What do the Grade 12 Information Technology cards cover?

25 cards across 6 chapters of the national textbook: Information Systems and Their Applications, Emerging Technologies, Database Management System, Web Authoring, Maintenance and Troubleshooting and Fundamentals of Programming. You can take any chapter one card at a time on the page itself.

Do these help with the Grade 12 national exam?

Yes. Grade 12 sits a national exam, and these are the Information Technology rules and formulas it expects you to know. Past papers with a worked answer behind every question are on the same site, also free.

Where do these cards come from?

They are drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, the Ministry of Education textbook for this grade. A second pass that cannot see the chapter then re-derives every formula, constant and table row, and anything it cannot confirm is held back instead of published.

Yes. Every card here is free to read and the printable sheet is free to download. Neither needs an account.

When was this last checked?

30 August 2026. Cards arrive chapter by chapter, and the line under each one says when that card was last read through.

Free short notes and revision cards

Grade 12 Information Technology

Grade 12 Information Technology on Temari has 25 revision cards, arranged by the chapters of the Ethiopian national curriculum. Every card says when the rule applies, what each symbol in it stands for, and the mistake students most often make with it. They are free to read and need no account.

25
Cards: 6
Chapters: 14
Reference tables: Grade 12 Information Communication Technology
Textbook: Free
Price: 30 August 2026
Last checked

Everything25Reference table14Rule6Common mistake4Method1

Information Systems and Their Applications

Confusing Copyright, Patent, and PlagiarismCommon mistake

When you use it

Use when evaluating questions related to software intellectual property rights, legal infringements, and academic ethics.

Watch out

Copyright protects the written expression or source code, while a patent protects the underlying novel functional invention. Plagiarism is an academic and ethical violation of not crediting authors, whereas copyright infringement is a legal violation of unauthorized use.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 1-28, then checked twice before it went up

Digital Collaboration Tool CategoriesReference tableCommunication tools · Documentation and file sharing · Project management · +2

Category	Core Purpose	Examples
Communication tools	Integrated messaging, video conferencing, and screen sharing	Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Slack, Google Meet, Skype
Documentation and file sharing	File storage, version tracking, and shared editing permissions	Google Drive, MS SharePoint, Dropbox, Google Docs
Project management	Task organization, project tracking, and workflow management	Trello, Asana, ClickUp
Data visualization	Rendering and handling complex data into visual graphic styles	Power BI, Tableau, Google Charts, Grafana
Notetaking	Capturing and organizing thoughts, ideas, and notes quickly	Evernote, MS OneNote, Google Keep

When you use it

Use when classifying digital collaboration applications according to their specific workplace or educational functions.

Watch out

Do not confuse project management tools with simple notetaking or file sharing tools. Project management software specifically manages tasks, assignments, and workflows.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 1-28, then checked twice before it went up

Environmental and Health Issues of Information SystemsReference tableE-waste · Resource Consumption · Physical Health · +1

Concern Area	Causes and Hazards	Mitigation Approaches
E-waste	Toxic heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury leaching into soil and water	Structured e-waste management, safe recovery, and recycling
Resource Consumption	High electricity use and paper manufacturing contributing to carbon emissions	Green technologies like solar panels, and paperless digital workflows
Physical Health	Long screen hours causing musculoskeletal pain, eye strain, and headaches	Ergonomic posture, taking regular screen breaks, and physical exercise
Mental Health	Uncontrolled social media and gaming addiction causing sleep disorders and stress	Mindful device usage, screen time limits, and digital well-being habits

When you use it

Use when summarizing the ecological damage and physical or mental health hazards associated with information system hardware and excessive usage.

