Computer Applications Technology Grade 12 P2 2026 Memo (Eng)

hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 12 NSC Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 12 COMPUTER APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY P2 MOCK EXAMINATION 2026 MARKING GUIDELINES MARKS: 150 These marking guidelines consist of 12 pages. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 2 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO MARKERS • Revisit the questions and the marking guidelines frequently during the marking session. • Read the entire answer and check that it correlates with the question. Do not focus only on keywords. • Accept correct answers that are expressed differently, e.g. the marking guidelines state ’slow’ and the candidate responds ’not fast’. • In general, ONE mark is awarded per fact. Beware of overlapping answers to a specific question. • Where a question requires a candidate to LIST or NAME: mark the first number of answers/facts required, e.g. the first TWO facts if TWO were required, even if presented in paragraph format. • Questions requiring longer answers must be regarded as a single unit. Marks can be awarded if correct statements are found anywhere in the answer. • The answers below are not exhaustive: accept any other correct and relevant answers. SECTION A QUESTION 1: MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTION 2: MATCHING ITEMS 1.1 C3 1 2.1 A3 firmware 1 1.2 B3 1 2.2 M3 phishing 1 1.3 B3 1 2.3 C3 resolution 1 1.4 A3 1 2.4 H3 cloud storage 1 1.5 B3 1 2.5 L3 #DIV/0! 1 1.6 C3 1 2.6 J3 scalability 1 1.7 C3 1 2.7 I3 bibliography 1 1.8 B3 1 2.8 E3 PAN 1 1.9 B3 1 2.9 F3 spam 1 1.10 C3 1 2.10 O3 href 1 [10] [10] QUESTION 3: TRUE/FALSE ITEMS (Note to marker: Award the mark if the correct term is given without the word FALSE. Do NOT award the mark if only FALSE is written.) 3.1 True 3 1 3.2 False – router 3 (accept modem) 1 3.3 False – hard disk drive/HDD 3 1 3.4 True 3 1 3.5 False – Secondary 3 1 [5] TOTAL SECTION A: 25 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 3 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION B QUESTION 4: SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES 4.1 An SSD stores data electronically in flash memory chips (no moving 2 parts) 3 An HDD stores data magnetically on spinning platters that are read by a moving read/write head 3 4.2 (1) Portable/can be used anywhere 2 (2) Built-in battery – can work during power failures/load-shedding (3) Takes up less space (4) Built-in webcam, microphone, touchpad and Wi-Fi (5) Uses less electricity 33 (Any two) 4.3 (1) HDMI 2 (2) DisplayPort (3) VGA (4) DVI (5) USB-C/Thunderbolt 33 (Any two) 4.4.1 Performs the power-on self-test (POST) and/or starts (boots) the 1 computer by loading the operating system 3 (Firmware that controls the basic hardware settings) 4.4.2 Software that allows the operating system to communicate with 1 (control) a specific hardware device 3 4.5.1 Upgrade: Add more RAM 3 2 Motivation: More programs/data can be kept in memory at the same time, so less virtual memory (swapping to disk) is needed 3 OR Upgrade: Install an SSD 3– faster access to data/virtual memory 3 OR Upgrade: Faster CPU/more cores 3– processes more instructions at the same time 3 4.5.2 Part of the storage (hard drive/SSD) 3 that is used as if it is RAM 2 when the RAM is full 3 4.6 Software that is hosted online (in the cloud) 3 and that the user 2 accesses through the internet/a browser, usually by paying a subscription, instead of installing it 3 4.7.1 A device that combines several functions, e.g. printing, scanning, 1 copying (and faxing) in one device 3 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 4 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 4.7.2 (1) Print speed (pages per minute) 2 (2) Print quality/resolution (dpi) (3) Cost per page/cost of cartridges or toner (4) Colour or black-and-white printing (5) Connectivity (Wi-Fi/network/USB) (6) Duplex (double-sided) printing (7) Paper capacity/paper sizes supported (8) Monthly duty cycle (expected volume) 33 (Any two) 4.8 (1) Fix bugs/errors 2 (2) Close security loopholes/vulnerabilities (3) Add new features (4) Improve performance/stability (5) Improve compatibility with