Candidate Name: Candidate Number:

Centre Name: Langley Norwich Centre Number:

ICT GCSE Coursework: Project 2 Spreadsheet

Extension Projects
Standard Projects
In order to get maximum marks, it is important to do
Projects should include:
an "extension task". In your IDENTIFY section, you
must make it clear that you will do at least two of the
Enter text and numeric data
following tasks:
Use of formulae
Multiple sheets with automatic transfer of data
Multiple sheets
Complex formulae (eg if…… )
Printing
Look up tables
Generate graphs
Macros

The project report is in five sections:

Identification (the problem, needs of the user) 5 marks

Analysis (the problem and possible solutions) 9 marks

Design (the solution) 9 marks

Implementation (the solution) 12 marks

Evaluation (the solution) 5 marks

Do the front cover last and don’t spend too long on it… it carries no marks.

It requires the title, name, "ICT GCSE Coursework: Spreadsheet Project",

your candidate number, and the centre number.

You also ought to include headers and footers similar to the ones on this
document. Things you should put in each section are detailed below … make
sure you delete the notes shown in blue before submitting it!

Standard and Extended

Exam board comment:
This is still causing some centres problems and centres are reminded that the
evidence for extended work should not just appear in the Implementation section but
also in the Analyse and Design sections.
A significant number of centres had extended marks reduced to standard due to the
lack of extended evidence.

1. Identification (5 marks)
Introduction
Candidate Name: Candidate Number:
Centre Name: Langley Norwich Centre Number:

Identify the problem and a "real user"

It is very important that you are as detailed as possible when it comes to

describing your problem. Ask yourself the following questions

• Who are you creating this spreadsheet for? (State who the user is and
what their business is)
• What are that person's requirements? (State what they need to be able
to do in their business that ICT can help with)
• What data(Input) will your spreadsheet contain?
• What is the information (Output) that they want you to produce?
• Your user needs to list several specific requirements that will allow you
to carry out "extension tasks".

Alternative solution 1

The ICT solution (obviously using a Spreadsheet!) State briefly (a couple of

sentences) why a spreadsheet would be a good solution (say what it can do
in relation to your user requirements)

Alternative solution 2

The Manual or Non-ICT solution.(There are various other ways of working out
information e.g. pencil and paper, calculator: explain how the user would do
this) One alternative you describe should be a non-ICT solution).

The use of ICT in solving this problem.

Why is ICT a sensible way of solving this problem?

Describe what a spreadsheet is.

Explain why a spreadsheet system is the most suitable medium for your
purpose. (This is really just an extension of your ICT solution above- how
much you write here will depend on how much you have written above-no
need to repeat yourself!)

Quantitative Objectives

List at least three "quantitative objectives" … 8-10 would be best. These must
be objectives that can be measured. They should follow on from the user
requirements identified above. The more objectives or user requirements that
you have here the easier it will be to design and implement your Spreadsheet,
as it becomes a kind of ‘to do’ list. Each objective you enter should be
measurable – something which you can be clearly evidenced in your
spreadsheet. In my examples below the feature of the spreadsheet is in
brackets.....

Examples…

‘Standard’ Project Example

Susan has a small business.....could be a shop, service etc

Candidate Name: Candidate Number:
Centre Name: Langley Norwich Centre Number:

1. Susan needs to calculate a total for income each week. (simple

Formulae)
2. Susan needs to calculate a total for expenditure each week. . (simple
Formulae)
3. Susan needs to calculate the profit each week. . (simple Formulae)
4. Susan needs to have monthly figure for profit . (simple Formulae)
5. Susan would like to be able to have a graph of income, expenditure
and profit for a four-week period (Generate graphs)
6. She wants the Spreadsheet to have clear headings and be easy to
read. (use of Formatting)

‘Extension’ Project Example

Mark is a MFL teacher in a secondary school

1. Mark needs to calculate grades based on various tests, HW and class

work over the academic year. (simple Formulae)
2. He has 3 year 10 MFL classes with 10-15 students in each (multiple
Sheets)
3. He need totals per term for marks (simple Formulae)
4. He gives 2 tests in each skill: speaking, reading, listening and writing
and only counts the students best mark for the term total. (IF formula)
5. He needs to calculate a grade based on the total mark each term.
(LookUp table)
6. He wants to be able to easily read across the tables. (use of
Formatting)
7. He wants headings to be clear and stand out from the data. (use of
Formatting)
8. He wants as much info as possible to fit on the main grades sheet.
(use of Formatting)
9. He wants grade boundaries on a separate sheet. (multiple Sheets)

2. Analysis (9 marks)
Hardware & Software

What hardware and software will you use and why?

