Grade 12 · CAPS

Grade 12 Systems Technologies: Hardware

Computer Applications Technology practice questions and a worked example

Grade 12 CAT hardware questions are mostly about choosing and fixing: the best device for backing up a whole drive, the upgrade most likely to speed up a PC, fixing a display-resolution error, easing storage bottlenecks, and recommending computers for a scenario such as a community gaming room. The practice questions here come from the November 2023 NSC CAT Paper 2 (theory).

Worked example

4.1 Give ONE example of a device that can be classified as an input device and output device.

Answer & explanation

Any ONE example of a device that is both an input and output device: a (multi-)touchscreen/smartphone/smartwatch/tablet; a force feedback steering wheel/joystick/headset; a multi-function scanner/printer; or an interactive whiteboard.
To answer this question, we need to identify a device that functions as both an input and output device. 1. **Input Device Functionality:** An input device allows users to provide data or control signals to a computer. For example, a touchscreen allows you to input commands by touching the screen. 2. **Output Device Functionality:** An output device receives data from a computer and presents it to the user. A touchscreen also displays visual output, making it an output device. A touchscreen is a perfect example because it allows input through touch and provides output by displaying information. Similarly, devices like smartphones and tablets also serve both functions, making them correct answers.

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Systems Technologies: Hardware

Question 1 of 3

1.2 You need to backup an entire hard drive. Which of the following devices is best suited for this purpose?
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More practice questions

Explore additional Grade 12 Systems Technologies: Hardware questions.

  • 2
    1.7 Which upgrade will most likely improve the performance of a PC?
  • 3
    4.8 The new monitor you connected to your computing device displays a resolution error message. Where would you change the resolution to resolve/fix this error message?
  • 4
    4.12 Give TWO possible solutions to resolve restrictions (bottlenecks) in data flow that appear in local storage areas.
  • 5
    9.1.1 The management of the community hall decided to open a gaming room. The management needs to purchase PCs for the gaming room and are considering PCs with these specifications: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 8-Core 3.4 GHz (up to 4.6 GHz); MSI GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card; MSI x570 chipset AM4 ATX motherboard; 32 GB DDR4 3600 MHz gaming memory; 1 TB Gen4 NVMe SSD; Corsair Airflow 5000D ATX gaming chassis; Microsoft Windows 11; NOD32 antivirus; Office 365; Microsoft mouse and keyboard; including steering wheel/joystick. What kind of computer user will most likely use a computer with these specifications?

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Systems Technologies: Hardware in other grades

Aligned to CAPS Grade 12 Computer Applications Technology — Systems Technologies: Hardware. Curriculum source: CAPS for the FET Phase, Department of Basic Education.

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