Watch out

E-waste contains non-biodegradable hazardous heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium that directly contaminate groundwater if not recycled properly.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 1-28, then checked twice before it went up

Types of Intellectual Property RightsReference tableTrade Secret · Patent · Copyright · +1

IP Type	Protected Subject	Key Characteristic	Examples
Trade Secret	Confidential business info and formulas	Protected while kept secret without formal expiry	Coca-Cola recipe, source code, customer lists
Patent	Inventions, processes, and machines	Exclusive right granted for limited duration after disclosure	PageRank algorithm, Bluetooth, Amazon One Click
Copyright	Original works of authorship, code, GUI	Automatic protection upon creation, registration needed for lawsuits	Software programs, literary works, music
Trademark	Signs, names, and symbols distinguishing goods	Protected through continuous commercial use, can be held indefinitely	Meta, Microsoft, RIDE

When you use it

Use when identifying the proper legal mechanism to protect different software assets, algorithms, branding, or confidential data.

Watch out

Copyright protection is automatic upon creation, but patents require formal application and granting by an authority such as the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 1-28, then checked twice before it went up

Emerging Technologies

5Vs of Big DataReference tableVolume · Variety · Velocity · +2

Characteristic	Meaning
Volume	Huge size of data generated daily from various sources
Variety	Different forms: structured, unstructured, and semi-structured
Velocity	Speed at which data is generated in real-time
Veracity	Degree of reliability, accuracy, and trustworthiness of data
Value	Meaningful insights extracted from data for decisions

When you use it

Use when identifying or defining the five foundational characteristics of Big Data.

Watch out

Veracity refers to data trustworthiness and accuracy, whereas Value refers to the actionable insights extracted from that data.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 29-59, then checked twice before it went up

Cloud Computing Service ModelsReference tableSaaS (Software as a Service) · PaaS (Platform as a Service) · IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

Service Model	Provided Layer	Examples
SaaS (Software as a Service)	Ready-to-use application software over Internet	Google Workspace, MS Office 365, Dropbox
PaaS (Platform as a Service)	Environment and tools to build, test, and host apps	Google App Engine, Windows Azure, Heroku
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)	Virtualized computing, storage, and networking resources	AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Compute Engine

When you use it

Use when differentiating between SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS cloud delivery layers.

Watch out

PaaS provides tools and runtime environments for developers to build applications, while IaaS provides raw virtualized hardware and infrastructure.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 29-59, then checked twice before it went up

Cloud Deployment ModelsReference tablePublic Cloud · Private Cloud · Hybrid Cloud · +1

Deployment Model	Access and Ownership
Public Cloud	Shared infrastructure available to multiple clients over the Internet
Private Cloud	Dedicated entirely to a single organization for maximum security
Hybrid Cloud	Combination of both public and private cloud environments
Community Cloud	Shared by several distinct organizations with common goals

When you use it

Use when distinguishing how cloud infrastructure is shared, managed, and accessed.

Watch out

Community cloud serves multiple organizations with shared industry or security goals, whereas private cloud is dedicated exclusively to one single organization.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 29-59, then checked twice before it went up

Fog Computing versus Cloud ComputingRule

When you use it

Use when comparing centralized cloud storage and processing with localized edge computing.

Watch out

Fog computing does not replace cloud computing. It extends cloud capabilities by processing data closer to endpoints to reduce latency and bandwidth congestion.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 29-59, then checked twice before it went up

Four Core Components of IoTReference table1 · 2 · 3 · +1

Stage	Component	Role in IoT System
1	Sensors/Devices	Collect data such as temperature, motion, or smoke from the physical world
2	Connectivity	Transmits collected data to the cloud via Wi-Fi, cellular, satellite, or Ethernet
3	Data Processing	Processes and analyzes incoming sensor data to detect patterns or trigger rules
4	User Interface	Presents notifications to the user or enables automated and manual remote actions

When you use it

Use when explaining the end-to-end operational architecture of an Internet of Things system.

Watch out

Connectivity is the vital bridge between sensing and data processing. Without network transmission, local sensor readings cannot reach the processing layer.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 29-59, then checked twice before it went up

Database Management System

Omitting the WHERE Clause in UPDATE and DELETECommon mistake

When you use it

Use when updating existing records or removing specific records from a table.

