Secondary 6 Information & Communication Technology

A centralised collection of related data stored and managed as one unit; some books also call it a data store.

Software that manages a database: adding, querying, updating and deleting data while controlling access rights.

A database that organises data into tables linked by keys.

A vertical column in a table describing one attribute of each record, such as a book title.

One horizontal row of a table, gathering all field values for a single item.

The field that uniquely identifies each record in a table; it can neither repeat nor be empty.

A field in one table that refers to the primary key of another table, linking the two tables.

The unnecessary duplication of the same data in more than one place, which risks inconsistency.

The design process of organising data into well-structured tables to reduce redundancy.

The standard language for querying relational databases, using statements such as SELECT, FROM and WHERE.

The combined use of text, graphics, audio, animation and video in one work.

The smallest unit of a bitmap image, recording the colour of one point.

The number of pixels in an image, e.g. 1024×768; higher resolution gives finer detail and larger files.

The number of bits used to store each pixel's colour; 24 bits allow about 16.7 million colours.

An image described as a grid of pixels; it becomes jagged when enlarged and suits photographs.

Graphics described mathematically as points, lines and shapes; they scale without quality loss and suit logos.

Encoding techniques that reduce file size, in lossless and lossy forms.

Compression that restores the original data exactly, suitable for text and detail-critical images.

Compression that discards less noticeable data to shrink files greatly; it cannot be reversed, as in JPEG.

A technique that plays audio or video while it downloads, so users need not wait for the whole file.

The gap between groups in access to devices, networks and the skills to use them.

Buying and selling goods or services over the Internet, such as online shops and banking.

Learning supported by computers and networks, such as online courses and e-textbooks.

Working away from the office with the help of networks and collaboration tools.

Technology that lets computers perform tasks resembling human intelligence, such as image recognition and translation.

Extremely large and fast-growing datasets that need specialised tools to store and analyse.

Analysing large datasets to discover hidden patterns and relationships.

The trail of activity left online, such as browsing and search history.

Measures that protect data from unauthorised access, alteration or destruction, such as encryption and backup.

The ability to recognise information needs, search effectively, evaluate critically and use information ethically.

Legal rights over creations, including copyright, trademarks and patents.

The legal right protecting original works from unauthorised copying or distribution.

Unauthorised copying, downloading or distribution of copyrighted software, media or publications.

Presenting others' work or ideas as one's own without acknowledgement.

The code of polite conduct for online communication.

Deliberately humiliating, threatening or isolating someone through electronic channels.

The legal protection of personal data: collection must be lawful and necessary, and use limited to stated purposes.

The study of designing tools and workspaces to suit the human body and reduce strain.

Injury to muscles or tendons caused by repeated movements such as typing over long periods.

The total daily time spent on screens, which can affect eyesight, sleep and wellbeing.

The syllabus areas every candidate must take, from information processing to social implications.

One of the four optional syllabus areas attempted in Paper 2 according to what the school offers.

Coursework assessed by schools during the course and counted towards the DSE result.

Questions offering four options from which one must be chosen; they reward precise concepts.

Short questions whose marks map to key points; precise terminology earns the marks.

The official document listing acceptable answers and mark points for each question.

The core terms in questions and answers; hitting them is how marks are earned.

The reporting system that describes performance against fixed standards.

A revision tool that shows concepts as nodes linked by relationships.

Papers from past examinations, the first-choice practice material before the exam.

The part examined in Paper 2, offering four modules according to what the school covers.

An elective module covering table design, keys, normalisation and query languages.

An elective module covering data transmission, network devices and protocols.

An elective module covering image and audio principles, compression formats and production.

An elective module covering programming, algorithm design and testing.

A diagram showing entities, attributes and relationships, common in database questions.

The individual points in the marking scheme that each earn marks.

The movement of data between devices, involving direction and speed.

Data used in software development to check normal, boundary and abnormal cases.

The exam technique of budgeting time according to marks and question types.