Types of computer

On a compare or advantage/disadvantage question, many answers describe only ONE device and never relate it to the other, which earns nothing. "The laptop has a large screen" is a bare statement and fails; "the desktop has a larger screen than the laptop" makes the comparison explicit and scores. The comparative word is what turns a description into a comparison.

An advantage compares two things; a benefit only says something good about one. The examiners' own example: "good-quality printout" is a benefit and fails, while "better-quality than a dot-matrix" is an advantage and scores. Applied here, "the tablet is light" is a benefit; "the tablet is lighter than the laptop" is an advantage.

Cost, battery life and storage capacity are all ruled too subjective on device and storage comparisons, because models vary and technology moves on — the later reports record that cost and battery are no longer credited at all. Never build a desktop-versus-mobile comparison on price or on how long the battery lasts, even if you attach a reason to it.

Asked for a characteristic that distinguishes a desktop from a mobile computer, candidates give a use instead — "it is for gaming", "it is used in offices". A characteristic is a property of the device itself: portability, power source, input method or expandability. Vague size claims such as "the desktop is bigger", with no further detail, fail for the same reason.

Expandability means the case can be opened so internal components — RAM, storage, a graphics card — are upgraded or replaced. Adding a protective case, a memory card or a plug-in peripheral is not expandability. Nor is "a smartphone is not expandable" enough on its own: give the reason, that it is built as a single sealed, integrated unit.

A general description instead of the technical device name causes vagueness and loses the mark. Name the type — laptop, tablet, smartphone, phablet or desktop computer — never "a small computer" or "a handheld". The phablet is the one most often forgotten: a smartphone/tablet hybrid, larger than a phone, smaller than a tablet, with features of both.

Examiners give no credit for a manufacturer or product name, so use the generic term every time: tablet, laptop, smartphone, phablet, desktop computer. Vague wording fails the same way — "it is quicker" or "it covers a larger area" are too imprecise. The precise, comparative version scores, e.g. "more portable than the desktop because it fits in a bag".