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 PREDICTION EXAMINATION 2026 MARKING GUIDELINES MARKS: 150 These marking guidelines consist of 13 pages. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 2 Hlayiso/Prediction 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. • Brand names are NOT accepted unless the question allows them. • 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 B3 1 2.1 J3 defragmenter 1 1.2 C3 1 2.2 F3 cookie 1 1.3 D3 1 2.3 H3 tethering 1 1.4 B3 1 2.4 Q3 pharming 1 1.5 C3 1 2.5 C3 cryptocurrency 1 1.6 A3 1 2.6 M3 #REF! 1 1.7 D3 1 2.7 O3 input mask 1 1.8 B3 1 2.8 K3 telecommuting 1 1.9 A3 1 2.9 B3 worm 1 1.10 D3 1 2.10 P3 alt 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 – Compression/Zipping 3 1 3.3 False – #NAME? 3 1 3.4 True 3 1 3.5 False – (Software) piracy 3 1 [5] TOTAL SECTION A: 25 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 3 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines SECTION B QUESTION 4: SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES 4.1.1 A laptop with a touch screen that can fold back 360° (or detach) so 1 that it can be used both as a normal laptop and as a tablet 3 4.1.2 The clock speed – the number of cycles/instructions that the CPU 2 can process per second (1.8 GHz = 1.8 billion cycles per second) 3 The CPU normally runs at the base speed of 1.8 GHz (saves power/heat) and can automatically increase (boost/turbo) up to 4.6 GHz when more processing power is needed 3 4.1.3 Specification 3 + motivation 3, e.g.: 2 (1) Integrated graphics (shared memory) – there is no dedicated graphics card/GPU with its own memory, so rendering/editing video will be slow (2) 512 GB SSD – video files are very large; the storage will fill up quickly (3) 16 GB RAM that is soldered – video editing needs a lot of RAM and the RAM cannot be upgraded later (Note to marker: Any ONE specification with a matching motivation. The specification on its own earns 1 mark.) 4.1.4 It cannot be upgraded/replaced (if it fails, the motherboard must be 1 replaced) 3 4.1.5 (1) Insert a microSD card into the card reader 2 (2) Connect an external hard drive/SSD/flash drive to a USB(-C) port (3) Use cloud storage (4) Use network storage (NAS)/a shared network drive (5) Free up space: Disk Cleanup/delete or move unwanted files/uninstall unused programs 33 (Any two) 4.1.6 (1) Reversible connector – can be plugged in either way 1 (2) Faster data transfer (3) One port can carry power (charging), data and video (display) signals (4) Smaller connector – suitable for thin devices 3 (Any one) 4.1.7 Bluetooth (5.3) 3 1 4.1.8 The refresh rate – the screen image is updated/redrawn 120 times 1 per second 3 4.2 (1) Security loopholes are not fixed – the computer is vulnerable to 2 malware/hackers (2) Bugs/errors are not fixed – programs may crash or give errors (3) New features and performance improvements are missed (4) Compatibility problems with new hardware, software or file formats (5) Old versions eventually stop being supported 33 (Any two) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 4 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 4.3 (1) Reduces the file size – uploads/sends faster and uses less data 2 (2) E-mail attachments have a size limit (3) Many files/a whole folder are combined into one attachment (easier to attach and download) (4) The zip file can be password-protected/encrypted 33 (Any two) 4.4 (1) Screen reader/Narrator (text-to-speech) 2 (2) Magnifier (3) High contrast/colour filters/dark mode (4) Larger text/display scaling/larger mouse pointer (5) Speech recognition/voice control (6) Inverted colours (colour inversion) 33 (Any two) 4.5 Cause: The correct device driver for the new graphics card has not 2 been installed/is outdated (a basic/generic driver is used) 3 Solution: Download and install/update the correct driver from the manufacturer’s website/installation media (via Device Manager) 3 (Note to marker: Accept: monitor cable still plugged into the onboard (motherboard) port – connect it to the new graphics card; card not seated properly – reseat the card; with a matching solution.) 