new hardware/software 33 (Any two) 4.9 Compression reduces the size of a file 3 2 Encryption scrambles/encodes the data so that it can only be read with the correct key/password 3 4.10 (1) Speech/voice recognition software 2 (2) Eye-tracking device (3) Trackball/large trackball (4) Head pointer/mouth stick (5) Sip-and-puff switch (6) On-screen keyboard (with a pointing device) (7) Sticky Keys/Filter Keys (8) Foot mouse/joystick 33 (Any two) 4.11 The number of cycles (instructions) the CPU can perform per second 2 3 3.2 GHz = 3.2 billion cycles per second 3 (a higher clock speed means faster processing) [25] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 5 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines QUESTION 5: INTERNET AND NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES 5.1 Internet Service Provider 3 1 5.2 (1) Higher (faster) speeds/more bandwidth 2 (2) More stable/reliable connection – not affected by weather or the number of users on a tower (3) Usually uncapped (unlimited) data (4) Lower latency (5) Lower cost per GB (6) Symmetrical upload and download speeds 33 (Any two) 5.3 A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection (tunnel) over the 2 internet 3 The employee can safely access the company’s private network/resources from home 3 (data is protected on public/unsecured networks) 5.4.1 Star topology 3 1 5.4.2 (1) If one cable/computer fails, the rest of the network still works 1 (2) Easy to add or remove devices (3) Easy to troubleshoot/find faults (4) Good performance – fewer collisions 3 (Any one) 5.4.3 The whole network stops working/devices cannot communicate with 1 each other (or access the internet) 3 5.5 A URL is the unique (text) address of a web page/resource on the 2 internet, e.g. www.example.co.za 3 An IP address is a unique numerical address assigned to a device on a network, e.g. 192.168.1.10 3 5.6 Benefit: Remembers login details/preferences/items in a shopping 2 cart, so the user does not have to enter them again 3 Risk: Can be used to track the user’s browsing activity (privacy)/third-party advertising; cookies can be stolen (session hijacking) 3 5.7 Cc: All recipients can see the e-mail addresses of the other 2 recipients 3 Bcc: The addresses of Bcc recipients are hidden from the other recipients 3 5.8 (1) One-time PIN (OTP) sent via SMS/e-mail 1 (2) Authenticator app code/push notification (3) Fingerprint/facial recognition (4) Security token/key 3 (Any one) [15] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 6 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines QUESTION 6: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 6.1 Data is raw, unprocessed facts (e.g. numbers, text) 3 2 Information is data that has been processed/organised so that it has meaning and is useful 3 6.2 (1) Authority – author/organisation is known and qualified 2 (2) Currency – date of publication/last update (3) Accuracy – facts can be verified in other sources (4) Objectivity – not biased (5) Coverage – topic covered in enough depth (6) Domain/URL of the website (e.g. .gov.za, .ac.za) (7) Contact details provided 33 (Any two) 6.3 (1) Respondents cannot give their own opinions/explanations 1 (2) The options may not include the answer that the respondent wants to give (3) Limited (less detailed) information 3 (Any one) 6.4 Using someone else’s work/ideas and presenting it as your own 1 (without acknowledging the source) 3 6.5 Likert scale 3 1 6.6.1 Pie chart 3 1 6.6.2 (1) Load-shedding is the main reason for installing solar (96 1 clients/48%) (2) Fewest clients installed solar to increase the value of the house (20 clients/10%) (3) Fewer than half the clients (29%) installed solar mainly to lower their electricity bills (4) Only 13% of clients installed solar mainly for the environment 3 (Any one) 6.6.3 PivotTable 3 (accept Subtotal) 1 [10] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 7 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines QUESTION 7: SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS 7.1.1 Ransomware 3 1 7.1.2 Restore the files from a (recent) backup 3 (offline/cloud backup) 1 7.2 (1) Obtain consent before collecting/using personal information 2 (2) Collect only the information that