Computer Studies Paper 2, WASSCE (SC), 2018

Question 1

(a) (i)         Define the term computer system.
      (ii)          List the major components of the computer system and give one example of each.
      (b) (i)         List two activities involved in transferring data into information.
            (ii)        Write the following acronyms in full: EDSAC; EDVAC.

Observation

(i) Computer system is defined as an electronic gadget (components/parts/devices/machine)

which accepts/access data, stores data, manipulates data and produces output using step-by-step instructions.
OR
Computer system is defined as components/parts/devices/machine in hardware and software forms needed to create information that could be stored or used as an output.
OR
Computer system is a functional components/parts/devices/machine that have the hardware, software and user working together for data processing activities thereby producing the output

(ii)

Components of Computer System	Examples
System Unit	CPU/Processor/ system clock Memory Power Supply / Cooling fan Motherboards and its components (e.g. ports, expansion slots) Connectors/ Data cables Add-on cards (VGA, sound card, NIC) Hard drive, floppy drive, CD drive, Zip drive.
Peripherals Note: Any external device that provides input to the computer or receives output from the computer is referred to as peripherals	Keyboard/MIDI keyboard/ Mouse/Joystick/Scanner/microphones Monitor/Speaker/Printer/Plotter/Multimedia projector/T.V screen Hard drive, Flash drive/External hard drives / Media card reader Digital camcorders/Digital mixers/MIDI equipment/Video camera Mobile phones/Pen tablet
Application Software	General purpose applications Word processing/spreadsheet/database/desktop publishing/graphics/presentation/web design Special purpose applications (user application) Accounting /payroll package/ Educational software/ Simulation software /Business information system software/ Entertainment software/ Multimedia software/Enterprise infrastructure software/Media development software/ product Engineering software.
System Software	Operating system Utility software Translators

Components of Computer System	Examples
HARDWARE	CPU/Processor/ system clock Memory Power Supply Motherboards and its components (e.g. Ports, Expansion slots) Connectors/ Data cables Add-on cards (VGA, sound card, NIC) Keyboard/MIDI keyboard/ Mouse/Joystick/Scanner/Microphones Monitor/Speaker/Printer/Plotter/Multimedia projector/T.V screen Hard drive, Flash drive/External hard drives / Media card reader Digital camcorders/Digital mixers/MIDI equipment/Video camera Mobile phones/pen tablet

SOFTWARE	General purpose applications Word processing/Spreadsheet/Database/Desktop publishing/Graphics/Presentation/Web design Special purpose applications (user application) Accounting /payroll package/ Educational software/ Simulation/ Business information system software/ Entertainment/ Multimedia software/Enterprise infrastructure software/Media development software/ Product Engineering software.
	Operating system Utility software Translators

(b) (i) Activities involved in transferring data into information

Data capturing/ collection/ gathering/ receiving
Classification/Sorting
Coding
Summarizing
Input
Data Processing/calculating /editing
Validation
Translating

(ii) (I) EDSAC: Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator

(II) EDVAC: Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer

The question tested candidates’ knowledge of computer system and history of computers.

The chief examiner reported that most candidates demonstrated good knowledge of the areas tested.