4.6 A UPS only supplies battery power for a short time (a few minutes) 3 2 It is designed to allow users to save their work and shut down properly – not to run computers for hours; a solution with large batteries (inverter/solar/generator) is needed for 2.5 hours 3 4.7 (1) Custom prosthetic limbs/body parts 2 (2) Dental crowns, implants and braces (3) Hearing aids/custom-fitted devices (4) Models of organs/bones to plan or practise surgery (5) Bioprinting of tissue/skin (6) Custom casts, splints and surgical instruments (7) Replacement parts for medical equipment/face shields 33 (Any two) 4.8 Advantage 3, e.g.: 2 (1) Lower initial cost (2) Always the latest version – updates included (3) Often includes cloud storage/use on several devices (4) Can cancel when no longer needed Disadvantage 3, e.g.: (1) Costs more over a long period – must pay every month (2) Lose access to the software (and features) when you stop paying (3) Often needs an internet connection to activate/verify the licence (4) Prices can increase [25] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 5 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines QUESTION 5: INTERNET AND NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES 5.1 Router: Connects different networks (e.g. a LAN to the 2 internet/WAN) and directs data between networks 3 Switch: Connects devices within the same LAN and sends data only to the device it is intended for 3 5.2 (1) Distance from the router/access point 2 (2) Thick walls, floors or metal objects (3) Interference from other devices, e.g. microwave ovens, cordless phones, neighbouring Wi-Fi networks (4) Position of the router, e.g. inside a cupboard or on the floor (5) Too many devices connected at the same time (6) Old router/weak antenna 33 (Any two) 5.3 The ISP will throttle (slow down) the speed of the connection/shape 2 it so that downloads and streaming get low priority 3 To ensure that there is enough bandwidth for all its customers (a few heavy users do not slow down the network for everyone) 3 5.4 (1) Reliable internet access at school and at home – no access 2 without internet (load-shedding, outages) (2) Cost of data for uploading/downloading (3) Cost of the storage subscription/enough storage space (4) Security and privacy of learners’ work and personal information (POPIA)/who has access (5) What happens if the provider has an outage/closes – backups needed (6) Learners without devices or data at home (digital divide) (7) Upload speed/bandwidth for many learners 33 (Any two) 5.5 A small program that is added to a web browser to add extra 2 features (e.g. an ad blocker or password manager) 3 Risk 3: (1) May contain malware/spyware (2) Can track browsing activity/collect personal data (3) Can slow down the browser (4) May show unwanted advertisements/pop-ups (5) May not be compatible with browser updates 5.6 Latency: The time delay for data to travel from the sender to the 2 receiver (and back) 3 Reduce it 3: (1) Use a wired (Ethernet) connection instead of Wi-Fi (2) Use a better connection type, e.g. fibre instead of satellite/weak mobile signal (3) Move closer to the router (4) Close other programs/devices that use the internet (less congestion) (5) Use a server/service closer to the users Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 6 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 5.7 (1) It does not remove malware that is already on the 1 computer/brought in via flash drives or downloads (2) It cannot stop phishing/social engineering – users can still be tricked (3) Antivirus software and updates are still needed (4) It can be misconfigured or switched off 3 (Any one) 5.8 A streamed video is not saved on the device, so all the data must be 2 transmitted again every time it is watched (a downloaded file is received once and can then be watched offline without using data) 3 Advantage of streaming 3: (1) No storage space is needed on the device (2) The video starts playing almost immediately – no need to wait for the whole file (3) Always the latest version of the video (4) Can watch on any device without transferring files [15] QUESTION 6: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 6.1 Data: Raw, unprocessed facts, e.g. the individual test marks of the 2 learners (45, 72, 60, …) 3 Information: Data that has been processed so that it is meaningful/useful, e.g. the class average is 59%/80% of the learners passed/the top learner 3 (Note to marker: Maximum 1 mark if no example is given.) 