[Free help] Does anyone have any issues with IT Apps? I can (hopefully) help

[maybesortof]

First of all thanks a ton for the responses to my questions earlier.

Now I just have a few questions regarding the exam, for instance what happens if the question asks "Display one disadvantage" and instead I list several, also if I'm doing a sequential question with parts like a/b/c/d and I write something for 'b' but then find out 'c' is a somewhat similar question am I better off answering the question with completely new knowledge or is it better to just reiterate what I wrote in part b.

Finally are they're any answers to the VCAA Sample Questions

 

Thanks for the help guys.

[ITTeacher]

Cheers Acid and Aaron. So do flowcharts and ERDs look the same when expressed as a diagram? I know that ERDs have attributes (squares), relationships (diamonds) and entities (ovals) but what do flowcharts look like?

Also another question. Question 2 on the 2014 exam seems a bit strange:
"A chat site was initially created for intranet use in a small company. The company has now decided to have an open section with internet access and add a multimedia option so that users can post videos and audio files. Explain how these two actions will affect accessibility". (4marks)

The way I understand accessibility is that it tests whether the website is able to be used by the intended users (special needs or technical access). I suppose you could mention that the audio files assist blind people's accessibility, but how would explain the open section with internet access? Surely the intended users could already access the site as they are the employees with access to the intranet... Not sure about this one.

Flowcharts aren't in the IT Applications Key Knowledge/Key Skills anywhere. They haven't appeared in any of the exams from 2011-2014 (the current study design). I know they appear on some commercially purchased exams - they shouldn't.

Don't spend time on them. They're completely different to ERDs.

[ITTeacher]

First of all thanks a ton for the responses to my questions earlier.

Now I just have a few questions regarding the exam, for instance what happens if the question asks "Display one disadvantage" and instead I list several, also if I'm doing a sequential question with parts like a/b/c/d and I write something for 'b' but then find out 'c' is a somewhat similar question am I better off answering the question with completely new knowledge or is it better to just reiterate what I wrote in part b.

Finally are they're any answers to the VCAA Sample Questions

 (Image removed from quote.)

Thanks for the help guys.

MK and KK published answers to the sample exam after it was first published in 2010 or 2011.

Since that time, VCAA have released additional questions, which I'm not sure if MK and KK have produced answers for. You can find their answers at vceit.com

VCAA have never and will never publish answers to those questions, so you'll never get a definitive answer.

Some of the questions are poorly written, and so can't be answered in complete alignment with the study design, however, if you want to upload your answers I'd be happy to give you feedback/direction.

[jonte]

Flowcharts aren't in the IT Applications Key Knowledge/Key Skills anywhere. They haven't appeared in any of the exams from 2011-2014 (the current study design). I know they appear on some commercially purchased exams - they shouldn't.

Don't spend time on them. They're completely different to ERDs.

Interesting as both my textbook and revision notes discuss flowcharts. Good to know though. I remember my teacher saying something about "Flowcharts are usually the incorrect answer for multiple choice, that's the only time they appear".

Thanks for your response. If you have time, do you have any input on my accessibility question?

[Colanopy]

Thanks ITTeacher for the response!

Another question: What is the difference between a data structure table and a data dictionary?

[Orson]

Thanks ITTeacher for the response!

Another question: What is the difference between a data structure table and a data dictionary?

I think they are the same thing. They have all the information about fields; data type, description, field size, input masks, validation rules, and existence requirements. (I checked the vceit site, and that's what I gathered)...

Can I get a confirmation from someone?

[maybesortof]

MK and KK published answers to the sample exam after it was first published in 2010 or 2011.

Since that time, VCAA have released additional questions, which I'm not sure if MK and KK have produced answers for. You can find their answers at vceit.com

VCAA have never and will never publish answers to those questions, so you'll never get a definitive answer.

Some of the questions are poorly written, and so can't be answered in complete alignment with the study design, however, if you want to upload your answers I'd be happy to give you feedback/direction.

Hi thanks for the reply,

The initial question was one I had, had for a while so if i come across another one and I'm still unsure I'll shoot it your way, also I had checked VCEIT and I just tried to check there again but I could only find answers to the SD sample questions.

Once again thanks for your help my IT teacher has been taking my schools duke of ed camp for the last two weeks including this coming week so I've had no way of asking him anything so I really appreciate your help.

[Acid]

You'll need to know very little about wired/wireless communications. There's only one key knowledge point relating to them, and you should refer to the Glossary Terms which tells exactly which wired/wireless communication mediums to focus on.
Wired:
Fibre optic
Twisted Pair
Wireless:
Satellite
Microwave
Infra Red
Radio

Having an idea of where each is used and why it is the right choice for that environment would be sufficient.

Thank you! ITTeacher, you are the best! 

[Acid]

Anyone else doing company IT exams? Is it just me or are they very ambiguous and dodgy, also some of the stuff is irrelevant to VCE IT Apps?

[ITTeacher]

Interesting as both my textbook and revision notes discuss flowcharts. Good to know though. I remember my teacher saying something about "Flowcharts are usually the incorrect answer for multiple choice, that's the only time they appear".

Thanks for your response. If you have time, do you have any input on my accessibility question?

Accessibility should always be linked to vision impaired users, which, if I remember correctly, you referred to.

According to the assessors report for that question, it went on to speak about how changing from opening up the chat room from being an intranet based (closed) feature, it was becoming open, which therefore allowed access to a wider audience.

I would ignore the second part of the response. It would be unlikely you'd get a 4 mark accessibility question again, and any 2 mark question should be answered with vision impairment first and foremost.

[ITTeacher]

Thanks ITTeacher for the response!

Another question: What is the difference between a data structure table and a data dictionary?

The most important difference is their place in the study design.

Data structure table - IT Apps.
Data dictionary - IT Software development.

I haven't taught IT SD since 2013, but from my memory, a data dictionary would be included in the internal documentation written into code and discuss the data types in similar ways to a data structure table.

[Acid]

Cheers Acid and Aaron. So do flowcharts and ERDs look the same when expressed as a diagram? I know that ERDs have attributes (squares), relationships (diamonds) and entities (ovals) but what do flowcharts look like?

Also another question. Question 2 on the 2014 exam seems a bit strange:
"A chat site was initially created for intranet use in a small company. The company has now decided to have an open section with internet access and add a multimedia option so that users can post videos and audio files. Explain how these two actions will affect accessibility". (4marks)


The way I understand accessibility is that it tests whether the website is able to be used by the intended users (special needs or technical access). I suppose you could mention that the audio files assist blind people's accessibility, but how would explain the open section with internet access? Surely the intended users could already access the site as they are the employees with access to the intranet... Not sure about this one.

I feel this is another one of those ambiguous questions...
I would say connecting it to the internet allows a larger group of people to access the website and attracts a larger audience?
Or maybe the intended users are able to access the website from anywhere rather than only through the intranet?

[Colanopy]

The most important difference is their place in the study design.

Data structure table - IT Apps.
Data dictionary - IT Software development.

So I guess I Data Dictionaries are irrelevant for me then? Thanks~

[Acid]

Topologies and network protocols are not examinable, right?

[jonte]

Topologies and network protocols are not examinable, right?

I was under the impression that TCP/IP, 802.11, FTP, SMTP and POP3 were examinable - but most likely only in multiple choice, if at all.

As for topologies (bus, star, etc.), that's only in Software Development.