THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, PRIME MINISTR'S OFFICE-RALG

FORM THREE JOINT ANNUAL EXAMINATION

INFORMATION AND COMPUTER STUDIES

TIME: 3:00 HOURS NOVEMBER, 2026

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper consists of Sections A, B and C with a total of eleven (11) questions.
2. Answer all questions in Sections A and B and choose two (2) questions from Section C.
3. Cellular phones and smart watches are not allowed in the examination room.
4. Write your name on every page of your answer sheets and question paper.

SECTION A (16 MARKS)

Answer all questions in this section.

1. For each item (i)–(x), choose the most correct answer from among the given alternatives and write its corresponding letter beside the item number in the answer booklet provided.

i. Hardware for a computer system is similar to

1. The instructions that are given to a clerical system
2. The equipment in a clerical system
3. The input data that is used in a clerical system
4. The output that is generated from a clerical system
5. The file cabinet in the clerical system

ii. Second-generation computers used

1. Vacuum tubes
2. Diodes
3. Integrated circuits
4. Transistors
5. Capacitors

iii. Another name for temporary storage is

1. Secondary storage
2. Auxiliary storage
3. Floppy diskette storage
4. Magnetic tape storage
5. Main storage

iv. One byte is approximately equal to

1. One character
2. One word
3. One megabit
4. Eight characters
5. Half the random access memory

v. The number system on which the operation of the computer is based is

1. Hexadecimal system
2. Decimal system
3. Binary system
4. Octal system
5. Petal system

vi. Output from a printer is normally called

1. Printer copy
2. A soft copy
3. A photocopy
4. An electronic copy
5. A hard copy

vii. A single program that provides the functionality of a word processor, spreadsheet, database manager and more is called

1. Software suites
2. General-purpose application
3. Operating system software
4. Integrated packages
5. Program manager

viii. Computer programs can be written in

1. Machine language
2. Assembler language
3. Symbolic language
4. Octal decimal language distance
5. Ordinary language

ix. A key used when someone needs to abandon the current task is

1. Esc key
2. Enter key
3. Ctrl End key
4. Home key
5. Tab key

x. The most important impact of the second generation of computers was

1. Widespread unemployment among white-collar workers
2. The development of standardized programming languages
3. The development of integrated circuits
4. The introduction of the Internet and World Wide Web
5. The evolution of time-sharing

2. Match the computer software descriptions in List A with their corresponding names in List B.

SECTION B (54 MARKS)

Answer all questions in this section.

3. Why should a school or any other institution have a website? Give four reasons.

4. (a) What is a computer virus?

(b) Explain how viruses move from one device to another.

(c) Give three advantages of protecting an information system.

5. (a) Define the following:

1. Word processor
2. Document

(b) Outline three negative effects of the Internet on society.

(c) Give four advantages of computer networking.

6. (a) Explain the following:

1. Web server
2. Web hosting
3. Domain name

(b) Why do you think each device on a network must have a unique IP address?

7. (a) Give two effects of improper disposal of electronic equipment on the environment.

(b) Outline five roles of ICT applications in our daily life.

8. (a) Define the following terms as used in database systems:

1. Primary key
2. Foreign key
3. Table
4. Database system
5. Flat-file database

(b) Garage D specializes in selling cars and uses an electronic database to store information. The database table shown below contains the following records:

1. Identify the primary key from each table.
2. Which field is a foreign key from these two tables?
3. Write the data type for each field in the product table.

Note: The original question refers to two tables, but only one table is supplied in the source paper.

SECTION C (30 MARKS)

Answer only two (2) questions from this section.

9. (a) What are the methods of data processing?

(b) With the aid of diagrams, explain four steps of a data processing system.

10. (a) What are the essential requirements for publishing web pages?

(b) Differentiate between the following:

1. Search engine and web browser
2. Website and web page

(c) Explain how linking web pages occurs in HTML.

