WJEC Applied ICT A Level Unit 1 - eBusiness
I no longer teach A Level Applied ICT but I'll leave these pages up as an archive which might still be helpful for someone, somewhere.
Exam Preparation
The exam for unit 1 is in two parts. Part one is followed, perhaps with a short break if you're lucky, by part two (gosh!).
Both parts are done at a computer and are sent off electronically to the exam board.
Part One
Part one is a one hour theory exam. It's done on screen using a software package designed for the job. This works very well. There's not much here on part one as I never really prepared people for it - if I find things I think might be useful I'll add them.
A scenario is presented in part one - usually involving some kind of organisation which needs to develop IT in their day to day activities. There could be technical questions as well as ones about subjects such as hotdesking, teleworking and data protection.
Part Two
Part two is a practical exam. This lasts two hours and focuses on the same scenario that was presented in part one - only this time you'll need to produce some documents.
The technical focus of the exam can cover:
- databases - creating a two table database is always on the exam
- spreadsheets - usually fairly simple stuff, perhaps up to IF statements
- simple web pages - being able to add a form and use a rollover image is useful
- producing standard office documents such as agenda, memos and invoices
- simple mailmerges
- writing a simple evaluation of your work - usually worth 6 marks
The tricky bit is the database. If you can train yourself to be able to create a two table database using a csv file as a base point then you'll be fine. This is a case of practise, practise and more practise - there are plenty of exam papers available (by all means ask for some). The more you do the better you'll become.
Creating an exam database - idiot proof (well...) instructions to follow to create a standard two table relational database. These will work - with practise...
Once you have the database created you're likely to have to create queries and reports. The chances are that this will involve a simple query and a more complex one - usually involving a calculated field or an IIF statement. Again, practise is the key...
The complex report you have to produce might also include trickier skills - perhaps using calculations and IIF.
Producing a complex database report
The IIF statement in action - on a report. This is just some screenshots for now - I might get around to annotating this at some point
Input mask summary - if you're really unlucky you might have to remember input mask syntax in an exam situation