Be able to place text and automated objects in headers and footers including file information, page numbering, total number of pages, date, time

ICT 0417 – Cambridge IGCSE/A‑Level Syllabus Notes

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and explain the core concepts of each of the 21 content sections of the Cambridge IGCSE ICT syllabus.
• Demonstrate practical competence (AO2) by creating, editing and presenting digital artefacts using appropriate software tools.
• Analyse requirements, evaluate solutions and justify design choices (AO3) in realistic ICT scenarios.

Assessment Objectives (AOs)

Syllabus Coverage Overview

1. Computer Hardware (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Key Concepts (AO1)

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Identify each component on a disassembled PC (or virtual simulation) and label its function.
2. Compare performance of a document opened from SSD vs. HDD – record load times.
3. Assemble a simple PC using a motherboard, CPU, RAM, storage and power supply; verify POST.

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• How would increasing RAM from 4 GB to 16 GB affect multitasking in a typical office environment?
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using cloud‑based storage for a small business.

2. Operating Systems (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Key Concepts (AO1)

• System software – OS manages hardware, provides services to applications.
• Application software – word processors, spreadsheets, browsers, games.
• OS functions – file management, memory management, device drivers, security, multitasking, user interface.
• File‑system types – FAT32, NTFS, HFS+, ext4.
• OS categories – desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) vs. mobile (iOS, Android).

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Create, rename, move and delete files/folders using Windows Explorer and macOS Finder; note differences.
2. Set a custom desktop background, change the default font size, and enable “night mode”.
3. Configure automatic updates and a scheduled backup on the OS level.

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• Compare the security implications of using a proprietary OS versus an open‑source OS in a school environment.
• What are the potential impacts of disabling automatic updates on a business computer?

3. Networks (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Key Concepts (AO1)

• IP addressing – IPv4 (e.g., 192.168.1.10), subnet masks, DHCP.
• Client‑server model – server provides resources, clients request them.
• Network hardware – router (connects networks), switch (connects devices), hub (obsolete), access point (Wi‑Fi).
• Network security basics – firewalls, encryption (WPA2/WPA3), MAC filtering.

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Set up a wired LAN using two PCs, a switch and Ethernet cables; assign static IPs and test connectivity with ping.
2. Configure a Wi‑Fi router: change SSID, set WPA2‑PSK password, enable DHCP.
3. Use the ipconfig /all (Windows) or ifconfig (macOS/Linux) command to display IP configuration.

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• What are the advantages of using a wired LAN over Wi‑Fi in a school computer lab?
• Discuss the risks of using public Wi‑Fi for accessing confidential school data and propose mitigation measures.

4. Effects of IT & ICT Applications (AO1, AO3)

Positive and Negative Impacts (AO1)

Practical Task (AO2)

• Research an ICT application (e.g., online banking). Produce a two‑page report that lists at least three benefits and three risks, citing reliable sources and including a bibliography.

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• How does the increased use of video‑conferencing affect the carbon footprint of a multinational company?
• Evaluate the ethical considerations of using facial‑recognition software in public spaces.

5. Systems Life‑Cycle (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Stages (AO1)

1. Planning – define objectives, scope, resources, feasibility study.
2. Analysis – gather user requirements, create requirement specifications.
3. Design – develop data flow diagrams, UI mock‑ups, database schema.
4. Implementation – code, configure, or assemble the system.
5. Testing – unit, integration, acceptance testing; record defects.
6. Maintenance – updates, backups, support, decommissioning.

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Write a brief project plan for a school library inventory system covering Planning, Analysis and Design.
2. Produce a simple risk register (e.g., data loss, hardware failure) with probability and impact ratings.

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• Why is it important to involve end‑users during the Analysis stage of a system development project?
• Critically assess the benefits of performing a pilot test before full deployment.

6. Safety & Security (e‑Safety) (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Physical Safety (AO1)

• Ergonomic workstation setup – chair height, monitor distance, keyboard angle.
• Electrical hazards – electrocution, fire, overloaded sockets.
• Trip hazards – cable management, clear floor space.
• Heavy equipment – proper lifting techniques.

Data & Information Security (AO1)

Legal & Ethical Issues (AO1)

• Copyright – permission, licences, Creative Commons.
• Data protection – GDPR principles (lawfulness, purpose limitation, data minimisation).
• Cyber‑bullying – policies, reporting mechanisms.

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Configure a Windows account with a strong password (minimum 12 characters, mixed case, numbers, symbols) and enable BitLocker encryption.
2. Run a full system scan with an anti‑virus program and generate a report.
3. Set up a scheduled backup to an external drive (weekly full, daily incremental).

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• Analyse the impact of the GDPR on small‑scale school data handling practices.
• Compare the effectiveness of password policies versus biometric authentication for protecting student records.

7. Audience & Communication (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Audience Analysis (AO1)

• Age, knowledge level, cultural background, purpose of the document.
• Determine appropriate language, tone, and media (text, graphics, audio, video).

Communication Model (AO1)

Sender → Message → Channel → Receiver → Feedback

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Write a brief instruction leaflet for “How to log in to the school portal” aimed at Year 7 students – use simple language and icons.
2. Design a poster for a school charity event targeting parents – choose appropriate colour scheme and imagery.

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• How does the choice of media (e‑mail vs. printed flyer) affect the reach and effectiveness of a school announcement?
• Evaluate the importance of visual hierarchy in a business report for senior management.

