Information Technology Grade 10 P2 2026 Memo (Eng)

Mock hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 10 Exam Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 10 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY P2 NOVEMBER EXAMINATION 2026 (MOCK) MARKING GUIDELINES MARKS: 100 These marking guidelines consist of 10 pages. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 2 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION A: SHORT QUESTIONS QUESTION 1 1.1 1.1.1 B – Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) ✓ (1) 1.1.2 C – RJ-45 ✓ (1) 1.1.3 D – Cache, RAM, solid-state drive, hard disk drive ✓ (1) 1.1.4 C – 1 024 GB ✓ (1) 1.1.5 B – freeware ✓ (1) 1.1.6 C – SMTP ✓ (1) 1.1.7 C – sSurname ✓ (1) 1.1.8 C – 7 ✓ (i = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) (1) 1.1.9 B – worm ✓ (1) 1.1.10 C – registers ✓ (1) 1.2 1.2.1 B – compression ✓ (1) 1.2.2 G – protocol ✓ (1) 1.2.3 H – spam ✓ (1) 1.2.4 E – flowchart ✓ (1) 1.2.5 F – IP address ✓ (1) 1.3 Award the mark for a FALSE statement only if the correct word/term is given. 1.3.1 False – input (device) ✓ (1) 1.3.2 False – WAN ✓ (1) 1.3.3 True ✓ (1) 1.3.4 False – logical (logic) error ✓ (1) 1.3.5 True ✓ (1) TOTAL SECTION A: 20 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 3 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION B: SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES QUESTION 2 2.1.1 Any ONE of: ✓ webcam / microphone / (backlit) keyboard / touchpad Do not accept the display unless ”touch screen” is stated – the advertisement does not say it is a touch screen. (1) 2.1.2 The processor (chip) contains six processing units (cores) that can each execute instructions ✓ Advantage (any ONE): several instructions/tasks can be processed at the same time (multitasking/parallel processing) – faster overall performance ✓ (2) 2.1.3 Cache is a small amount of very fast memory (on/next to the CPU) that stores frequently/recently used data and instructions ✓ so that the CPU does not have to wait for the slower RAM – it speeds up processing ✓ (2) 2.1.4 Any TWO of: ✓✓ • Connects all the components (CPU, RAM, storage, expansion cards) to one another • Provides the pathways (buses) along which data/signals travel between components • Distributes power to the components • Provides the sockets/slots and ports for the CPU, RAM, expansion cards and peripherals • Holds the BIOS/UEFI (ROM) chip (2) 2.1.5 Bluetooth ✓ Bluetooth only. Do not accept Wi-Fi. (1) 2.2.1 Any ONE of: ✓ • Much larger storage capacity • Smaller / more portable / more durable (no moving parts, does not scratch) • Data can easily be changed/re-written many times • Faster to read and write • New computers/laptops no longer have optical (CD/DVD) drives, but all have USB ports (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 4 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 2.2.2 Advantage (any ONE): files can be accessed from any device/anywhere with an internet connection / cannot be lost or damaged like a flash drive / no risk of spreading viruses via the flash drive / automatic backup / easy to share ✓ Disadvantage (any ONE): needs an internet connection to access files / uses data (costs money) / slow with poor connection / privacy and security concerns – files are stored on someone else’s server / service may charge fees or close down ✓ (2) 2.3.1 Any ONE of: ✓ scanning / copying (photocopying) / faxing (1) 2.3.2 Documents waiting to be printed are stored in a queue/buffer (in memory or on disk) and sent to the printer one at a time, in order, so that users can carry on working without waiting for the printer ✓ (1) 2.3.3 Any TWO of: ✓✓ • Prints faster – more pages per minute • Lower cost per page (toner lasts longer than ink cartridges) • Sharper, smudge-free text – better quality for documents/CVs • Better suited for high volumes of printing • Toner does not dry out if the printer is not used for some time (2) 2.4.1 Any TWO of: ✓✓ • The OS allocates (assigns) RAM to each program/process that is running • It keeps track of which parts of memory are in use and frees memory when a program is closed • It prevents programs from using/overwriting each other’s memory • It uses virtual memory (disk space) when RAM is full (2) 2.4.2 Any ONE of: ✓ easier to learn and use – no commands need to be remembered/typed / uses icons, menus and a mouse/touch / user can see what is happening (visual) / many programs can be seen in windows at the same time (1) 2.4.3 • An SSD has no moving parts and can access any part of its memory equally fast, so fragmented files do not slow it down – defragmenting gives no speed benefit ✓ • Defragmenting writes large amounts of data, which uses up the limited number of write cycles of the SSD and shortens its lifespan ✓ Also accept: Windows optimises SSDs automatically (TRIM) – defragmenting is not needed. (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 5 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 2.5.1 • Shareware: software that may be used free for a trial period or with limited features; the user must then pay to continue using it / to get the full version ✓ • Open-source software: the source code is available to the public, and users may study, modify (change) and redistribute it (usually free of charge) ✓ (2) 2.5.2 End-User Licence Agreement: the legal agreement/contract between the software company and the user that states how the software may (and may not) be used ✓ (1) 2.5.3 • A single-user licence gives permission to install and use the program on only ONE computer ✓ • Installing it on all eight computers would break the licence agreement/copyright law – it is software piracy (illegal), and the café could be fined/sued; he must buy more licences or a multi-user/site licence ✓ (2) TOTAL SECTION B: 25 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 6 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION C: COMMUNICATION AND NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES QUESTION 3 3.1.1 A: Router ✓ (Also accept: modem/router, fibre router) B: Switch ✓ (Also accept: hub) C: Wireless access point (WAP) ✓ (Also accept: access point / wireless router / Wi-Fi hotspot device) (3) 3.1.2 Any TWO of: ✓✓ (a difference must refer to both types, or the opposite must be clearly implied) • Client–server: a dedicated server provides services (files, printing, security) to the clients; peer-to-peer: no dedicated server – all computers are equal and share resources with each other • Client–server: centralised control, security and backups (by a network administrator); peer-to-peer: each user controls/backs up his/her own computer • Client–server: more expensive (server hardware/software, administrator); peer-to-peer: cheaper and easier to set up • Client–server: suitable for larger networks; peer-to-peer: suitable only for small networks (up to about 10 computers) • Client–server: if the server fails, the network services stop; peer-to-peer: the failure of one computer does not affect the others (2) 3.1.3 Any ONE of: ✓ store customers’/café files centrally (file server) / manage printing – print queue and counting pages for billing (print server) / control user logins and security / control and monitor internet access and time used (proxy) / make backups / run the café’s billing software (1) 3.1.4 Any TWO of: ✓✓ • Much higher bandwidth / faster data transfer speeds • Can carry data over much longer distances without signal loss (less attenuation) • Not affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI) / crosstalk / lightning • More secure – very difficult to tap/intercept • Thinner and lighter (2) 3.2.1 Any ONE of: ✓ e-mail accounts / web hosting / domain registration / cloud storage / technical support / security services (spam/virus filtering) / VoIP telephone services (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 7 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 3.2.2 • Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transferred over the connection per second (e.g. 100 Mbps) ✓ • The 100 Mbps is shared between all the devices; when many devices stream video at the same time, each device gets only a small part of the bandwidth, so data arrives slowly ✓ (2) 3.3.1 Any ONE of: ✓ Zoom / Microsoft Teams / Google Meet / Skype / WhatsApp (video call) Accept any correct video-conferencing app. Do not accept hardware (e.g. webcam) or a web browser alone. (1) 3.3.2 Any ONE of: ✓ no travel costs/time to get to the interview / can be interviewed by a company in another city or country / can attend from anywhere / saves money / quicker to arrange (1) 3.4 • A web browser (e.g. Google Chrome) is a program used to access, retrieve and display web pages ✓ • A search engine (e.g. Google Search) is a website/service that searches for and lists web pages that match the