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CAPE Information Technology Unit 1 study materials
CAPE Information Technology Unit 1 study resources

CAPE Information Technology Unit 1: Unit 1 Module 2 - Information Technology Practice

CAPE Information Technology Unit 1 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

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Unit 1 Module 2 - Information Technology Practice

This module tests applied productivity skills: word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, web authoring and file management. Questions usually present a task and ask you to choose the right tool, write a correct formula or query, or explain a feature precisely.

Core skills and rules

  • Word processing: use styles for consistent headings; a mail merge needs a main document, a data source and merge fields. Templates and section breaks control layout.
  • Spreadsheets: every formula begins with =. A relative reference such as A1 changes when copied; an absolute reference such as $A$1 does not; mixed references fix only the row or column. Common functions include SUM, AVERAGE, IF, COUNTIF and VLOOKUP. Charts should match the data type: column for comparison, line for trend, pie for parts of a whole.
  • Databases: a table stores records (rows) made of fields (columns). A primary key uniquely identifies each record and cannot be null; a foreign key links tables. Queries filter with criteria; reports present output; validation restricts input.
  • Presentations: transitions move between slides; animations affect objects on a slide. A slide master enforces consistent formatting.
  • Web authoring: HTML uses paired tags such as <p>...</p>; hyperlinks use href; relative paths suit files within the same site.
  • File management: use meaningful names, correct extensions, folders and backups.

Worked example

A spreadsheet has tax rate 15% in A1 and a price of 200 in B2. The formula =B2*(1+$A$1) returns 230. When copied down to row 3, B2 becomes B3 but $A$1 stays fixed, so the tax rate still applies correctly. By contrast, =B2*(1+A1) copied to row 3 would use A2, likely an empty cell, giving the wrong result. The reasoning is the copy behaviour of relative versus absolute references.

Traps that cost marks

  • Omitting the leading = so the entry is stored as text.
  • Mixing up relative and absolute references when a formula is copied.
  • Using COUNT when the question needs COUNTA or COUNTIF.
  • Choosing a primary key that can repeat or be empty.
  • Describing mail merge without naming the data source or merge fields.
  • Confusing transitions with animations, or leaving HTML tags unclosed.