8. File Management (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Best Practices (AO1)

• Folder hierarchy: Root → Year → Project → Documents
• File‑naming conventions: no spaces, use underscores, version number, date (e.g., ReportV22025-10-12.docx).
• File formats: .docx (text), .xlsx (spreadsheets), .pptx (presentations), .pdf (portable), .jpg/.png (images).
• Compression: .zip, .rar – useful for emailing multiple files.
• Backup methods: external HDD, cloud (Google Drive, OneDrive), incremental vs. full backup.

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Create a folder structure for a three‑month project; save a document, spreadsheet and presentation using the naming convention.
2. Compress the entire project folder into a .zip file and extract it on a different computer.
3. Set up an automatic weekly backup to a cloud service (e.g., Google Drive sync).

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• Discuss the pros and cons of using cloud backup versus local external‑drive backup for a small business.
• Why is a consistent naming convention important when collaborating on a group project?

9. Working with Images (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Raster vs. Vector (AO1)

Basic Editing (AO2)

• Resize, crop, rotate, adjust brightness/contrast.
• Apply simple effects – border, drop shadow, colour filter.
• Convert between formats while preserving quality (e.g., PNG → JPG for web).
• Compress images for faster web loading (use “Save for Web”).

Evaluation (AO3)

Explain why a company’s logo should be stored as a vector file when it will be used on both business cards and a billboard.

10. Layout, Styles & Proof‑Reading (including Headers & Footers) (AO1, AO2, AO3)

10.1 Page Layout Fundamentals (AO1)

• Page size (A4, Letter), orientation (portrait/landscape), margins, columns, gutters.
• Inserting page breaks, section breaks, continuous breaks.
• Using tables for structured data and for layout control.

10.2 Headers & Footers – Detailed Guide (AO1, AO2)

Headers and footers appear on every page (unless overridden) and are ideal for static text and automated fields.

Automated Field Codes (Microsoft Word example)

• { PAGE } – current page number
• { NUMPAGES } – total number of pages
• { FILENAME \* MERGEFORMAT } – file name
• { AUTHOR } – author property
• { DATE \@ "dd MMMM yyyy" } – formatted date
• { TIME \@ "HH:mm" } – formatted time

Step‑by‑Step Procedure (Microsoft Word)

1. Open the document → Insert tab.
2. Choose Header or Footer → Edit Header/Footer.
3. Place the cursor where the element will appear.
4. For static text, type directly.
5. For automated objects:

   • Click Quick Parts → Field….
   • Select the required field (e.g., Page for page number).
   • Set any formatting options (number style, alignment) and click OK.

6. To create “Page X of Y”, insert { PAGE }, type “ of ”, then insert { NUMPAGES }.
7. Use the Header & Footer Tools – Design tab to:

   • Enable Different First Page (title page).
   • Enable Different Odd & Even Pages for book‑style layouts.

8. Close the header/footer view (double‑click outside or click Close Header and Footer).

Example Layouts

• Simple Report: Header – file name centred; Footer – “Page 1 of 8” centred, date left, time right.
• Letterhead: Header – logo left, document title centred, author right; Footer – page number centred, “Printed on 12 Oct 2025” left.

10.3 Styles (AO1, AO2)

• Paragraph styles: Heading 1, Heading 2, Normal, Quote – control font, size, colour, spacing.
• Character styles: Emphasis, Strong, Hyperlink – apply to selected text.
• Benefits: consistent formatting, rapid document‑wide changes, easier navigation (styles pane, table of contents).

10.4 Proof‑Reading (AO1, AO3)

• Spell‑check and grammar tools – set language, add custom dictionary.
• Visual verification – check alignment, spacing, heading hierarchy.
• Peer‑review checklist: spelling, punctuation, consistency of headings, correct page numbers.

Practical Activity (AO2)

1. Produce a two‑page report on “The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers”. Include:

   • Header with file name (centre) and author (right).
   • Footer with “Page X of Y” (centre) and current date (left).
   • Use Heading 1 for the title, Heading 2 for sections, and Normal for body text.

2. Run spell‑check, then exchange the document with a partner for a visual proof‑read.

Evaluation Questions (AO3)

• How does the use of styles improve accessibility for users of screen‑reading software?
• Critically assess the impact of automated page‑number fields when a document is printed as a booklet.

11. Graphs & Charts (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Key Concepts (AO1)

• Choosing the appropriate chart type: bar, column, line, pie, scatter.
• Axes – titles, units, scaling.
• Data labels, legends, gridlines.
• Interpreting trends, outliers and relationships.

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Using a spreadsheet, create a column chart to compare quarterly sales figures for three products.
2. Add data labels, a chart title and axis titles; format colours for clarity.
3. Export the chart as a high‑resolution PNG and insert it into a Word report.

Evaluation (AO3)

• When would a pie chart be misleading, and what alternative visualisation would you recommend?
• Analyse how the choice of colour palette can affect the readability of a chart for colour‑blind users.

12. Document Production (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Types of Documents (AO1)

• Reports – formal structure, headings, tables, references.
• Letters – business format, salutation, sign‑off.
• Brochures – tri‑fold layout, persuasive language, images.

Practical Skills (AO2)

1. Use a pre‑designed template to create a one‑page newsletter for a school club.
2. Set up a mail‑merge in Word to generate personalised invitation letters from a spreadsheet of names and addresses.
3. Export the final document as a PDF with security settings (no editing, password‑protected).

Evaluation (AO3)

• Discuss the advantages of using PDF over DOCX when distributing a public report.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of a tri‑fold brochure compared with a single‑page flyer for a charity event.

13. Databases (AO1, AO2, AO3)

Key Concepts (AO1)

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