keywords that the user enters ✓ (2) TOTAL SECTION C: 15 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 8 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION D: DATA AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT QUESTION 4 4.1.1 2 202 2 101 r0 2 50 r1 2 25 r0 2 12 r1 2 6 r0 2 3 r0 2 1 r1 0 r1 Working (repeated division by 2, or 128 + 64 + 8 + 2) ✓ Answer: 110010102 ✓ (2) 4.1.2 1x128 + 0x64 + 0x32 + 1x16 + 1x8 + 0x4 + 1x2 + 1x1 ✓ = 128 + 16 + 8 + 2 + 1 = 155 ✓ (2) 4.1.3 B(11) x 16 + 4 x 1 ✓ = 176 + 4 = 180 ✓ (2) 4.1.4 255 ✓ (111111112 ; also accept: 0 to 255 / 256 different values) (1) 4.2 Total size: 240 x 4 = 960 MB ✓ 1 GB = 1 024 MB ✓ 960 MB < 1 024 MB, so YES – all the photos will fit (64 MB space is left) ✓ Also accept 1 GB = 1 000 MB (40 MB left). Mark the conclusion with CA from the candidate’s total. (3) 4.3.1 (a) A document in Portable Document Format (PDF document / Adobe Acrobat file) ✓ (b) An (MP3) audio/music/sound file ✓ (2) 4.3.2 The operating system uses the extension to decide which program opens the file; the file is still a Word document, so an image program will try to open it and will not be able to (error / corrupt file) ✓ (1) 4.4 (a) String ✓ (a leading 0 would be lost with Integer; no calculations are done with it) (b) Boolean ✓ (2) TOTAL SECTION D: 15 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 9 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION E: SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT QUESTION 5 5.1.1 Num Digit Total Num > 0 ? Output 4073 0 True 407 3 3 True 40 7 10 True 4 0 10 True 0 4 14 False 14 • Digit: 3, 7, 0, 4 ✓ • Total: 3, 10, 10, 14 ✓ • Num: 407, 40, 4, 0 ✓ • Num > 0: True four times, then False ✓ • Output: 14 ✓ Layout may differ; mark values in the correct order (CA). (5) 5.1.2 It calculates (and displays) the sum of the digits of the number that is input ✓ (1) 5.1.3 The number of times the loop must repeat depends on the number of digits in Num, which is not known beforehand / the loop must stop when a condition (Num = 0) is reached ✓ (1) 5.2.1 8 ✓ (10 DIV 3 = 3; 3 * 2 = 6; 2 + 6 = 8) (1) 5.2.2 3✓ (1) 5.2.3 13 ✓ (1) 5.2.4 36 ✓ (1) 5.3.1 Line 3 ✓ rCost := iPages * 1.5 ✓ Assignment needs := . No semicolon may be added before else – if one is added, award only the line-number mark. (2) 5.3.2 90 ✓ (also accept 90.00 / R90) (1) 5.3.3 Edit box (TEdit) ✓ (1) TOTAL SECTION E: 15 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Information Technology/P2 10 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION F: SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS QUESTION 6 6.1.1 Phishing ✓ (Also accept: spoofing / e-mail scam) (1) 6.1.2 Any TWO of: ✓✓ • A bank never asks for your PIN/card number by e-mail • The sender’s address/link is not the bank’s official domain (a strange .info address) • The link uses http, not secure https • Urgent, threatening language / time pressure (24 hours, ”money will be lost”) • Generic greeting (”Dear Client”) instead of the customer’s name (2) 6.2.1 Any TWO of: ✓✓ • The computer runs much slower than normal / freezes / crashes • Unexpected pop-ups / messages appear • Files disappear, are changed, become corrupted, or are hidden / shortcuts replace files on flash drives • Programs start or close on their own / settings change • Unusual network activity / e-mails are sent from the account without the user knowing (2) 6.2.2 Any ONE of: ✓ keep the antivirus/OS updated (install updates/patches) / automatically scan all flash drives when they are inserted / disable AutoRun/AutoPlay / limit user rights so customers cannot install software / use a firewall / make regular backups (1) 6.3 RSI: pain/damage to muscles, tendons or nerves (e.g. in the hands, wrists, arms, neck) caused by repeating the same movements (typing, clicking) for long periods ✓ Prevention (any ONE): take regular breaks and stretch / keep wrists straight – use a wrist rest / ergonomic keyboard and mouse / correct posture and desk and chair height / vary tasks ✓ (2) 6.4 Digital divide: the gap between people who have access to computers/the internet (and the skills to use them) and those who do not ✓ The café gives people who do not own a computer or cannot afford data affordable access to computers, printers and the internet (e.g. to apply for jobs online) / staff help customers to develop computer skills ✓ (2) TOTAL SECTION F: 10 GRAND TOTAL: 100 Copyright reserved