Watch out

Executing UPDATE or DELETE without a WHERE clause affects every single row in the table, permanently overwriting or deleting all data.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 60-99, then checked twice before it went up

SQL Command CategoriesReference tableDDL · DML · DQL

Category	Commands	Purpose
DDL	CREATE, ALTER, DROP	Defines and modifies database and table structures.
DML	INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE	Manipulates and manages records stored within tables.
DQL	SELECT	Queries and retrieves data records from tables.

When you use it

Use this classification to identify the function of different Structured Query Language statements.

Watch out

Do not confuse DDL commands that alter table structure with DML commands that modify row contents.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 60-99, then checked twice before it went up

SQL SELECT Query ClausesReference tableSELECT · FROM · WHERE · +1

Clause	Function	Required
SELECT	Lists the fields to retrieve	Yes
FROM	Lists the source tables	Yes
WHERE	Filters records based on specified criteria	Optional
ORDER BY	Sorts results in ascending (ASC) or descending (DESC) order	Optional

When you use it

Use when writing queries to retrieve, filter, or sort data from one or more tables.

Watch out

Ascending order (ASC) is the default in ORDER BY. Field names in SELECT must match the table definition exactly.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 60-99, then checked twice before it went up

Table Relationships and Foreign KeysRule

When you use it

Use when linking two tables together using CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statements.

Watch out

The foreign key in the child table must have the exact same data type as the primary key it references in the parent table. Always create tables and relationships before populating them with records.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 60-99, then checked twice before it went up

Web Authoring

Common XML Coding ErrorsCommon mistake

When you use it

Reach for this card when debugging or correcting non-functional XML code snippets in exam questions.

Watch out

Common fatal errors include improperly nested overlapping tags, omitting quotes around attribute values, and having multiple root elements.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 100-134, then checked twice before it went up

Predefined XML Entity ReferencesReference table< · > · & · +2

Entity Reference	Character	Meaning
<	<	less than
>	>	greater than
&	&	ampersand
'	'	apostrophe
"	"	quotation mark

When you use it

Use this table when reserved characters such as angle brackets or ampersands must appear inside XML element content.

Watch out

The characters < and & are strictly illegal inside XML character data and must always be replaced by < and &.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 100-134, then checked twice before it went up

Well-Formed XML Syntax RulesRule

When you use it

Use these rules to construct valid XML documents and check for syntax compliance.

Watch out

XML element names cannot start with the letters XML or contain spaces, and tag names must match exact letter casing.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 100-134, then checked twice before it went up

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Basic Network Troubleshooting StepsMethod

When you use it

Follow this seven step troubleshooting methodology to diagnose and resolve computer network issues.

Watch out

Proving a scenario wrong during testing is not a failure: return to step two and develop a new scenario rather than skipping testing.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 135-163, then checked twice before it went up

Command Line Network ToolsReference tableipconfig · ping · tracert · +2

Command	Function
ipconfig	Displays IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway settings
ping	Sends test datagrams to verify connectivity to a target host
tracert	Traces the packet path to identify where network transmission fails
nslookup	Queries DNS to map hostnames to IP addresses or vice versa
netstat	Displays active network connections and running network services

When you use it

Use these command prompt utilities to inspect IP configurations and diagnose connectivity issues.

Watch out

The command ipconfig is specific to Windows: Linux and macOS use different network commands.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 135-163, then checked twice before it went up

Network Hardware Maintenance ToolsReference tableWire Crimper · Cable Tester · Punch Down Tool · +2

Hardware Tool	Function
Wire Crimper	Attaches RJ connectors to the ends of network cables
Cable Tester	Verifies whether electrical signals pass correctly through a cable
Punch Down Tool	Inserts cable wires directly into patch panels or punch down blocks
Tone Generator	Sends an electrical signal through wire pairs to trace cables
Multimeter	Measures electrical properties including voltage, current, and resistance

When you use it

Reference this set when selecting physical tools to build, terminate, or test network wiring.

