles, headers/footers, page numbers, table of contents.
6. Design a simple database: primary key, one‑to‑many relationship, basic query.
7. Write spreadsheet formulas using relative/absolute references; include at least one IF and one lookup function.
8. Create a web page using the three‑