IGCSE Information and Communication Technology 0417 · Topic 15

Proofing: past paper questions

36 real questionsasked in 7 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Explain, Identify, State, Tick, Write

Real questions on proofing

The newest 20 of 36 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0417/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
The report will be linked to a database. One of the fields in the database is date of birth. An example of the data found in this field is 30/01/2010. State two validation checks that could be used to validate the data in this field.
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0417/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[1]
One way of testing the data in this field is to use different types of test data. The first piece of test data used is acceptable data. State which type of test data is acceptable.
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0417/13 · October/November 2025 · Q5a(i)[2]
Date_of_reg Validation check Reason
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0417/13 · October/November 2025 · Q5a(ii)[2]
Sale_price Reason Validation check
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0417/13 · October/November 2025 · Q5a(iii)[2]
State_of_car Validation check Reason
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0417/11 · May/June 2025 · Q11a[2]
Explain how spell check software works.
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0417/11 · May/June 2025 · Q11b[2]
Sometimes the spell check software highlights words or changes words which are correctly spelt. Explain why this could have occurred.
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0417/12 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(ii)[1]
Validation routines
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0417/12 · May/June 2025 · Q4b[1]
Computer software can be tested using normal data, extreme data or abnormal data. Explain what is meant by abnormal test data.
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0417/12 · May/June 2024 · Q13a[1]
what this type of verification is called.
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0417/12 · February/March 2024 · Q10a[2]
Explain the importance of visual verification.
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0417/11 · October/November 2023 · Q10a[4]
Compare double data entry with visual verification.
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0417/11 · October/November 2023 · Q10b[2]
State two validation checks that could be used on the date field.
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0417/11 · October/November 2023 · Q12b[2]
Explain why the word has caused an error and how the student could ensure that the error does not reappear.
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0417/12 · October/November 2023 · Q9[6]
A hospital administrator enters data from medical forms into a database. Validation and verification are both used when entering data to minimise errors. Explain what is meant by validation and verification and why they are both needed in this scenario.
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0417/11 · May/June 2023 · Q14a[1]
Identify the most appropriate method for reducing data entry errors by manually checking the data without reference to the original copy.
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0417/11 · May/June 2023 · Q14b[1]
Identify the most appropriate method for reducing data entry errors by checking that the data being entered is reasonable.
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0417/11 · May/June 2023 · Q14c[1]
Identify the most appropriate method for reducing data entry errors by preventing errors when data is copied from one medium to another.
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0417/12 · May/June 2023 · Q1[1]
A book contains a bar code whose number is 503619309903 Tick (✓) the most appropriate validation check to test the validity of the bar code. check digit format check range check spell check
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0417/12 · February/March 2023 · Q17a[4]
Identify and describe two methods of verification. Method Description Method Description
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What examiners said

This was the better answered of the two parts of this question. Many candidates appeared to understand the operation of the spellchecker, in that it ‘read’ a word and compared it to its dictionary. However, the question implied that the candidate was checking the work and therefore was a manual operation. Some candidates stated that the spellchecker automatically corrected the word. In this series...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0417/11 Q11(a) (Cambridge)

This part looked at words that did not appear in the dictionary, like words that were badly spelt, or different languages or even proper nouns. As the question topic related to biology coursework the Examiners expected written in a different language like Latin, but candidates wrote that it could be written in UK-American. Examiners did not penalise these types of answers.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0417/11 Q11(b) (Cambridge)

This part of the question asked candidates why validation routines needed to be tested. This was better answered than other parts of part (a) but was still challenging for many of the candidates. Those candidates that wrote that the validation routines needed to be tested so that the data was in the correct format produced good marks.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0417/12 Q4(a)(ii) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise proofing

In the syllabus

1 0417.15.1.01 — Use automated software tools (spell check, grammar check) and make appropriate changes to ensure all work produced contains as few errors as

Use automated software tools (spell check, grammar check) and make appropriate changes to ensure all work produced contains as few errors as possible Use validation routines to minimise data entry errors
Automated suggestions given by spell check software do not always give the correct response
Importance, characteristics and uses of appropriate validation including range check, character check, length check, type check, format check, presence check

2 0417.15.1.02 — Automated suggestions given by spell check software do not always give the correct response

Automated suggestions given by spell check software do not always give the correct response

3 0417.15.1.03 — Importance, characteristics and uses of appropriate validation including range check, character check, length check, type check, format chec

Importance, characteristics and uses of appropriate validation including range check, character check, length check, type check, format check, presence check

4 0417.15.2.01 — Identify and correct data entry errors including transposed numbers, incorrect spelling, inconsistent character spacing, inconsistent case

Identify and correct data entry errors including transposed numbers, incorrect spelling, inconsistent character spacing, inconsistent case
Identify and correct inconsistent line spacing, remove blank pages/slides, remove widows/ orphans, inconsistent or incorrect application of styles, ensure that tables and lists are not split over columns or pages/slides
Importance, characteristics and uses of verification including visual checking and double data entry to reduce data entry errors
The need for validation as well as verification

5 0417.15.2.02 — Identify and correct inconsistent line spacing, remove blank pages/slides, remove widows/ orphans, inconsistent or incorrect application of

Identify and correct inconsistent line spacing, remove blank pages/slides, remove widows/ orphans, inconsistent or incorrect application of styles, ensure that tables and lists are not split over columns or pages/slides

6 0417.15.2.03 — Importance, characteristics and uses of verification including visual checking and double data entry to reduce data entry errors

Importance, characteristics and uses of verification including visual checking and double data entry to reduce data entry errors

7 0417.15.2.04 — The need for validation as well as verification

The need for validation as well as verification

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