Watch out

A cable tester checks physical wire continuity, whereas ping checks software level host communication.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 135-163, then checked twice before it went up

System Maintenance ToolsReference tableDisk Defragmenter · Disk Cleanup · Windows Update · +2

Tool	Function
Disk Defragmenter	Rearranges fragmented files into contiguous storage sequences to improve retrieval speed
Disk Cleanup	Deletes temporary, unused, and Internet files to free storage space
Windows Update	Downloads and installs system updates and security patches
Check Disk	Scans the hard drive and fixes file system errors
System Restore	Creates restore points and reverts settings to a previous working state

When you use it

Use to optimize computer performance, free disk space, or recover system settings after malfunctions.

Watch out

System Restore rolls back system settings and drivers, but it does not restore deleted personal files.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, pages 135-163, then checked twice before it went up

Fundamentals of Programming

Loop control statements break and continueRule

When you use it

Use when modifying the standard flow of for or while loops.

Watch out

break terminates the entire loop and exits immediately, whereas continue skips only the remainder of the current iteration and jumps to the next cycle.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, page 164 onwards, then checked twice before it went up

Python IDLE debugger controlsRule

When you use it

Use when testing code line by line and tracing logic errors using breakpoints.

Watch out

Go runs execution continuously until a breakpoint is hit, whereas Step moves through every internal evaluation step on that line.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, page 164 onwards, then checked twice before it went up

Python interpreter execution processRule

When you use it

Use when describing how Python code executes from text to machine execution.

Watch out

Source code (.py) is first compiled into bytecode (.pyc), which is then interpreted line by line by the Python Virtual Machine (PVM), not executed directly by CPU hardware.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, page 164 onwards, then checked twice before it went up

Python range function variantsReference tablerange(x) · range(x, y) · range(x, y, z)

Call	Start	Stop (Excluded)	Step	Generated Sequence
range(x)	0	$x$	1	$0, 1, 2, \dots, x-1$
range(x, y)	$x$	$y$	1	$x, x+1, \dots, y-1$
range(x, y, z)	$x$	$y$	$z$	$x, x+z, x+2z, \dots$

When you use it

Use when setting up counting iterations in for loops with varying start, end, and step increments.

Watch out

The upper bound is always excluded. For example, range(5) stops at 4 and never produces 5.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, page 164 onwards, then checked twice before it went up

Syntax and indentation rules in control structuresCommon mistake

When you use it

Use when writing or debugging if, elif, else, for, and while blocks in Python.

Watch out

Using a single = instead of == in conditions causes a syntax error. Missing the trailing colon (:) or using inconsistent spacing within the same indented block also triggers syntax errors.

Drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, page 164 onwards, then checked twice before it went up

The same subject in other years

An exam paper keeps asking for what the year below taught. Those cards are here too.

Your other Grade 12 subjects

Everything else in this year that has cards so far.

Questions students ask

What do the Grade 12 Information Technology cards cover?: 25 cards across 6 chapters of the national textbook: Information Systems and Their Applications, Emerging Technologies, Database Management System, Web Authoring, Maintenance and Troubleshooting and Fundamentals of Programming. You can take any chapter one card at a time on the page itself.
Do these help with the Grade 12 national exam?: Yes. Grade 12 sits a national exam, and these are the Information Technology rules and formulas it expects you to know. Past papers with a worked answer behind every question are on the same site, also free.
Where do these cards come from?: They are drafted from Grade 12 Information Communication Technology, the Ministry of Education textbook for this grade. A second pass that cannot see the chapter then re-derives every formula, constant and table row, and anything it cannot confirm is held back instead of published.
Is this free?: Yes. Every card here is free to read and the printable sheet is free to download. Neither needs an account.
When was this last checked?: 30 August 2026. Cards arrive chapter by chapter, and the line under each one says when that card was last read through.

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