Database Approach, File & Database Organisation

CAPE IT · UNIT 2 · MODULE 1 · OBJ. 3 & 4
Step 1 of 7
EXPLORE IN 3D

File-based and database approaches in 3D

Update a customer’s address and compare what happens in each approach.

REVISION · PAST-PAPER PRACTICE

Test yourself

Multiple-choice items in Paper 1 style and structured questions in Paper 2 style, adapted from CAPE Information Technology Unit 2 past papers. Your score and answers are saved on this device. When you have finished, submit them to your teacher at the end of this section.

MCQ best –Structured –

Paper 1 practice · 8 multiple-choice items

Choose one answer for each item, then check. Aim for 80% or better.

Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2019 Item 4; 2020 Item 9; 2022 Item 9; 2024 Item 9
1. Which of the following is NOT a method of organising records in a file?
Answer: D. Serial, sequential, random (direct) and indexed sequential are file organisations. Relational is a DATABASE model.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2019 Item 5
2. Which of the following is NOT a database model?
Answer: A. Hierarchical, network, relational and object-oriented are database models. ‘Archival’ is not.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2020 Item 15; 2022 Item 14
3. In the hierarchical database model, how many parent records can a child record have?
Answer: B. Hierarchical databases are tree-shaped: a parent can have many children, but each child has exactly one parent. (The network model allows many.)
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2022 Item 7
4. A file that holds the day’s sales so they can later be used to update the stock file is called a
Answer: C. A transaction file holds recent changes; it is processed against the master file to update it.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2020 Item 10
5. At a utility office, bill payments are stored in a temporary file and used to update customer accounts at the end of the day. This is
Answer: D. Collecting transactions and processing them together later is batch processing.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2019 Item 11; 2020 Item 7
6. A firm replaces its paper files with a DBMS. Which of the following is NOT a genuine advantage?
Answer: A. Every DBMS is limited by storage and licence size. The other three are real advantages.
EduTech practice item · Module 1 Obj. 4
7. A school file is used to print class lists in student-number order AND to look up one student instantly. Which file organisation suits BOTH uses?
Answer: B. Indexed sequential stores records in key order (for sequential runs) with an index for direct look-ups.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2022 Item 3; CAPE U2 P2 2026 Q1(a)
8. Which of the following are advantages of the database approach over traditional file processing?
I. Less data redundancy
II. Data can be shared by many users
III. Each department keeps its own separate copy of the data
Answer: A. Separate departmental copies are the traditional file-processing approach, which causes redundancy.

Paper 2 practice · structured questions (19 marks)

Write a full answer to each part, then show the mark scheme and tick every point you earned. Marks for a part are capped at its maximum. Mark schemes are EduTech’s own; CXC does not publish them.

Based on CAPE U2 P2 May/June 2026, Question 1(a)–(b) and 2021, Question 1(a)

Question 1 [13 marks]

FitPulse is a fitness app that currently stores user profiles, workout logs and meal records in separate text files. As users grow, it plans to move to a database management system.

(a) Identify THREE advantages FitPulse would gain by using a DBMS instead of separate files. [3]

MARK SCHEME (a) · max 3

(b) Explain the purpose of a master file and a transaction file in the app. [2]

MARK SCHEME (b) · max 2

(c) Describe TWO database organisation models other than the relational model. [4]

MARK SCHEME (c) · max 4

(d) Outline TWO differences between the hierarchical model and the relational model. [4]

MARK SCHEME (d) · max 4
Based on CAPE U2 P2 May/June 2023, Question 1(b)–(c)

Question 2 [6 marks]

At CoolCup Juices, a sales representative writes each order on a notepad, then types it into a DBMS. Staff later look up individual orders in the DBMS.

(a) Explain which file organisation is MOST suitable for (i) capturing orders on the notepad and (ii) accessing one order in the DBMS. [4]

MARK SCHEME (a) · max 4

(b) State ONE disadvantage of using EACH method for receiving orders: the notepad, and the DBMS. [2]

MARK SCHEME (b) · max 2

Submit to your teacher

Send your multiple-choice choices and written answers to your teacher for marking. Your teacher will also see whether you opened the mark scheme or checked your answers before submitting. You can submit again if you improve your answers.

Items are adapted from CAPE® Information Technology Unit 2 Papers 01 and 02 (2019–2026) for practice. © Caribbean Examinations Council for the original papers.