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🏆 Score: 0 / 26
1 [4 Marks Total]
(a) Identify whether each statement best describes Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
Connecting peripheral devices like headphones over short range.
Wired connection using a physical cable to a switch/router.
Wireless connection to a LAN using radio waves, typically covering a building.
(b) State one piece of hardware required for a wired connection but not for wireless. [1]
✅ Mark Scheme

(a)

  • Headphones: Bluetooth
  • Wired cable: Ethernet
  • Building LAN: Wi-Fi

(b) Ethernet Cable / Copper Cable.

Score yourself (Max 4):
2 [6 Marks Total]
Scenario: Sam is a video editor uploading large 4K files.
(a) Explain two reasons Sam should use wired Ethernet for this task. [4] (b) Sam uses a tablet in the garden. Explain why Wi-Fi is better here. [2]
✅ Mark Scheme

(a) Wired Benefits:

  • Speed: Higher bandwidth (1) for faster upload of large files (1).
  • Stability: No interference (1) so upload won't fail/lag (1).
  • Security: Harder to intercept (1) keeping professional work safe (1).

(b) Wi-Fi Benefit: Mobility/Portability (1) allows her to move around garden without cables (1).

Score yourself (Max 6):
3 [5 Marks Total]
Wi-Fi performance and security.
(a) Identify three factors that negatively affect Wi-Fi performance. [3] (b) Explain why encryption is important for wireless networks. [2]
✅ Mark Scheme

(a) Factors (Any 3): Number of users, distance from WAP, physical obstructions (walls), interference from other devices.

(b) Encryption: Wireless signals can be intercepted (1), encryption scrambles data so it is unreadable/meaningless without the key (1).

Score yourself (Max 5):
4 [3 Marks Total]
Smart Home setup: Wi-Fi vs Bluetooth.
(a) Compare Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in terms of range and bandwidth. [2] (b) Justify using Wi-Fi for a Smart Speaker instead of Bluetooth. [1]
✅ Mark Scheme

(a) Wi-Fi has larger range AND higher bandwidth than Bluetooth.

(b) Speaker might be far from phone / Streaming high quality audio needs better bandwidth.

Score yourself (Max 3):
5 [8 Marks Total]
Extended Response: School network upgrade. Discuss benefits/drawbacks of Option A (Ethernet to every desk) vs Option B (Wi-Fi across school).
✅ Mark Scheme

Ethernet (Wired): Faster, more stable, more secure. But expensive to install, time-consuming, no mobility.

Wi-Fi (Wireless): Mobile/convenient, cheaper/easier installation, supports BYOD. But slower (shared bandwidth), interference issues, less secure.

Conclusion: Hybrid often best.

Score yourself (Max 8):