How 8-mark extended answers are marked, and how to discuss network topologies, protocols and layers for a scenario.
What you will learn
- Explain how levels of response are marked
- Compare star and mesh topologies for a scenario and recommend one
- Explain the protocols a system uses and why networks use layers
How an 8-mark answer is marked
Longer 8-mark questions are marked by levels of response, not by counting points.
The marker reads the whole answer and decides which level it fits, then where in that level.
- Level 3 (7 to 8 marks): thorough, accurate knowledge applied to the situation throughout. Both sides are discussed and developed, and the conclusion follows from the points made.
- Level 2 (4 to 6 marks): sound knowledge, mostly applied to the situation, with some discussion, but it may be one-sided or the conclusion may not be supported.
- Level 1 (1 to 3 marks): basic knowledge with little link to the situation. Points are listed rather than explained.
A list of correct facts with no link to the scenario stays in Level 1, however long it is. Every point should say what it means for this organisation or this device.
The questions here are written by Brainlag in the OCR style for practice. None is taken from an exam.
The rest of this lesson and its 7 practice questions are locked.
In this lesson
- How an 8-mark answer is marked
- Topologies and protocols: plan the answer
- Try it: Write a full answer
7 practice questions, marked as you go; about 25 minutes in all.
Key terms
Levels of response, Applied to the situation, Protocols, Layers
In this unit: Networks and protocols
LANs, WANs and PANs, network hardware, star, mesh and bus topologies, the internet and DNS, IP and MAC addresses, protocols and layers, network security, and transfer time calculations.