Hardware available to you includes a PC (computer, monitor, keyboard,
mouse), a black laser printer, a colour laser printer, a colour inkjet printer,
scanner, digital camera, the Internet … choose which items you need.
Candidate Name: Candidate Number:
Centre Name: Langley Norwich Centre Number:

What software will you use / not use and why

Explain why a spreadsheet is the most suitable application for your task.
Compare it with another application (e.g. a table in Word) and list its
advantages.

Data required and Sources

What data will you need and where will it come from?
e.g. Dates, customer names, items selected, prices and total bill from
invoices.

Data Flow in the System

Show by a diagram where the information will come from and how it will travel
through your system

Input, Processing and output

Input
Explain what data will be included in your spreadsheet (text, figures,
pictures).
Explain how your data will be input into the computer.
What will be keyed in, what will be REPLICATED (using fill down, fill
across)

Processing
Explain in simple terms how the computer
is going to process the data.
• What calculations need to be
performed by the spreadsheet?
• What formulas will be needed
and which will need to be replicated.
• Try to mention use of
absolute and relative cell references
where used.
• This is especially important
regarding linking different sheets
together, and setting up macros,
using complex formulae (like ‘If’
statements) and lookup tables
Output
What will your output be?
Explain how you will set up the output as tables, using formatting to
highlight significant data, and lines round cells where needed etc. Don’t
forget graphs!!!
Examiners comments:
The user requirements and objectives from
Section 1 give a context for you to explain
the input, process and output that needs to
happen in the analyse section. You can even
add a checklist to make sure you have
mentioned item, price, etc in the input
section.
In the processing section candidates need to
discuss the formulas required in general
terms (not as Excel formulas at this stage)
eg Profit = income – expenditure.
The output section should focus around the
things that are needed in user interface, use
of colour, menus, buttons and input boxes
and the type of graphs. However, wait for
the next section to start designing these in
detail.

Storage and Backup

Candidate Name: Candidate Number:
Centre Name: Langley Norwich Centre Number:

Define file formats for all the files that you are going to produce in this project.
Your spreadsheet will be saved as a single .xls file (Microsoft Excel format).
What will your backup strategy be?
You explain how you will avoid losing your work. How often will you backup?
What media will you backup to? How long will the backup take? This file will
be less than 100K probably, unless you have graphs in it.

Security
How will you keep your files secure?
What dangers might there be (someone changing prices to make it cost less,
someone copying it for their own purposes etc). Will you put password
protection on the file? Will you password protect the computer?

3. Design (9 marks)
Initial Designs
In this section you need to show progression in your design.

Use the Spreadsheet Photocopy blanks.

Examiners comments:
In your initial design(s), draw out in pencil the layout Initial designs will not have any detail
of your spreadsheet with the column headings you regarding formulas but would give the
user an idea of what the finished solution
will use. Photocopy your work. Label the original as would look like.
Design#1.
Then once the user comments have been
recorded the candidate will add the detail
Now take your photocopy and add the formulae, regarding formulas, look up tables etc. It
macros, lookup tables, graphs etc. that you will be may be useful to use a blank spreadsheet
using and some sample data. Photocopy this and printout with the grid on.
then label second sheet as Design#2. Candidates need to make sure they have
designed the elements which will lead to
Finally take this new photocopy and add all your extended marks being awarded… multiple
sheets, macros, lookup tables.
formatting (font type, size, use of colour etc. Label
the third sheet as Design#3. A full test plan would test….
• Every objective (from section 1)
(NB.If you are using multiple sheets you will need to • Every formula, replicated formulas
only need to be tested once
show the same design progression in them). • Any other elements that have been
created
User Comments • Validation needs to be tested with two
Show your Design#3 to your end-user and ask values One valid data item and one
invalid data item.
him/her to comment on it. Say what changes you
will make as a result of these comments. • If buttons used for navigation are
used for navigation the candidate only
needs to test
Final Designs
Make the changes as recommended by your user. Your design should now
contain all the information required for a third-party to create the
spreadsheet in Excel and be fully annotated. In other words, it must
include formulae, validation details, macros, lookup table data, formatting
instructions, worksheet links etc.
You should annotate Design 3 with Users’ Comments too, if the suggestions
are going to be implemented
Candidate Name: Candidate Number:
Centre Name: Langley Norwich Centre Number:

