Information systems tests pupils’ knowledge of how to build and manipulate databases and expert systems. Questions, unsurprisingly perhaps, often contain a lot of information. Wording can, therefore, trip students up. But this year, teachers felt the language in the exams was clear.
Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher information systems exams were fair and covered the curriculum well, according to computing teachers at The Royal High School in Edinburgh. They identified Question 24 in the Higher as potentially challenging because of “the style of the question” but, overall, they and their pupils were happy with the papers, they said.
Pupils were challenged to develop a security strategy to monitor warehouse stock and design a decision tree (a graph or model of decisions and their consequences) to help customers decide which jeans to buy.
“In information systems you are dealing with information and the way it is organised,” said Wendy Reith, principal teacher. “English skills need to be good. Being able to answer exam questions often comes down to the language used and understanding it. In the past, there have been questions that we haven’t been happy with - but not this year.”