11. (a) Explain the four main components of a database system.

(b) Give six advantages of using a database system at school.

THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FORM THREE ANNUAL JOINT EXAMINATION

036: INFORMATION COMPUTER SCIENCE

Instructions

1. This paper consists of sections A, B and C with a total of eleven (11) questions.
2. Answer all questions in section A and B, and two (2) questions from section C.
3. Section A carries sixteen (16) marks, section B fifty four (54) marks and section C carries thirty (30) marks.
4. Cellular phones and any unauthorized materials are not allowed in the examination room.

SECTION A (16 Marks)

Answer all questions in this section

1. For each of the items (i)–(x), choose the correct answer from among the given alternatives and write its letter beside the item number in the answer sheets provided.

i. Which of the following is an example of an input device?

1. Monitor
2. Keyboard
3. Printer
4. Speaker

ii. Which one of the following represents system software?

1. Microsoft Word
2. Google Chrome
3. Windows 10
4. Excel

iii. In computer storage hierarchy, which one is the fastest?

1. Hard disk
2. Cache memory
3. RAM
4. CD-ROM

iv. Which of the following is a correct binary representation of the decimal number 5?

1. 100
2. 101
3. 110
4. 111

v. The main purpose of an operating system is to:

1. Connect computers in a network
2. Control computer hardware
3. Perform arithmetic operations
4. Store data permanently

vi. Which of the following represents a spreadsheet formula?

1. =A1+B1
2. A1+B1
3. SUM A1+B1
4. ADD(A1,B1)

vii. Which one of the following is an example of application software?

1. Linux
2. MS Word
3. BIOS
4. Windows 11

viii. Which type of computer memory is volatile?

1. ROM
2. Flash Disk
3. RAM
4. Hard Disk

ix. Which of the following symbols is used to indicate a formula in Excel?

1. @
2. $
3. =
4. #

x. Which of the following is an example of a network device?

1. Router
2. Scanner
3. Printer
4. Projector

2. Match the following items in List A with the correct description in List B. Write the letter of the correct answer.

SECTION B (54 Marks)

Answer all questions from this section

3.  
   1. Define the term ‘Computer’.
   2. Explain four characteristics of a computer.
   3. Mention and describe four components of a computer system.
4.  
   1. Define the term ‘Operating System’.
   2. Explain five functions of an operating system.
   3. Give three examples of operating systems.
5.  
   1. Explain the difference between hardware and software.
   2. With examples, describe four types of computer hardware.
6.  
   1. Define a spreadsheet.
   2. Mention five features of Microsoft Excel.
   3. Explain how you can use a spreadsheet to prepare a school budget.
7.  
   1. Explain three advantages of computer networks.
   2. Describe three types of computer networks based on their geographical coverage.
8.  
   1. Define the term ‘Database Management System’ (DBMS).
   2. Explain four advantages of using DBMS in organizations.
   3. Describe three examples of database application areas.

SECTION C (30 Marks)

Answer two (2) questions from this section.

9.  
   1. Define the term computer network. (1 mark)
   2. Differentiate between Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN). (2 marks)
   3. A Secondary school wishes to connect its administration office, staff room, and computer laboratory so that files and printers can be shared.
      1. Suggest a suitable type of network and justify your answer. (2 marks)
      2. State four advantages of using such a network in the school. (4 marks)
      3. Describe three common network topologies and give one advantage of each. (6 marks)
10. ESC Ltd is a company which uses the face to face way of selling its devices. The company marketing officer decided to adapt the electronic commerce to widen their business. However, he/she had limited knowledge of this approach. Explain to him/her three benefits and three limitations that the company will face by adapting the new system. (15 marks)
11. The director of the Computer Supplier Company Ltd conducted the press conference to inform the customers about proper ways of handling electronic devices. After the conference, most of the customers complained that the communication done was not effective. Analyze four factors that attributed to the reported problem. (15 marks)