6.2.1 (1) It is a leading/biased question – it suggests the answer 1 (2) Only Yes/No – gives limited information/no reasons (3) Negative wording (’Don’t you agree’) is confusing 3 (Any one) 6.2.2 (1) It asks two things in one question (social media AND gaming – 1 double-barrelled) (2) The options overlap, e.g. 1 and 3 appear in two options 3 (Any one) 6.3 Citation: A short reference in the body of the text, where the source 2 is used (in-text), e.g. (Mokoena, 2025) 3 Bibliography: A complete list of ALL the sources used, with full details, at the end of the document (alphabetical) 3 6.4 (1) A yes/no answer gives limited information – no in-depth 1 research/analysis (2) Cannot develop sub-questions/discussion from it (3) Cannot reach meaningful conclusions and recommendations 3 (Any one) 6.5.1 Line chart/graph 3 1 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 7 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 6.5.2 (1) Data usage generally increased from January to June 1 (2) Usage more than doubled (4.2 GB to 9.0 GB) (3) Highest usage in June (9.0 GB)/lowest in January (4.2 GB) (4) Usage only decreased in April (6.8 GB to 6.1 GB) 3 (Any one) 6.6 (1) Responses are captured automatically – no manual capturing 1 errors (2) Results are available immediately/summarised automatically (3) Reaches more people quickly, anywhere (4) No printing costs/saves paper (5) Validation/required fields ensure complete answers (6) Data can easily be exported to a spreadsheet 3 (Any one) [10] QUESTION 7: SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS 7.1 (1) Generic greeting, e.g. ’Dear customer’ 2 (2) Spelling and grammar errors (3) Urgent or threatening tone, e.g. ’your account will be closed’ (4) Asks for personal details, passwords or banking details (5) The sender’s address/domain does not match the organisation (6) Suspicious links (the real URL differs when you hover over it)/unexpected attachments (7) Offers that are too good to be true/prizes 33 (Any two) 7.2 (1) Take regular breaks (20-20-20 rule) 2 (2) Adjust the brightness/contrast of the screen to the room lighting/reduce glare (3) Position the screen at arm’s length with the top at eye level (4) Increase the text size (5) Use a blue-light filter/night mode (6) Blink often/use eye drops (7) Have regular eye tests 33 (Any two) 7.3 (1) E-waste contains toxic/hazardous materials (e.g. lead, mercury) 2 that leak into the soil and water in landfills and harm people and the environment (2) Valuable materials (e.g. gold, copper) can be recovered and recycled/devices can be reused or donated (3) Personal data on the devices can be stolen if they are not wiped/destroyed properly (4) Batteries can cause fires 33 (Any two) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 8 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 7.4 (1) Plagiarism/dishonesty – the work is not the learner’s own 2 (2) Learners do not develop their own thinking, research and writing skills (over-reliance) (3) AI tools can give incorrect, biased or made-up information (4) Personal information typed into AI tools may not be private (5) Unfair advantage over learners without access (digital divide) (6) Teachers cannot assess the learner’s true ability 33 (Any two) 7.5 Digital footprint: The trail/record of data that a person leaves behind 2 through his/her online activities (posts, photos, comments, searches) 3 Effect: Employers check online profiles/social media; inappropriate posts can cause the person not to be appointed (or a professional footprint can improve his/her chances) 3 [10] QUESTION 8: SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT 8.1.1 The reference I1 is relative – it changes to I2, I3, etc. when the 2 formula is copied, and those cells are empty (0) 3 =D2*$I$1 3 (accept =D2*I$1; do NOT accept =D2*$I1) (Note to marker: Accept ’I1 should be an absolute reference’ for the first mark without mentioning empty cells.) 