Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors GCSE 2004 June Series abc Mark Scheme Business & Communication Systems (3126/1F) Mark schemes are prepared by the Principal Examiner and considered, together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation meeting attended by all examiners and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation meeting ensures that the mark scheme covers the candidatesresponses to questions and that every examiner understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for the standardisation meeting each examiner analyses a number of candidatesscripts: alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed at the meeting and legislated for. If, after this meeting, examiners encounter unusual answers which have not been discussed at the meeting they are required to refer these to the Principal Examiner. It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and expanded on the basis of candidatesreactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one years document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper. Further copies of this Mark Scheme are available from: Publications Department, Aldon House, 39, Heald Grove, Rusholme, Manchester, M14 4NA Tel: 0161 953 1170 or download from the AQA website: www.aqa.org.uk Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors COPYRIGHT AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered centres for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre. Set and published by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales 3644723 and a registered charity number 1073334. Registered address AQA, Devas Street, Manchester. M15 6EX. Dr Michael Cresswell Director General Mark Scheme GCSE Business & Communication Systems Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 3 Foundation Tier Theory Paper (3126/1F) The answers given in this mark scheme are neither exhaustive nor prescriptive. Credit should be given for all appropriate responses. GCSE Business & Communication Systems Mark Scheme Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 4 1 Total for this question: 8 marks (a) Which one of the following items of hardware is not an input device? (1 mark) Laser printer (1) (b) Which one of the following databases is not covered by the Data Protection Act? (1 mark) Cars in a showroom (1) (c) Which one of the following methods of communication is most often used for an external communication? (1 mark) Letter (1) (d) Which one of the following terms best describes how the employment of an employee caught drunk whilst at work would be ended? (1 mark) Dismissal (1) (e) Which one of the following terms best describes the type of training given to new employees? (1 mark) Induction (1) (f) Which one of the following is best assessed through a job interview? (1 mark) Enthusiasm (1) (g) Which one of the following is an organisation run by the Government to help recruitment? (1 mark) A Job Centre (1) (h) Here is part of a monthly payslip for one of the employees of Abandon. Gross Pay Income Tax National Insurance Pension Net Pay £1500.00 £283.00 £90.00 £75.00 £ What is the employees net pay for the month? (1 mark) £1052.00 (1) Mark Scheme Business & Communication Systems - GCSE Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 5 2 Total for this question: 25 marks (a) Select two items from the advertisement opposite which are likely to attract candidates to apply for the job. Explain one reason why you think each item would attract candidates. (6 marks) Any two from: leading pop agency, 37 hour week, 4 weeks holiday per year, £15 000 pa salary, fringe benefits (1 + 1). Accept job role itself, and the fact that there are two vacancies. Not logo. 2 x (1 + 1) for evaluation, eg leading pop agency attracts candidates because they think Abandon is a successful company (1), which means they will have job security (1). Hours are quite short (1) compared with some other jobs which means candidates can fit in with social/family commitments (1). Salary is reasonable (1) considering no qualifications are required and only a limited range of skills (1). (b) (i) Explain one reason why Rock has decided to ask candidates to fill in an application form, rather than send in a curriculum vitae (CV). (2 marks) (1 + 1) for reason + development. Eg application form shows all experience and qualifications set out in same order (1). This will allow Rock to compare applicants for the post more easily (1). (ii) Explain one reason why it might have been better for Rock to ask candidates to send in a CV rather than an application form. (2 marks) (1 + 1) for reason + development. Eg CVs would be received sooner (1) so Rock could appoint more quickly and start saving money on printing costs (1). (c) List three pieces of information, other than name, address and telephone number, which the application form will ask for. (3 marks) 3 x 1 Any three from: date of birth; nationality; National Insurance number; previous employment history; current post; qualifications; interests; references; gender; criminal offences; job applied for; why they want the job; or any other suitable piece of information. GCSE Business & Communication Systems Mark Scheme Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 6 (d) Explain how each of the pieces of information you have listed in (c) would help Rock to select suitable applicants for the post of publicity assistant. (6 marks) 3 x (1 + 1) for evaluation, must be in context for second mark. Eg previous employment shows applicants skills (1) which will allow Rock to judge whether they will be able to produce the quality marketing materials (1). Qualifications gives an idea of how hard candidate works /what skills they have (1), eg GCSE English might mean they can compose accurate advertisements (1). (e) Rock receives 20 applications for the job. Rock has decided which applicants to appoint. He wants them to start within the week. Recommend, with reasons, the best method of communication to use to inform the successful and unsuccessful applicants of his decision. (6 marks) 1 x 2 for suitable methods plus (1 + 1) x 2 for suitable evaluation in context need to justify the method. Eg successful candidates: telephone (1) because he needs to find out straight away whether they accept the job offer (1) so he can offer it to someone else if they say no (1). Unsuccessful candidates: letter (1) because he does not need a reply (1) and it is less awkward than speaking to them face to face (1). Award evaluation if valid even if method is unsuitable. Mark Scheme Business & Communication Systems - GCSE Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 7 3 Total for this question: 21 marks (a) Identify and explain one factor that Jane should take into account when choosing each of the following pieces of furniture and equipment. Chair Monitor Desk (6 marks) Chair: must be adjustable (1) so it gives good back support (1). Monitor: must not flicker (1) or it would cause eyestrain (1). Desk: must have room underneath for employee to move legs (1) and room on top for computer and papers (1). (b) The new employees will use desktop publishing (DTP). From the advertisement on the opposite page select: • an input device; • a storage device; • an output device. Explain, with an example, what each of these devices would be used for. (9 marks) (1 + 2) x 3 marks Give marks for valid evaluation of incorrect device. Input device: mouse, scanner or keyboard on laptop (1). For 2 marks, reason must be in context of Abandon. Mouse: to move text and images round (1) on pages of publicity material (1). Scanner: to input photographs into publicity material (1), eg of venues or bands (1). Keyboard on laptop: to input text/commands (1) on letters to venue owners (1). Storage device: floppy disk drive or CD drive (1). Floppy disk drive: for backing up small files (1), eg letters to venues (1). CD drive: for backing up files (1) eg publicity materials (1). Output device: laser printer or inkjet printer (1) not laserjet. Laser printer: to print monochrome documents (1) eg letters, tickets (1). Inkjet printer: to print colour documents (1), eg publicity leaflets (1). GCSE Business & Communication Systems Mark Scheme Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 8 (c) Abandons offices are open plan. (i) Identify and explain one advantage to the staff of Abandon of working in an open plan office. (3 marks) 1 for advantage plus 1+1 for evaluation. Eg open plan encourages friendships between employees (1), makes the workplace more friendly (1) and allows employees to share ideas (1). (ii) Identify and explain one disadvantage to the staff of Abandon of working in an open plan office. (3 marks) 1 for disadvantage plus 1+1 for evaluation. Increases distractions (1) so making it more difficult to get on with own work (1) and reducing job satisfaction (1). Mark Scheme Business & Communication Systems - GCSE Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 9 4 Total for this question: 15 marks (a) Select three hazards from the picture. Explain one way of preventing each hazard. (6 marks) 1 for each hazard plus 1 for each preventative measure, ie not how it can be mended. Eg hole in carpet (1) monthly safety inspections (1). Overloaded electrical sockets (1) ensuring enough electrical sockets were installed (1). Employee carrying too many boxes (1) training/providing trolleys (1). (b) Rock thinks that it is very important to train his new staff in health and safety. Jane suggests three ways he might do this: • send them on an external training course; • train them himself in the office; • give them a health and safety training manual to read. (i) Explain how effective you think each of the above methods would be in training the new staff in health and safety. (6 marks) 3 x (1+1) for evaluation + development. Answers should relate to the effectiveness of training, not to other factors such as costs. Eg external training course can be effective because the trainers are experts in their subject (1), but difficult to apply what is learned when back at work (1). Training them himself could be effective because he will make it relevant to the workplace (1), but he may not have time or expertise to do it properly (1). Health and safety training manual allows employees to read it at their own pace (1) but it will not specifically relate to the workplace (1). (ii) Recommend which method Rock should use. Give reasons why your chosen method is the best. (3 marks) 3 marks for reasoned recommendation. Allow methods not mentioned above. Eg Rock should train the employees himself because he knows what the particular hazards are and he will be able to answer questions (1). It will be cheaper than sending them on an external course (1) and more tailored to his office than a manual (1). GCSE Business & Communication Systems Mark Scheme Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 10 5 Total for this question: 6 marks Janes annual salary is £18 000. She also earns overtime for working at weekends. Janes overtime rate is £20 per hour. The sheet below shows Janes overtime form for April. Abandon Overtime claim form Name: Jane Pennyworth Staff code: M234 Month: April 2004 Date Extra hours worked 3 April 3 4 April 2 17 April 4 24 April 4 Calculate Janes total gross salary including overtime for April. Show all your workings. (6 marks) Basic salary = £18 000/12 = £1 500 (2) Overtime hours = 3 + 2 + 4 + 4 = 13 (1) Overtime pay = 13 x £20 = £260 (2) Total gross pay for April = £1 500 + £260 = £1760 (1) Use own figure rule. Award marks for correct answer even if workings are not shown. Guide to possible answers: £18260 4 marks £260 3 marks £1760 6 marks Mark Scheme Business & Communication Systems - GCSE Copyright © 2004 AQA and its licensors 11 MARKING CRITERIA FOR QUALITY OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION Standard Criteria High Performance Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of 4-5 marks grammar with almost faultless accuracy, deploying a range of grammatical constructions; they use a wide range of specialist terms adeptly and with precision. Intermediate Performance Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of 2-3 marks grammar with considerable accuracy; they use a good range of specialist terms with facility. Threshold Performance Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of 1 mark of grammar with reasonable accuracy; they use a limited range of specialist terms appropriately. Below Threshold Performance 0 marks Having marked the candidates script for subject content, recording the question totals for each question, you must review the script as a whole and according to the bands of marks defined above, decide on the mark to be awarded to the candidate for their quality of written communication including spelling, punctuation and grammar. This mark should be written in the QoWCmark box on the front of the answer book. Then you should add the question total marks together and add the QoWCmark to give the grand total and enter this in the box for the total mark. The grand total for the whole paper (including QoWC) is the mark you should write and encode on the Examiners Mark Sheet.