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

Name: Daniel Glazaciov

Target grade:
Score on this assessment: 36/58
Grade for this assessment: C
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 learn the definition of RAM, ROM and their purposes.
2. To ensure that I revise for the test more effectively.
3. To check through my paper more briefly at the end of the test.
Review
One of the questions I got right was 10.What does WIMP stand for? [1 mark]. My answer
was Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointer.
One of the questions I got half right was 21.Who would use a mainframe computer? Give 2
examples. [2 marks]. I put Office workers and Banks. Banks was wrong they dont use
personal computers they use something like mainframe. To get the mark I could have put
teachers.
One of the questions I got completely wrong was 3.Describe the difference between RAM
and ROM. [4 marks]. I missed out on my level of explanation, and significant key words.






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.
Explain why computer systems have both backing storage and RAM.
Computer systems have RAM so that the users can make changes to the data they are currently
working on. Also we need it so that we can store data temporarily. Computer systems also need
backing storage so that users can have a permanent copy of the data they are working on.
Describe 4 features of ROM.
1. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory.
2. It holds instructions which are called BIOS.
3. It is held on a computer chip.
4. It cant load new programs.