Describe the sequential method of file access.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [2] 4(a) One mark per mark point (Max 2)
2. 4(a) MP1 Sequential access method searches for records one after the other
3. 4(a) MP2 ... from the physical start of the file until the record is found/the end of file.
4. [3] 4(b) One mark per mark point (Max 3)
5. 4(b) MP1 For serial files, records are stored in chronological order
6. 4(b) MP2 ... every record needs to be checked until the record is found, or all records have been checked.
7. 4(b) MP3 For sequential files, records are stored in order of a key field/index, and it is the key field/index that is compared.
8. 4(b) MP4 ... every record is checked until the record is found, or the key field of the current record is greater than the key field of the target record.