I recieved the files this morning and the first steps - importing, formulas for totals, profits, etc, seem fine.  But, after that, what is the logic, bar trial and error, for the units to be built, save there can be no more than 200 of any type.  How will the margin be set?  How will we work out what features to add?  Is it simply the painstaking task of trying each figure, for each feature, from the dropdown lists?

 

 

I too have had a look at it with one of my colleagues and have faced the same difficulties.  In the past there has been a "strategy" that could be identified and used to get the outcomes required but I have yet to find it.  Glad I'm not the only one! 

Hi where did you get the files from? I can't find them on the edexcel website anywhere. thanks in advance.

Hi try this link http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/gce/ict/adv/9751/ri/pre-release

For the data files to practice with there is a link to them at the top of this page.

Hope this helps - if you get anywhere with it I would be very interested!

 

 At this point, I would be willing to pay, out of my own pocket, for a solution.  If anyone has one to offer, fix a reasonable price and I will remunerate.  I am spending time treading water with this and getting nowhere.  We have to decide how many of each house type, features to add, set the profit margin while not overpricing, which would discourage sales,  keeping inside budget, and square meterage.  There must be a streamlined formula to go somewhere.  Can anyone detect an IF or a LOOKUP, or anything, apart from SUM that may be required?  I gave help to some tutors for the January 08.  If they are doing this again - have pity - and inspire me!

bmalone@belfastmet.ac.uk 

This spreadsheet seems to be far simpler than the Jan session. The main calculation sheets appear to make no use of the imported data, please correct me if I'm wrong. I find the information about the purpose of this sheets a little vague. perhaps we should be using our IFs and VLOOKUPs to extract the data from the imported data. eg variable selling price depending on No units produced.
 

there's a hidden column on the first sheet ('I', I think). That column refers to the imported data. 

 Thanks for that. I'd missed it. It makes more sense now. I think I've got it sussed as to what they will be expected to do. Just need to get my thoughts down on paper.

I've managed to suss out what they have to do and had found the hidden column but still have not found a strategy for achieving what I think is required.

has any one thought about the report?.  The role is IT expert, therefore would not usually make business decisions.  Would it be  about what is wrong, plus improvements in the spreadsheet - but this overlaps with the evaluation??  Any ideas???

For those that can have worked out what to do, is there any chance you could tell me what they have to do please?

Also has anyone worked through the January 2008 paper. I am stuck on the "Results" sheet when calculating the total thrill factor. Does anyone know the formula we have to enter?

 January 2008 mark scheme was available from the Edexcel site.  Here is the extract with the Thrill formulae.  I couldn't attach the document.

D1
Correct Formula in F13 (=Max(F3:F12))
1
D2
Correct Formula in I13 (=Sum(I3:I12)
1
D3
Sum function used
1
D4
Sum function not used inappropriately (eg other formulae)
1
=Round(Sum(J3:J12)+(F13-20)*10,0)
D5
Formula in I14 adds up individual thrill factors (Sum(J3:J12))
1
D6
Formula in I14 uses sum function to add
1
D7
Formula in I14 selects F13 to calculate top speed
1
D8
Formula in I14 takes 20 away from value
1
D9
Formula in I14 multiplies this value by 10
1
D10
Formula in I14 Uses correct brackets

Thanks very much,

 I've actually managed to work something similar just before i checked for replys:

=SUM(J3:J12)+10*(F13-20)

 but i see the logic in the 0 after the 10. I'll go looking for the markscheme.

Thanks again

 

This is more of a general question:  the first Activity is usually to write up a summary on one sheet.  Can anyone clarify the definition of 'one sheet' - would it be both sides of A4 or just one side? (sorry, I'm new to this)

This is our third year running this exam and my understanding is that it is only one side.  Our students have always done well so they are obviously writing enough!