Summary IEB Access Exam Focus & Skills (Grade 11–12)

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Skills taken form common past papers examples

ACCESS EXAM FOCUS & SKILLS
 Work on the Correct Object: Always ensure you are modifying the specific table, form, query, or report mentioned in the question.
 Understand Design View vs. Datasheet View: Use Design View for structural changes, setting properties, and creating new elements, and
Datasheet View for viewing data, data entry, and quick filters or totals.
 Enable Content: When opening an Access database, enable content to allow changes to be made.
 Utilize Exam Resources: Remember that the exam paper often includes an input mask character sheet at the bottom, which is crucial for
input mask questions.
 Save Frequently: Although not explicitly stated as a direct skill, it is implied by the process of making changes and then moving to the next
task.
TABLES SKILLS
 Modify Field Properties in Design View:
o Field Size: Change the length of a field (e.g., "Year" to Double, "ID number" to 13 characters).
o Required Field: Set a field to "Yes" for "Required" so it cannot be left blank (e.g., "surname" field, "name" field, "ticket sold" field).
o Primary Key: Set a field as the primary key for unique identification (e.g., "ID number" field).
o Data Types for Files/Images: Use OLE Object, Hyperlink, or Attachment for fields storing files or images (e.g., "Image" field, "ID
copy" field, "picture" field for ID photo, "license card" field for image).
o Format: Apply specific display formats (e.g., Medium Date for "travel date", use the > symbol for uppercase and < symbol for
lowercase for text display).
o Caption: Change the displayed heading of a field using the "Caption" property without renaming the actual field (e.g., changing
"picture" field caption to "ID photo").
o Date Picker: Set "Show Date Picker" to "If Never" for date fields if specified.
o Default Value: Remove any default values if specified (e.g., "rating" field).
 Implement Validation Rules and Text:
o Validation Rule: Set rules to restrict data entry (e.g., years Between 1995 And 2022, ratings Between 1 And 5 or >=1 And <=5,
dates >= #Date1# And <= #Date2#).
o Validation Text: Provide an appropriate message that appears if the validation rule is violated (e.g., for "Year" field, "date" field).
 Create Input Masks: Define specific data entry formats using operators (e.g., > for uppercase, L for compulsory letters, 0 for
compulsory digits, 9 for optional digits, & for symbols). Place text like "@TVL" in double quotes within the mask (e.g., "MPAI rating",
"member number" with lowercase first letter and "@TVL", "license number" with compulsory numbers, capital letters, and an optional digit).
 Set up Combo Boxes (Lookup Wizard):
o Convert a field to a combo box using the Lookup Wizard.
o Choose to type in values (Value List) or get values from a table/query.
o Add values, separating them with semicolons (e.g., "Action;Adventure;Drama" for "genre" field, adding "Safari" to "experience" field).
o Allow multiple values if required (e.g., for "experience" field).
 Organize Fields: Insert or move fields to a specified position (e.g., "ID copy" field below "surname", "picture" field below "ID field", "license
card" above "license number").
 Format Datasheet View: Change grid line color (e.g., to Black) and display options (e.g., only horizontal grid lines), and adjust "sunken"
or "raised" appearance.

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 Display Query Totals in Datasheet View: Use the "Totals" button in Datasheet View to display quick aggregate information (e.g., average
or max outstanding amounts) at the bottom of the column.