ICT GCSE Project 2: A Brief Guide

Analysis (up to 12 marks)

• Identify and describe a system that has problems you can solve (up to 4 marks)
   
• Research the system using one or more approved techniques (up to 4 marks)
   
• Define a solution involving inputs, processes and outputs to solve the problems (up to 4 marks)
   
• The solution should include at least two pieces of software e.g. database, spreadsheet, word processor, DTP with automatic data transfer between them (e.g. mail merge)
   

Design (up to 12 marks)

• Design a data structure for the solution defined above; there should be two versions, the second an improvement on the first (up to 3 marks)
   

• Design input forms for the solution, including data entry and queries; there should be two versions, the second an improvement on the first (up to 3 marks)
   

• Design outputs for the solution including mail merge documents; there should be two versions, the second an improvement on the first (up to 3 marks)
   

• Define software and hardware requirements for the solution; compare two of each (up to 3 marks)
   

Implementation (up to 14 marks)

• Describe the features of the software you used to create the data structure for the solution; describe and justify refinements added since design (up to 4 marks)
   
• Describe the features of the software you used to create the inputs and outputs for the solution; describe and justify refinements added since design (up to 4 marks)
   
• Describe and justify your choice of features in the software packages used e.g. data import, mail merge, searching, query design (up to 4 marks)
   
• Describe automatic data transfer between two software packages e.g. Access->Word for mail merge; the account can be in Implementation, Testing or the User Guide sections (up to 2 marks)
   

Testing (up to 7 marks)

• Devise some test data and use them to show that your system works; generate appropriate hard copy e.g. query results, mail merge documents
   
• Describe at least two tests; test the system thoroughly; have a user test the system and provide feedback (up to 4 marks)
   
• Describe the results of the tests and explain choice of test data; compare actual with expected results (up to 3 marks)
   

Documentation (User Guide) (up to 7 marks)

• Show a user how to enter, amend and save data in your system (up to 2 marks)
   
• Show a user how to process and output data (up to 3 marks)
   
• Show a user what problems may arise and how to avoid them (up to 2 marks)
   

Evaluation (up to 4 marks)

• Describe the solution, what it can do; compare the solution with the system proposed in Analysis; compare the solution with the design; suggest improvements; evaluate the solution from the point of view of users (up to 4 marks)

Written communication is worth up to 4 further marks, making a total of 60. June 2007 mark boundaries were 53 (A*), 44 (A), 35 (B).

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