Networks — AS & A Level Information Technology (9626) questions by topic
Networks covers comparing switches with routers, weighing peer-to-peer set-ups for companies, explaining why wireless LAN links are less secure than wired ones, and contrasting Bluetooth with Wi-Fi, using describe, compare, explain and discuss across 6 to 9 marks.
10 real questions drawn from 2023 papers make up this set. Contrast-type wording rewards precision over breadth, so an instant-marked attempt shows straightaway whether a listed similarity has cost marks that only differences would have earned, or whether a vague claim needed a concrete technical reason behind it.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is candidates giving similarities on 'contrast' questions, which earn no credit since only differences are rewarded.
- Examiners repeatedly note vague answers such as 'it's secure because it's between certain companies' that lack any technical reasoning.
- Reports flag a misread question where DHCP and dynamic IP assignment were discussed despite not answering what was actually asked.
- Strong answers compared cabled Ethernet's higher data transfer speeds against Wi-Fi's greater susceptibility to interference from other devices.
- Candidates who scored well distinguished static routing tables set by administrators from dynamic ones created and changed by the router itself.
February–March 2023, Paper 32
Cellular networks use 3G, 4G and 5G systems for mobile communications so that users can access internet services. Explain how 4G cellular networks provide a better service than 3G…
Answer this question and get it marked →Contrast the use of Wi-fi and cabled Ethernet connections for transmitting data between computing devices on LANs.
Answer this question and get it marked →Compare the use of static and dynamic routing when sending data packets through IP networks. You must include similarities and differences.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 32
Compare the use of switches and routers in a network.
Answer this question and get it marked →Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are methods of wirelessly connecting devices. (a) Compare the use of Bluetooth with the use of Wi-Fi.
Answer this question and get it marked →The OSI model and the TCP/IP model are both used to describe how data is transmitted between devices. (a) Describe three similarities between the OSI model and the TCP/IP model.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 31
Peer-to-peer networking can be used by companies to connect computing devices. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of peer-to-peer networking by companies.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 32
Cellular networks provide mobile telecommunications to users. (a) Describe the structure of a cellular network.
Answer this question and get it marked →A company allows employees to connect their smartphones to the company's LAN. (a) Describe two reasons why wireless connections to a LAN are less secure than wired connections.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 33
Peer-to-peer networking can be used by companies to connect computing devices. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of peer-to-peer networking by companies.
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Information Technology topics
- Spreadsheets (30)
- Software (22)
- Security (21)
- The impact of IT (21)
- Multimedia (20)
- Data and information (17)
- Databases (16)
- Systems development life cycle (13)
- Web authoring (8)
- Programming (8)
- Hardware (7)
- Monitoring and control (7)
← All AS & A Level Information Technology (9626) past papers