The document provides a marking scheme for a database design and development exam with 7 questions. It outlines the questions, subparts, expected answers, and point values for each subpart. The marking scheme is intended to guide exam markers and ensure consistent scoring across questions, while still allowing for valid alternative responses. It also provides notices to markers about partial credit and rounding scores.
1. DATABASE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
5th DECEMBER 2010
MARKING SCHEME
This Marking Scheme has been prepared as a guide only to markers. This is not a set of model
answers, nor is the Marking Scheme exclusive, for there will frequently be alternative responses
which will provide a valid answer. Unless a question specifies that an answer be produced in a
particular form, then an answer that is correct, factually or in practical terms, must be given the
available marks.
If there is doubt as to the correctness of an answer the relevant NCC Education materials and
associated module textbook should be the first authority.
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
Notice to Markers
Where markers award half marks in any part of a question they should ensure that the total
mark recorded for a task is rounded up to a whole mark.
2. ANSWER ANY FOUR QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1 Marks
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
a) Give a definition of the following contemporary database types
i) Operational database 4
• Used to collect operational data (1 mark).
• Used to support standard operations of an organisation by providing data that is reliable,
timely and valid. (up to 2 marks).
• Operations that should be able to be performed are create, retrieve, update and delete (1
mark).
ii) Decision support database 4
• Designed to support decision makers in the organisation, such as varying levels of
manager, in making decisions (1 mark).
• This is usually a read-only database (1 mark).
• Should support query tools (1 mark)
• or other custom applications for interrogating and representing data trends (1 mark).
iii) Mass deployment database 4
• Deliver data to the desktop (1 mark).
• Usually single user systems (1 mark).
• Updated from other types of database (1 mark).
• Further mark can be given for example of a commercial product such as Microsoft Access
or example of use of such as system such as in a university system a individual lecturer
with their own student records.
b) Identify and describe the THREE (3) different user types of a database system. 9
Award 1 mark for identification of End-users, Database administrators/data administrators AND
system developers. (3 Marks)
End-users. Up to 2 further marks for characteristics of end-users. This answer could encompass a
very broad set of definitions. Everyday users who input transactional data, users of deployed systems
through some other ICT interface who might not know they are using a database e.g. on-line
shoppers. Mention might also be made of sophisticated users who are allowed access to query tools.
Database/Data Administrators: Up to 2 further marks for database administrators creating an
maintaining databases, managing DBA etc. Data administrators are those in charge of maintaining
accuracy and legality of data.
Systems Developers: Up to 2 further marks for those who develop applications on top of databases,
those involved in systems integration between different types of hardware and/or software and a
database system, usability/interface professionals. This is a broad category and students should be
rewarded for applying knowledge and imagination here.
6. Marks
c) A user tried to execute the following commands in the given order to insert values into the Customer, 12
CustomerOrder and OrderDetails tables. Identify those commands that would result in the return of an
error message and explain why they would return an error message.
1) INSERT INTO Customer values (‘5566’, ‘JONES’, ‘CROSS ROAD’);
2) INSERT INTO Customer values (‘5667’, ‘JONES’, ‘RIVER LANE’);
3) INSERT INTO Customer values (‘5667’, ‘SMITH’, ‘MILL LANE’);
4) INSERT INTO CustOrder values (‘1005’, ‘5566’, ’03-FEB-2004’, 20.50);
5) INSERT INTO CustOrder values (‘1006’, ‘6566’, ’04-FEB-2004’, 40.50);
6) INSERT INTO Product values (‘2345’, ‘BOLT’, ’GREY’, 25);
7) INSERT INTO Product values (‘2344’, ‘NUT’, ’ GREEN’, 15);
8) INSERT INTO Product values (‘2346’, ‘SCREW’, ’BLUE’, 5);
9) INSERT INTO OrderDetail values (‘1010’, ‘2344’, 100);
10) INSERT INTO OrderDetail values (‘1005’, ‘2344’, 200);
11) INSERT INTO OrderDetail values (‘1005’, ‘2354’, 150);
12) INSERT INTO OrderDetail values (‘1005’, ‘2344’, 50);
1 mark for each error identification.
1 mark for each correct explanation
INSERT INTO Customer values (‘5566’, ‘JONES’, ‘CROSS ROAD’); OK
INSERT INTO Customer values (‘5667’, ‘JONES’, ‘RIVER LANE’); OK
INSERT INTO Customer values (‘5667’, ‘SMITH’, ‘MILL LANE’); Error
Primary key constraint. CustomerNo ‘5667’ already exists in Customer table.
INSERT INTO CustOrder values (‘1005’, ‘5566’, ’03-FEB-2004’, 20.50); OK
INSERT INTO CustOrder values (‘1006’, ‘6566’, ’04-FEB-2004’, 40.50); Error
Foreign key constraint. Cannot find Primary key CustomerNo ‘6566’ in Customer table.
INSERT INTO Product values (‘2345’, ‘BOLT’, ’GREY’, 25); Error
Domain constraint. Colour ‘GREY’ is an invalid value.
INSERT INTO Product values (‘2344’, ‘NUT’, ’ GREEN’, 15); OK
INSERT INTO Product values (‘2346’, ‘SCREW’, ’BLUE’, 5); OK
INSERT INTO OrderDetail values (‘1010’, ‘2344’, 100); Error
Foreign key constraint. Cannot find Primary key OrderNo ‘1010’ in CustOrder table.
INSERT INTO OrderDetail values (‘1005’, ‘2344’, 200); OK
INSERT INTO OrderDetail values (‘1005’, ‘2354’, 150); Error
Foreign key constraint. Cannot find Primary key ProductNo ‘2345’ in Product table.
INSERT INTO OrderDetail values (‘1005’, ‘2344’, 50); Error
Primary key constraint. Composite key ‘1005’and ’2344’ already exists in CustOrder table
Total 25 Marks
8. Marks
iii) Application publishing 5
Application publishing is a type of publishing closest to database applications. Unlike the
other types of publishing it is important that state is maintained between the client and the
database server so that no transaction are disrupted. This is accomplished by the web server.
An example might be any transaction processing such as a customer managing their bank
account over the internet.
Total 25 Marks
9. QUESTION 4
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
Marks
a) The following relate the key functions associated with database administration
i) Describe FOUR (4) of the functions associated with the administration of a database. 8
There are a number of key activities that can be mentioned. 1 mark should be given for the key
activities mentioned in the answer plus additional 1 mark for detailing that category.
The students should have selected four from those shown below:
• Physical design
• Data standards and documentation
• Monitoring data usage and tuning database
• Data archiving
• Data backup and recovery
ii) Describe the functions associated with the administration of a DBMS. 6
There are a number of key activities that can be mentioned. 1 mark should be given for the key
activities mentioned in the answer plus additional 1 mark for detailing that category.
• Installation
• Configuration control
• Monitoring DBMS usage and tuning DBMS
iii) Describe the functions associated with the administration of a database environment. 8
There are a number of key activities that can be mentioned. 1 mark should be given for the key
activities mentioned in the answer plus additional 1 mark for detailing that category.
• Data control
• Impact assessment
• Privacy, security and integrity
• Training
b) Discuss the role of views in data security. 3
Definition of a view is a virtual table that doesn’t store data but presents it to the user in a particular
form (1 mark).
Views can be used to create a particular view of data that restricts users to only seeing part of a total
data set (1 mark).
This can be used in security by restricting users of a particular department or a particular access
level/level of authority to as set of data represented in a particular view (1 mark).
Alternative answers that use an example (such as a university) should be allocated appropriate marks
up to the full three.
Total 25 Marks