is needed for a specific purpose (3) Keep the information secure/protect it against unauthorised access (4) Not share/sell the information without permission (5) Allow clients to view/correct/delete their information (6) Notify clients and the Information Regulator if there is a data breach (7) Keep the information only for as long as it is needed 33 (Any two) 7.3 (1) Take it to an accredited e-waste recycling facility/drop-off point 2 (2) Donate working equipment to schools/charities (3) Return it to the manufacturer/retailer (take-back programme) (4) Sell or refurbish it for re-use (5) Wipe data before disposal (accept as part of an answer) 33 (Any two) 7.4 Fake news: False or misleading information presented as real news 2 3 Check: Compare with other reliable/trusted news sources; check the author/source/date; use a fact-checking website; check whether the URL is authentic; reverse image search 3 (any one) 7.5 A video/image/audio clip that has been manipulated using AI to 1 make it appear that a person said or did something they did not do 3 7.6 (1) Repetitive strain injury (RSI)/carpal tunnel syndrome 1 (2) Eye strain/headaches (3) Back and neck pain/poor posture (4) Deep-vein thrombosis (5) Stress/fatigue 3 (Any one) [10] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 8 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines QUESTION 8: SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT 8.1.1 Reason: The column is too narrow to display the value 3 2 Solution: Widen column D/AutoFit the column width (or decrease the font size) 3 8.1.2 The function name is spelt incorrectly (AVERGE instead of 1 AVERAGE) so the spreadsheet does not recognise it 3 8.1.3 A relative cell reference changes (adjusts) when the formula is 2 copied to another cell 3 An absolute cell reference (with $ signs, e.g. $C$2) stays the same when the formula is copied 3 8.2.1 Keep with next 3 1 8.2.2 A page break only moves the text that follows to a new page 3 2 A section break divides the document into sections that can each have different page layout/formatting (e.g. orientation, margins, columns, headers/footers) 3 8.3.1 To limit/control the data that can be entered in a field so that only 1 valid data is accepted (reduces errors) 3 8.3.2 Data type: Text/Short Text 3 2 Motivation: The leading zero must be kept/no calculations are done with cell numbers/it may contain characters such as + or spaces 3 8.4.1 The alternative text ’Langa Solar logo’ 3 1 8.4.2 <ol> 3 1 8.4.3 <a href="index.html">Home</a> 2 <a href= … > … </a> tags 3 ”index.html” as the value of href with the text Home 3 [15] TOTAL SECTION B: 75 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 9 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION C QUESTION 9: INTEGRATED SCENARIO 9.1.1 Wireless access point (WAP)/wireless router 3 1 9.1.2 (1) Use a strong Wi-Fi password 2 (2) Use WPA2/WPA3 encryption (3) Change the default router admin password (4) Hide the SSID (network name) (5) MAC address filtering (6) Use a firewall (7) Create a separate guest network 33 (Any two) 9.1.3 The available bandwidth is shared between all the users 3 2 Streaming video requires a large amount of bandwidth/data, so each device receives less 3 (network congestion) 9.2.1 (1) Access work from any device/anywhere with internet 2 (2) Automatic updates – always the latest version (3) Files saved/backed up automatically online (4) Real-time collaboration/sharing of documents (5) No/low installation and maintenance costs (6) Uses little local storage 33 (Any two) 9.2.2 (1) Poor/no internet connectivity/coverage in rural areas 1 (2) High cost of data (3) Cannot work during load-shedding when the network equipment/towers are down (4) Slow connection speeds 3 (Any one) 9.3.1 The CPU has four processing cores (four processors on one chip) 3 1 9.3.2 (1) No moving parts – less likely to be damaged when the laptop is 2 bumped/dropped (2) Faster boot and access times (3) Lighter (4) Uses less power – longer battery life (5) Produces less heat/no noise 33 (Any two) 9.4.1 Everyday devices/objects (e.g. inverters, appliances, sensors) 3 that 2 are connected to the internet and can send and receive data (communicate with each other) without human intervention 3 9.4.2 (1) Problems/faults can be detected immediately 1 (2) The system can be checked from anywhere/no need to be on site (3) Energy production can be tracked over time (4) Settings can be changed remotely 3 (Any one) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 10 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 9.5.1 Streaming: The video plays while it is being received; it is not stored 2 permanently on the device 3 Downloading: The complete file is saved on the device first and can be watched later/offline 3 9.5.2 .mp4/.avi/.mov/.wmv/.mkv/.webm 3 (any one) 1 9.6.1 (1) The layout/formatting stays the same on any device 2 (2) Can be opened on any device with a free PDF reader (3) Cannot be edited easily – protects the original work (4) Smaller file size (5) Can be password protected 33 (Any two) 9.6.2 (1) At least 8 (12) characters long 2 (2) Mix of upper- and lower-case letters (3) Include numbers and special characters/symbols (4) No personal information (names, birthdays) (5) Not a dictionary word/common password (6) Use a different password for every account 33 (Any two) 9.7.1 COUNTIF (accept COUNTIFS) 3 1 9.7.2 Protect Sheet (lock the cells containing the formulae) 3 (accept 1 Protect Workbook) 9.8 3D printing: Creating a three-dimensional object by adding layers of 2 material (e.g. plastic) based on a digital design 3 Use: Printing models/prototypes for projects, replacement parts, teaching aids (e.g. models of molecules or organs), robotics parts 3 [25] QUESTION 10: INTEGRATED SCENARIO 10.1.1 Static web page: Content stays the same for every user/only 2 changes when the developer edits the code 3 Dynamic web page: Content changes/is generated automatically according to the user, user input or a database (e.g. live scores) 3 10.1.2 (1) Easy/consistent navigation (menus) 2 (2) Loads quickly (3) Responsive – adapts to mobile devices (4) Readable fonts and good colour contrast (5) Search function (6) Working links (7) Contact information 33 (Any two) 10.2.1 The QR code is scanned at the gate with a scanner/smartphone 3 2 The code is checked against the ticket database to confirm that it is valid and has not been used before, then access is given 3 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 11 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 10.2.2 (1) URL starts with https:// 2 (2) Padlock icon in the address bar (3) Valid digital certificate (4) 3D Secure/OTP verification of card payments (5) Trusted payment gateway 33 (Any two) 10.2.3 Secure 3 1 10.3.1 (1) Reach many supporters quickly/instantly 2 (2) Free or low-cost advertising (3) Two-way communication – supporters can give feedback (4) Post live updates/results (5) Attract sponsors/build the brand 33 (Any two) 10.3.2 The post is shared very quickly by a very large number of people on 1 the internet 3 10.3.3 POPIA/Protection of Personal Information Act 3 1 10.4.1 The receiver picks up signals from (at least three/four) satellites 3 2 It calculates its position from the time the signals took to arrive (distance to each satellite – trilateration) 3 10.4.2 (1) Measure the distance covered/speed of players 1 (2) Track player positions/heat maps (3) Monitor fitness levels/workload to prevent injuries (4) Compare players’ performance 3 (Any one) 10.5.1 Form 3 1 10.5.2 No/False/0 3 1 10.5.3 A report presents the data in a professional/printable layout – it can 1 be grouped and include totals, headings and logos 3 10.6.1 (1) Storage capacity 2 (2) Read/write speed (3) Portability/size (4) Cost per GB (5) Durability/reliability (6) Compatibility with the tablet (type of port/card slot) 33 (Any two) 10.6.2 MicroSD card (memory card) 3 (accept cloud storage/external drive 1 via OTG) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 12 Hlayiso/Mock 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 10.7.1 (1) E-mail 2 (2) Video-conferencing software (3) Instant messaging apps (4) Cloud storage/shared folders (5) Online collaborative documents (6) Online calendars (7) Project management software 33 (Any two) 10.7.2 Work can be done from any location (e.g. from home) using ICT 1 instead of at one central office 3 [25] TOTAL SECTION C: 50 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved