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AEAIT Semester 1 Exam Cheatsheet

25/03/2026

Applied Information Technology Semester 1 Exam Cheatsheet

🎨 1. Design Concepts & User Experience

Design questions are practically guaranteed. Know the difference between Elements (the pieces) and Principles (how you arrange them).

The Elements of Design (The Building Blocks)

  • Line: Directs the eye, creates separation, or indicates motion.
    • Straight/Horizontal = calm, structure; Vertical = height, alertness; Diagonal = action, restlessness; Curved = flowing, graceful; Thick = bold, strong.
  • Shape: A closed line. Geometric (squares, circles) or organic/free-form (natural forms).
  • Space: Positive space (the subject) vs. Negative/White space (the empty areas). Crucial for readability. White space gives the eye a rest; overlapping elements creates depth.
  • Texture: The visual feel of a surface (actual or implied 2D). Links to memory (e.g., timber = rough; glass = cool/calm).
  • Colour: Sets mood, conveys meaning, and creates hierarchy.
    • Warm (Red/Yellow) = loud, action, appears closer. Cool (Blue/Green) = peace, calm, appears further away.
  • Tone (Value): Variations in lightness and darkness to create depth. The eye is naturally drawn to areas of highest tonal contrast.
  • 3D Form: Creating the illusion of 3-dimensional volume (height, width, depth) using overlapping, lighting, or scaling.

The Principles of Design (How Elements are Arranged)

  • Balance: Adds stability and visual harmony by evenly distributing weight (Symmetrical or Asymmetrical).
  • Emphasis (Contrast and Proportion): Directs attention to the focal point using contrasts in colour, size, shape, or form. High contrast = better accessibility.
  • Dominance: Establishes a clear hierarchy. Ensures one part stands out strongly while supporting elements remain secondary.
  • Unity (Proximity and Repetition): Makes the design cohesive and consistent. Achieved through a common background, color scheme, or repeated shapes.
  • Pattern: Adds structure, rhythm, and interest by repeating elements exactly.
  • Movement: Guides the viewer’s eye through the design in a deliberate path using arrows, lines, or flowing shapes.

Compositional Rules & Reading Gravity

  • Rule of Thirds: Avoid placing subjects in the dead center. Align them to the intersections of a 3x3 grid to create tension and interest.
  • Grid and Alignment: Use grids to line up elements to create a structured, professional solution.
  • Reading Gravity: The psychological tendency for the eye to scan from top-left to bottom-right.
    • Gutenberg Diagram (Z-shape path): Best for text-heavy pages with no headings. Passes through “fallow areas”.
    • Z-Pattern: Best for simple layouts (posters, landing pages). Eye moves across the top, down diagonally to the bottom left, then across to the bottom right.
    • F-Pattern: Best for websites/quick scanning. Eye moves across the top, then straight down the left margin.

Typography & Accessibility (Bda Dyslexia Guidelines)

  • Typeface: Use sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Comic Sans, Tahoma, Verdana). Avoid italics or continuous underlining (causes crowding). Use Bold for emphasis.
  • Size & Format: Minimum 12-14pt font size. Avoid ALL CAPS for continuous text.
  • Spacing: Minimum 1.5 line spacing (150%). Inter-word spacing should be 3.5x inter-letter spacing.
  • Alignment: Left-align text. Avoid justified text, as it creates uneven spacing (“rivers of white”) which hinders readability.
  • Color Contrast: Avoid harsh black-on-white (can dazzle). Use dark text on a cream/off-white/pastel background. Use matte paper, not glossy.

💻 2. Hardware Fundamentals & Systems

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) & Cooling

  • Control Unit (CU): The manager that directs CPU parts and orders operations (Control Path).
  • ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit): Performs all math, logic, and comparison operations (Data Path).
  • Registers & Cache: Small, super-fast temporary storage areas within the CPU for frequently used data.
  • Clock Speed (GHz): How quickly the CPU retrieves/interprets instructions.
  • Cores: Mini-brains. Multicore (Dual, Quad, Octa) = better multitasking.
  • Cooling: Passive (Heatsinks—metal plates that absorb and spread heat) and Active (Fans—exhaust hot air).

GPUs (Graphics Processing Units)

  • Integrated: Built into the CPU. Cheaper, uses system RAM, good for basic use.
  • Discrete/Dedicated: A separate chip on its own card. Has its own VRAM, expensive, required for heavy 3D rendering and gaming.

Storage & Memory

  • Primary Memory (RAM): Temporary (volatile). Fast, short-term data for active processing.
  • Secondary Storage (HDD/SSD): Permanent (non-volatile). Slower, long-term storage for OS, files, and dormant apps.

Types of Computer Systems

  • Supercomputers: Large-scale simulations (weather, aerospace).
  • Mainframes: Very powerful, process large volumes of data (banks, universities).
  • Servers: Provide resources/data to clients on a network (Web servers, File servers).
  • Desktops/Laptops: Personal computing. Laptops sacrifice upgradability and heat dissipation for portability.

Operating Systems (OS)

  • Purpose: Manages hardware, software, and acts as the bridge (GUI).
  • Functions:
    1. Provides a User Interface (GUI vs CLI).
    2. Managing System Resources (allocates CPU time and RAM).
    3. Managing Security & Access Rights (logins, permissions).
    4. Running Applications (loads to RAM).
  • Minimum vs. Recommended Requirements: Minimum means the app will run, but likely poorly/laggy. Recommended means smooth, optimal performance.

📁 3. Application Skills, Data Management & Project Planning

Data Organisation Best Practices

  • Three Key Systems:
    1. Day-to-Day: Everyday file creation, organized logically in a hierarchy.
    2. Archive: Moving old/completed work to external storage. Keeps the main system uncluttered and fast.
    3. Backup: Redundant copies of BOTH to protect against hardware failure, theft, or corruption.
  • Systematic Naming Conventions: ProjectName_Type_YYYY-MM-DD_v01.ext (e.g., Science_Report_2026-03-25_v02.docx). Avoid spaces.
  • Metadata: Data about data (e.g., GPS location, camera model, author). Used to search, sort, and filter files easily.
  • Version Control: Never overwrite raw data. Work on a copy and increment version numbers.

File Formats Deep-Dive

  • Raster Graphics (Grid of pixels): Resolution-dependent. Blurs when scaled up.
    • .jpg / .jpeg: Lossy. Good for photos. No transparency.
    • .png: Lossless. Supports transparency (alpha channel). Good for web graphics.
    • .gif: Lossless (max 256 colours). Supports simple animations and transparent backgrounds.
    • .tif / .tiff: Lossless/Uncompressed. Massive file sizes, industry standard for high-res printing/scanning.
    • .bmp: Bitmap. Uncompressed, large size, Windows legacy.
  • Vector Graphics (Mathematical formulas): Infinitely scalable. Resolution-independent. Perfect for logos/fonts.
    • .svg: Scalable Vector Graphic (XML-based standard for the web).
    • .cgm: Computer Graphics Metafile (technical/engineering diagrams).
    • .ai / .eps: Adobe standard vector files.
  • Audio & Video: - .mp3: Compressed (lossy). ~1MB/min. Standard for streaming.
    • .wav: Uncompressed (lossless). ~10MB/min. Standard for studio editing.
    • .wma: Windows Media Audio. Compressed for Windows streaming.
    • .mp4: Stores video, audio, and text data in one file.
  • Compression: - Lossy: Permanently deletes “unnecessary” data. Massive space saving, irreversible quality drop.
    • Lossless: 100% quality retention, reconstructs exact data. Smaller space saving.

Spreadsheets (Excel Lookups)

  • VLOOKUP (Vertical): Searches the first column and returns a value in the same row. =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
  • HLOOKUP (Horizontal): Searches the top row and returns a value in the same column.

Software Licenses

  • Proprietary (Closed Source): Paid, code locked, official support (MS Office).
  • Open Source: Free to modify/distribute, community support (Linux, Firefox).
  • Freeware: Free to use, but code is closed and copyrighted (Google Chrome, VLC).
  • Shareware: Trial basis software. Types include:
    • Demoware: Time/feature limited.
    • Adware: Free but shows ads.
    • Nagware: Constant pop-ups asking to buy.
    • Freemium: Basic features free, pay for premium (Canva, Spotify).

Project Management (Task 4 Essentials)

  • Waterfall Methodology: A sequential, linear approach (Plan -> Design -> Develop -> Evaluate). Best when requirements are fixed.
  • Gantt Charts: Visualizes timelines, dependencies, and deadlines.
  • Wireframes: Hand-drawn layout guides created before digital development to plan composition rules and placement.

🌐 4. Intellectual Property, Security & Impact of Tech

The Copyright Act 1968 & Privacy Act 1988 (Australia)

  • Copyright Act: Protects the expression of an idea (automatic & free). Lasts Life of creator + 70 years.
  • Fair Dealing Exceptions: Allowed for Study/Research, Criticism/Review, Parody/Satire, News Reporting.
  • Format Shifting: Legally copying owned content to a new format for private use (e.g., ripping a CD to MP3).
  • Moral Rights: The creator’s right to Attribution (be named), against False Attribution, and Integrity (protecting reputation from derogatory edits).
  • Privacy Act 1988 (APPs): Governs how personal info is handled. Organizations must only collect what is reasonably necessary, store it securely, and disclose how it will be used (e.g., when building a web form).