Implementation Plan
List, in order, the tasks you have to complete from this point onwards. Break
down big tasks into sub-tasks. Say roughly what time-scale you are working
to.
The tasks you have include collecting data, inputting the text, producing the
tables, setting up the formulas, setting up the macros, testing, judging user
response, backing up etc.
It might be an idea to lay this out in a table with a tick box for work completed

Task
Description of Task Time needed Completed?
No.

etc

Test Plan
Devise a test plan & describe how you will test your work. Relate the tests to
the user requirements and quantitative objectives in Identification. ). You
should do at least 6-7 tests.
A full test plan would test….
• Every objective (from section 1)
• The accuracy of the input data
• Every type of formula (replicated formulas only need to be tested once)
• Any other elements that have been created
• Validation needs to be tested with two values :One valid data item and
one invalid data item.
• If buttons are used for navigation (Macros) the candidate only needs to
test one.
• Test the Password if used
Produce a table like the one below. Fill in all columns but leave the "Actual
Result" column clear.
Candidate Name: Candidate Number:
Centre Name: Langley Norwich Centre Number:

Test Expected Actual Result

Description of Test
No. Result

1 Leave blank

etc

4. Implementation (12 marks)

Evidence of Error Correction
Show the progression of your work
Save a couple of draft copies! When you make mistakes, you should show
how you corrected mistakes. If you improve the layout of something, include
the first layout and show how you improved it (using Screenshots)

Evidence of the Problem Solution

You must show that you have solved your Examiners comments
"problem". Screen shots and printouts should There is no requirement for the candidate
to show the moderator how they have
show data, results of calculations, formulas, created the solution step by step, but for
lookup tables and macro scripts. a spreadsheet, a formula printout
During this process, you must: Annotate, should always be included.
Annotate, Annotate… on printouts and on The only exception to this is for extended
screen shots. solutions, eg Validation, macros and
On each piece of printed out work, you should lookup tables may need extra screen
shots/print outs.
write what it shows, what you did and how you
did it. Say what features of the program you
used.
The more you can explain your work, the more convinced the examiner will
be that you know what you're doing.
Do screenshots of your work by pressing ALT+Print Screen and then pasting
into Word. Remember to annotate the print-out.

Evidence of Testing
Reproduce your test plan. This time, fill in the "actual result" column. Provide
evidence to show how you carried out each test.
Test Expected
Description of Test Actual Result
No. Result

1 Fill in
Candidate Name: Candidate Number:
Centre Name: Langley Norwich Centre Number:

etc
You must write a paragraph or two to compare "expected results" with "actual
results".
What changes did you make as a result of your testing?
Compare your original design with your final outcome. Explain any
differences.

5. Evaluation (5 marks)
Evaluation of Objectives
• Evaluate each of your original "quantitative objectives". Did you
achieve them?
• What technical problems did you encounter?
• Explain any changes to your original design.

Users comments
• Supply evidence that the end-user has seen your work and supplied
comments.(e.g. a letter, hand-written comments and signature)
• Say what you think of the end-user's comments.
Show that you have understood what they have said by commenting
on them

Further improvements
• How could your work be improved/extended?

Remember the marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar!

• Up to 8 marks are available for this so make sure you have checked
your work with Grammar and Spell check and had it read by someone
else