Susan is creating a database about cars and needs to save it in the shared area (S:) on the school network. It will be stored in the folder ICT which is contained in the IGCSE folder. She needs to save the file with a file name that is different from file names used by other students in the group. 6 Write down a suitable file name for the file so that the teacher can easily find Susan’s work and identify its contents. The file name should not contain spaces. (a) … … [1] Write down the file path which Susan would use to store the file in the correct folder. (b) … … … … [2] Susan plans to work on her database at home. However, the database is very large so her teacher has told her that it needs to be reduced in size. She will then be able to attach it to an email so she can send it home. (c) Explain why the file size would need to be reduced. … … … … [2]

6(a) Example: Susan_car_database 1 6(b) S:\IGCSE\ICT\ \IGCSE – 1 mark \ICT\ – 1 mark The overall answer must be in this order 2 6(c) Two from: The larger it is the longer to transmit the email Some email companies set a limit on attachment file size The time to upload/download would increase with a large file 2

4 Generic file formats allow data to be opened in any platform. Identify two generic text formats. 1 … 2 … [2]

4 Two from: csv – comma-separated values txt – text rtf – rich text format 2

A teacher has created a hierarchical file structure to save the registers and marks of each of her classes on her laptop computer. Part of the structure is shown: 6 C: Work Examination_Marks Registers Class_Reports Class_A1 Write down the file path to locate a document which is stored in the folder Examination_Marks. (a) C: … … … … [3] The teacher could have saved the document as a .txt or an .rtf file format. Describe what is meant by .txt and .rtf file formats. (b) … … … … [2] Explain the differences between the two file formats. (c) … … … … … … [3] A master document has been created. The teacher will mail merge the personal details of each student into the document. Explain why mail merged documents are used. (d) … … … … … … … … [4]

6(a) \Work\Class_A1\Examination_Marks\ \Work – 1 mark \Class_A1 – 1 mark \Examination_Marks – 1 mark 3 6(b) .txt is a text file format – 1 mark .rtf is a rich text format – 1 mark 2 6(c) Three from: RTF has basic formatting (embolden, underline, etc.) while TXT is plain text RTF is capable of paragraph formatting while TXT is not RTF is capable of creating bulleted lists while TXT is not RTF files can include images while TXT cannot TXT takes up less memory while RTF takes up more memory 3 6(d) Four from: To save time typing the personal details of each student onto the document To help reduce the number of errors in the typing of the data Used to save time editing the document Produces a personalised document for each student So the teacher does not miss out a student 4

Juan attends the University of Cambridge and is taking a trip to Central America to study ancient civilisations. He has taken a photograph of the Temple of the Giant Jaguar in Tikal. He plans to place the photograph in a report which he will send back to the university via email. 8 The original photograph Fig. 8.1 and the changed photograph Fig. 8.2 are shown. Fig. 8.1 Fig. 8.2 Write down the three changes he has made to the photograph. (a) 1… … 2… … 3… … [3] Juan tries to send the report as an attachment. He finds that the attachment, which requires editing, is taking a long time to send. Describe four methods he could use to reduce the size of the report before sending it to the university. (b) 1… … 2… … 3… … 4… … [4] Juan wants to create his report whilst he is working in the jungle. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using a smartphone rather than a laptop computer for creating his report. (c) … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [8]

8(a) Three from: Cropped the image Add text Resized the image Brightened the image Change the resolution 3 8(b) Four from: Compress the images individually within the document Zip the document/export as RAR Save the document as a PDF Remove the cropped elements in the images Reduce the resolution of the images Remove the images and send the documents and images separately 4 8(c) Eight from: Advantages of a smartphone Smaller/lighter therefore easier to carry/more portable Easier to use than a laptop whilst on the move/laptop needs to be on a flat surface Has a video/digital camera built in therefore can be used instead of a camera/laptop uses a webcam The position of the camera is better than the webcam on a laptop/laptop webcam would be difficult to use as a digital camera/video camera Juan is more likely to have the smartphone with him Can easily be used as a dictaphone/a laptop would need specialist software to be used to record voice A laptop needs the use of other equipment like a camera then it becomes more cumbersome to carry around Disadvantages of a smartphone Very difficult to use to type up the report as the screen is smaller Difficult to type up the report using a smaller keyboard/online keyboard Due to screen/keyboard size more errors in typing Data cannot be saved to an external device therefore needs connectivity to Wi-Fi or data network/laptop can use external devices to store data Some software is compatible with smartphones but not all//less functions on the software Wi-Fi signals or data network are less reliable in remote areas/laptop can be used as a standalone computer Less memory than a laptop A laptop has a more powerful processor than a smartphone The software in a laptop tends to be more compatible with a PC therefore easier to transfer files To gain full marks both advantages and disadvantages are required 8

8 Files can be saved in a generic file format. (a) Explain why generic file formats are needed. … … … … [2] (b) Complete the following sentences, using the most appropriate file format from the list below. .css .csv .doc .gif .htm .pdf .png .rar .sdb .xls (i) … is a stylesheet used in the creation of web pages. [1] (ii) … is a generic archive file format. [1] (iii) … is a generic file format that stores still and moving images. [1] (iv) … takes data in the form of tables and saves it as text. [1]

8(a) Two from Allows files to be opened in other software Allows files to be opened on other systems/platforms/manufacturers To create a standard so that other software can understand 2 8(b)(i) .css 1 8(b)(ii) .rar 1 8(b)(iii) .gif 1 8(b)(iv) .csv 1 For part (a), you need to provide two reasons why generic file formats are necessary, such as allowing files to be opened across different software or systems. For parts (b)(i) through (iv), you must correctly identify the specific file format from the given list that matches each description.

Cambridge IGCSE ICT · 0417

IGCSE ICT (0417) File management past paper questions

Revise IGCSE ICT (0417) — File management with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

14 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

File management in IGCSE ICT 0417 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, File management accounted for 12 questions worth 81 marks in Cambridge IGCSE ICT (0417) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	2	14
2021	1	5
2022	2	13
2023	1	10
2024	1	6
2025	5	33

Most-tested subtopics

11.2 Reduce file sizes for storage or transmission54 marks
11.1 Manage files effectively49 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 12 qs

All most-tested ICT topics

2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q6 · 5 marks
Marking scheme
$Mark scheme: 6(a) Example: Susan_car_database 1 6(b) S:\IGCSE\ICT\ \IGCSE – 1 mark \ICT\ – 1 mark The overall answer must be in this…$ Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2020 Oct/Nov · Paper 1 · Q4 · 2 marks
Marking scheme
Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2020 Feb/Mar · Paper 1 · Q6 · 12 marks
Marking scheme
$Mark scheme: 6(a) \Work\Class_A1\Examination_Marks\ \Work – 1 mark \Class_A1 – 1 mark \Examination_Marks – 1 mark 3 6(b) .txt is a text…$ $Mark scheme: 6(a) \Work\Class_A1\Examination_Marks\ \Work – 1 mark \Class_A1 – 1 mark \Examination_Marks – 1 mark 3 6(b) .txt is a text… (continued)$ Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2019 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q8 · 15 marks
Marking scheme
Get Steven’s plain-English explanation
2019 Oct/Nov · Paper 1 · Q8 · 6 marks
Marking scheme
Get Steven’s plain-English explanation

Showing 5 of 14 free File management questions.

See them all in the topical bank

File management in IGCSE ICT 0417 exams, 2020–2025

Most-tested subtopics

Appears in

More ICT topics