8.1.2 =COUNTIF(C2:C6,">100") 2 COUNTIF function with range C2:C6 3 Criteria ”>100” 3 8.1.3 Average 3 1 8.2.1 Filter/edit the recipient list so that only the parents with outstanding 1 fees are selected (untick the others/use a rule such as Skip Record If) 3 8.2.2 Captions (Insert Caption) 3 1 8.3.1 (1) An ID number is not used in calculations (it should be Short Text) 1 (2) Leading zeros would be removed (3) A 13-digit number is too large for the Long Integer field size/may display in scientific notation 3 (Any one) 8.3.2 ="M" Or ="F" 3 (accept "M" Or "F"; In ("M","F")) 1 8.3.3 Between #2025/01/01# And #2025/12/31# 3 1 (accept >=#2025/01/01# And <=#2025/12/31#; >#2024/12/31# And <#2026/01/01#; Year([DateJoined])=2025 in a calculated field, or a calculated field Year([DateJoined]) with criteria 2025; Like "*2025" only if the date format ends in the year; any equivalent date format) 8.3.4 Yes/No (Boolean) 3 1 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 9 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 8.4.1 2 (two rows) 3 1 8.4.2 The linked page (menu.html) opens in a new browser tab/window 3 1 8.4.3 <img src="cake.jpg" width="200"> 2 <img src="cake.jpg" … > 3 width="200" 3 (accept /> at the end and the inclusion of an alt attribute) [15] TOTAL SECTION B: 75 SECTION C QUESTION 9: INTEGRATED SCENARIO 9.1.1 (1) Records are found/retrieved faster (search) 2 (2) Authorised staff can access the same record at the same time/from different locations (3) Less physical storage space is needed (4) Can be backed up – not lost permanently in a fire or flood (5) Easier to update and keep up to date (6) Access can be controlled with passwords (7) Reports and statistics are generated easily (8) No problems with illegible handwriting/validation reduces errors 33 (Any two) 9.1.2 To uniquely identify each patient’s record so that patients’ records 1 are not confused/no duplicate records are created 3 9.1.3 (1) Collect only the information needed for the patient’s treatment 2 (specific purpose) (2) Inform patients/obtain consent for collecting and using their information (3) Keep the information secure and confidential (prevent unauthorised access or loss) (4) Keep the information accurate and up to date (5) Do not share it with third parties without consent (6) Allow patients to see/correct their information (7) Destroy records safely when they may no longer be kept (8) Report security breaches 33 (Any two) 9.2.1 (1) A fingerprint cannot be lost, forgotten or left at home 2 (2) Cannot be used by another person – prevents fraud/identity theft (3) Faster check-in/the correct record is found quickly (4) Accurate identification – patients with similar names are not confused (5) No cost of printing/replacing cards 33 (Any two) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 10 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 9.2.2 (1) Hygiene – many people touch the same scanner 1 (2) Some fingerprints cannot be read (injured, dirty or worn fingerprints) (3) Expensive equipment (4) Privacy concerns about storing biometric data (5) Long queues if the scanner fails/during power failures 3 (Any one) 9.3.1 Full backup: ALL the selected files are copied every time 3 2 Incremental backup: Only the files that are new or have changed since the last backup are copied 3 9.3.2 If the clinic is damaged (fire, flood) or burgled, the backup will not be 1 lost together with the original data 3 9.4.1 (1) Patients do not have to travel long distances to the hospital 2 (2) Saves travel costs and time (3) Quicker access to a doctor/specialist (4) Treatment can start sooner (5) Less time off work/school (6) Less overcrowding at hospitals 33 (Any two) 9.4.2 (1) Insufficient bandwidth/slow internet connection 2 (2) Network congestion – many users online at the same time (3) High latency/unstable connection (weak mobile signal) (4) Data depleted/connection throttled or shaped by the ISP (5) Load-shedding affects network towers/equipment (6) Device too slow (processor/RAM) 33 (Any two) 9.5.1 The temperature sensors (devices) in the fridges are connected to 2 the internet and send data automatically 3 The system analyses the data and sends an alert to the nurse’s smartphone when the temperature is too high – without human intervention 3 9.5.2 (1) No alerts if the internet connection/power fails 1 (2) The devices can be hacked (3) Sensors can malfunction/give false readings (4) Alerts can be missed if the phone is off/no signal 3 (Any one) 9.6 (1) Spreadsheets have more functions for calculations/analysis 1 (2) Charts/graphs can easily be created (3) What-if analysis/PivotTables (4) Users are more familiar with spreadsheets/easier to share 3 (Any one) 9.7 Encryption scrambles/encodes the data so that it is unreadable 3 2 Without the decryption key/password the thief cannot read or use the patients’ data 3 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 11 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 9.8.1 (1) Do not share passwords/lock or log off when leaving a computer 2 (2) Do not install