IMPLEMENTATION

This section has a total of 14 marks allocated to it which are spread out amongst its different aspects.

IMPLEMENTATION - Implement their Data Structure

This sub-section has 4 marks and, as with other sections, requires that each marking point is addressed in turn. For example, to get 4 marks candidates will have to achieve each of the three previous sections.

The candidate uses the computer to create their system, implementing their chosen designs from the previous section, but taking the opportunity to make minor changes as they go along.

Screen dumps of the various steps taken, along with supporting commentary is the best way a candidate can produce this evidence.

1 mark

• List the features of the software used to produce their data structure.
  • This will consist of brief statements about how the solution was created. This will include how the software was loaded, how they created a new file, created their file structure, saved it etc.

2 marks

• Describe the features of the software used to produce their data structure.
  • This will be a much more detailed account such that a competent user could follow these instructions and reproduce it.

3 marks

• Describe the features of the software used to produce their data structure including changes made to the data structure.
  • Modifications will need to have been made to the structure resulting in a different structure to the one described in the design section. These must be described in detail.

4 marks

• Describe the features of the software used to produce their data structure. Justify the changes made to the data structure.
  • This will be amplification to the point above giving the reasons why the change(s) had to be made.

IMPLEMENTATION - Implement their Input and Output Formats

This sub-section has 4 marks and as with other sections requires that each marking point is addressed in turn. Again, candidates must achieve each of the previous marking points in order to achieve the subsequent one.

1 mark

• List the features of the software used to produce their input and output formats.
  • This will be a few lines about how the user interface and output formats were created, how fields were positioned on the screen etc.

2 marks

• Describe the features of the software used to produce their input and output formats.
  • This will need to be in sufficient detail for a competent user to be able to produce the same formats.

3 marks

• Describe the features of the software used to produce their input and output formats including changes made to formats.
  • Modifications will have been made in the light of unforeseen problems arising.
  • These changes will need to be described in some detail.

4 marks

• Describe the features of the software used to produce their input and output formats. Justify the changes made to their formats.
  • This will consist of reasons for the changes which were made.

IMPLEMENTATION - Use Features of Software Appropriately

This part of the assessment will not be addressed in any one section of candidates’ work. It can be identified at any point in the documentation where it occurs. The evidence is likely to be in the Implementation, User Guide or Testing sections. The only additional work on the part of the candidate will be in adding extra documentation to match the 4-mark statement.

1 mark

• Appropriately use at least one feature of a software package.
  • This can simply be a search performed using the database software, or a ‘whatif’ in the spreadsheet etc.

2 marks

• Appropriately use a range of features of a software package.
  • This will be the use of more than one feature such as the use of forms, searches, reports and producing graphs etc.

3 marks

• Appropriately use a range of features of more than one software package.
  • Candidates will have used more than one feature of two software packages. In a spreadsheet this could be the use of replication, automatic recalculation, worksheet functions, graphs etc.

4 marks

• Justify their choice of the range of features and software packages.
  • Candidates will give reasons for a minimum of two features used. Comparing alternative ways of doing this will do this. Replication (or copying down) would seem a fairly obvious feature to justify.

IMPLEMENTATION - Combine Software Features

To gain 1 mark candidates have to do this once. For 2 marks they need to do it twice, for two significantly different reasons e.g. a mail merged letter to people with outstanding videos on loan and a video club membership card. Again, this will not require additional documentation. The evidence could be in the Implementation, User Guide or Testing Sections.

1 mark

• Within their solution, interchange data from one software package to another for an appropriate purpose.
  • Candidates can be given this mark if they have moved data from one package and the purpose is appropriate for example from a database to a spreadsheet or vice versa.

2 marks

• Within their solution, interchange data from one software package to another for appropriate purposes.
  • Candidates must do this for two separate purposes. Moving data from a database to a spreadsheet and then back again does not count as moving it twice. Another purpose could be for creating standard letters.