APA 7 Referencing (Digital Publications)

  • Formula: Author, Initial. (Year). Title of the webpage/article in sentence case. Website Name. URL
  • Example: Smith, J. (2022). The impact of social media on teenagers. Journal of Online Behaviour. https://www.joob.org/...

Cyberbullying (The 9 Forms)

  1. Flaming: Online fights with angry messages.
  2. Denigration: Spreading rumors to damage reputation.
  3. Exclusion: Purposely leaving someone out of chats/groups.
  4. Outing: Sharing someone’s secrets/private photos.
  5. Trickery: Conning someone into revealing secrets to share them.
  6. Impersonation: Faking an identity to harm someone’s reputation.
  7. Harassment: Repeated cruel messaging.
  8. Cyberstalking: Long-term harassment involving threats.
  9. Doxing: Publicly revealing private info (address, phone, bank) to invite real-world harm. Strategies: Screenshot evidence -> Block -> Report to platform -> Talk to a trusted adult. Do not retaliate.

Digital Communities & Work-Life Balance

  • Virtual Communities: Message boards, virtual worlds, chat rooms, social networks. Unites people across borders via shared interests or causes.
  • Work-Life Balance: “Always-on” mobile/cloud tech blurs home and work, causing burnout.
    • Solutions: Set clear contact hours, use shared calendars to block availability, focus on productivity/outcomes rather than hours logged.

📝 5. Exam Strategies & Answer Frameworks

Based on WACE past papers, use these specific templates to guarantee full marks.

1. The “Identify + Elaborate” Rule (Critically Important)

If a question asks to “Describe three actions” for 6 marks, you earn:

  • 1 Mark: Identify the rule/concept.
  • 1 Mark: Provide the “so that / because” elaboration.
  • Example: “Ignore the bullying (1 mark) because, without a reaction, the bully will stop seeking attention (1 mark).“

2. Scenario-Based Hardware Evaluation

  • Framework: Explicitly contrast the provided spec table with the user’s needs.
  • Example: “Quotation A is best for the 3D graphic designer because it provides a dedicated RTX GPU and 16GB RAM, whereas Quotation B’s integrated graphics and 8GB RAM will cause the 3D rendering software to crash or lag severely.”

3. Design Evaluation (Reviewing an Image/Poster)

  • Framework: Explicitly name the Principles/Elements of Design.
  • Example: “The design has poor Contrast because yellow text on a white background is unreadable. However, it demonstrates good Unity through the repeated use of circular Shapes.”

4. Justifying File Formats

  • Framework: Name the format -> State if it’s raster/vector or lossy/lossless -> Relate to the prompt.
  • Example: ”.SVG was chosen for the company logo because it is a vector format that can scale infinitely without pixelating, ensuring it looks sharp on both a business card and a billboard.”

🏆 6. Deep Dive: Exact Past Paper WATP Solutions

Memorize exactly how the marking key awards points.

Q: Explain how the code for some software can be accessed and modified by the public, whereas most code cannot. (2 Marks)

1. Under Open Source software, the source code is freely available for users to view, change, or distribute. 2. …whereas for Closed/Proprietary software, the code is locked by the developer and cannot be altered.

Q: Give two items that a software update may include that will improve the software. (2 Marks)

1. Enhancements to software features and interface operations. 2. Security patches to fix vulnerabilities and bugs in the previous version.

Q: Describe three (3) actions you can take to be responsible on Social Networking. (6 Marks)

Action 1: Assume everyone has access to your profile (1 mark) so you only behave as if employers are watching (1 mark). Action 2: Use discretion when uploading images (1 mark) because they may cause embarrassment or harm later on (1 mark). Action 3: Manage privacy settings (1 mark) so that strangers cannot stalk your location (1 mark).

Q: Explain the difference and relationship between Elements of Design and Principles of Design. (3 Marks)

1. Elements (Line, Shape, Colour) are the actual physical building blocks placed onto the page. 2. Principles (Balance, Contrast, Unity) are “what the designer does” with those elements. 3. The relationship is that elements are manipulated using principles to achieve a successful visual outcome.

Q: A business archives data onto a flash drive each day and stores it in the manager’s office. Provide four reasons why this is inappropriate. (4 Marks)

1. A flash drive can be easily lost or stolen. 2. Flash drives are easily physically damaged. 3. Storing it in the same office provides no off-site redundancy in case of a fire or disaster. 4. Limited storage capacity compared to external hard drives or cloud servers.

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