unauthorised software (3) No personal use, e.g. social media or gaming, during work (4) Do not visit inappropriate/unsafe websites (5) Do not copy patient data to personal devices or flash drives (6) Keep patient information confidential (7) Report security incidents/suspicious e-mails 33 (Any two) 9.8.2 (1) Give each staff member a unique username and password (user 2 account) (2) Set access rights/permissions on the database/folders according to the staff member’s role (3) Use user groups (4) Password-protect/encrypt the database (5) Biometric log-in 33 (Any two) [25] QUESTION 10: INTEGRATED SCENARIO 10.1.1 Dots per inch – the number of ink dots the printer can place in one 1 inch (print resolution/quality) 3 10.1.2 (1) The photo has a low resolution (too few pixels) and was enlarged 1 (2) The photo was compressed (e.g. sent via a messaging app) (3) Draft/low print-quality setting or plain paper used (4) The photo was out of focus 3 (Any one) 10.2.1 (1) Reach more customers/a larger area 2 (2) Orders can be placed 24/7 (3) Fewer order errors – customers capture their own orders (4) No need for a physical shop – lower costs (5) Payment is received before the cake is baked/delivered (6) Specials and prices can be updated easily (7) Customer and order data is recorded automatically 33 (Any two) 10.2.2 The customer scans the QR code with the banking app on a 2 smartphone 3 The code contains the business’s payment details (and amount); the customer confirms the payment (PIN/biometrics) and the money is transferred directly into Mama Zodwa’s account 3 10.2.3 Smishing (SMS phishing) 3 1 (Note to marker: accept phishing only if SMS is mentioned, e.g. SMS phishing) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 12 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 10.3.1 (1) Post specials/discounts/competitions 2 (2) Share customer reviews/testimonials (3) Paid adverts targeted at people in specific areas/age groups (4) Live videos/stories of the baking process (5) Answer customers’ questions/take orders via messages (6) Share a link to the online order page (7) Use hashtags/influencers to reach more people (8) Polls/events to involve customers 33 (Any two) 10.3.2 2FA requires a second form of verification (e.g. an OTP sent to her 2 phone/authenticator app) in addition to the password 3 Even if her password is stolen (e.g. through phishing), hackers cannot take over the account to scam her customers/damage the business’s reputation 3 10.4.1 =SUMIF(F2:F8,"No",E2:E8) 2 SUMIF with range F2:F8 and criteria ”No” 3 Sum range E2:E8 3 (accept =SUMIFS(E2:E8,F2:F8,"No"); result R1 660) 10.4.2 =IF(I2=0,0,J2/I2) 2 IF with condition I2=0 (or I2>0) 3 0 if true and J2/I2 otherwise (correct order) 3 OR =IFERROR(J2/I2,0) 33 10.4.3 Conditional formatting 3 1 10.5.1 (1) Find the shortest/fastest route to customers 2 (2) Avoid traffic/give an estimated time of arrival (3) Customers can track the delivery in real time (4) Find customers’ addresses accurately (shared location/pin) (5) Mama Zodwa can see where the driver is/plan deliveries (6) Calculate the delivery distance/fee 33 (Any two) 10.5.2 (1) The driver can be tracked in his private time 1 (2) Location data can be hacked/shared – safety risk (crime) (3) Feeling of being watched all the time/every stop is monitored 3 (Any one) 10.6 (1) The design (logo, headings, layout) is created only once – saves 2 time (2) Each invoice opens as a new document, so the original design is not overwritten/changed by accident (3) All invoices look the same/professional 33 (Any two) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Computer Applications Technology/P2 13 Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 NSC – Marking Guidelines 10.7 (1) Move the files to cloud storage and delete them from the laptop 2 (2) Move the files to an external hard drive/flash drive/memory card (3) Compress the photos/videos (reduce resolution) (4) Delete unnecessary/duplicate files, empty the Recycle Bin/Disk Cleanup (5) Uninstall programs that are not used (6) Install a larger storage drive 33 (Any two) 10.8.1 Copyright/intellectual property rights 3 1 10.8.2 (1) Add a watermark/logo to the photos 1 (2) Post only low-resolution photos (3) Add a copyright notice (©) (4) Restrict who can view/download the photos (privacy settings) 3 (Any one) [25] TOTAL SECTION C: 50 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved