How to Pass INF2603: Mastering Databases & SQL (2025 Guide)

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How to Pass INF2603: Mastering Databases & SQL (2025 Guide)

Module: INF2603 (Databases I)
Type: Year Module
Difficulty Rating: 7/10
Focus: Database Design (ERDs), Normalization, and SQL

Introduction

If you are studying Computer Science or Information Systems, INF2603 is one of the most useful skills you will ever learn. Unlike other modules where you learn theory you might never use, SQL (Structured Query Language) is required for almost every developer job in the world.

However, the 2025 schedule for this module is very specific. It is not just about writing code; it is about designing systems that don’t crash.

The Assessment Maze (2025)

According to the official 2025 Weekly Schedule, there are 8 Assignments in total, but they work differently:

  • The Quizzes (Ass 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8): These are standard online multiple-choice quizzes.
    • Warning: The schedule explicitly states: “Quizzes will not be opened for individual students who missed the deadline.” If you miss one, that mark is gone forever.
  • The Peer Review (Ass 4): This is a workshop assignment where you review other students’ work. It is open from May to August. Don’t forget it!
  • The Gatekeeper (Assignment 05):
    • Type: Written / File Upload
    • Due Date: 05 September 2025
    • The Rule: This assignment is COMPULSORY for Exam Admission. Even if you get 100% for all quizzes, if you miss Assignment 05, you will not write the exam.

The 3 Concepts You Must Master

1. Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs)

Before you build a database, you have to draw it. You will learn how to draw entities (tables) and relationships (lines).

  • The Hard Part: “Crow’s Foot Notation.” You need to understand the difference between “Zero-to-Many” and “One-to-Many.”
  • Tip: If you draw the relationship line backwards, you lose all marks.

2. Normalization (The Logic Puzzle)

This is usually the hardest part of the theory. You will be given a messy spreadsheet and asked to convert it into 3rd Normal Form (3NF).

  • 1NF: Remove repeating groups.
  • 2NF: Remove partial dependencies.
  • 3NF: Remove transitive dependencies.
  • Study Tip: Watch YouTube videos on “Database Normalization Examples.” It is easier to watch than to read.

3. SQL (The Code)

The last part of the module (Chapters 7 & 8) is all about writing code to talk to the database.

  • Commands to know: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE.
  • Exam Trap: The exam will ask you to write a complex query joining two tables (e.g., “List all students who failed a module in 2024”). You need to understand INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN perfectly.

My Top Tips for Distinction

1. Install MySQL or SQLite
Don’t just read the textbook code. Install a free database tool (like DBeaver or MySQL Workbench) on your laptop. Create a dummy table and practice running queries. If you can write SQL without looking at the book, the exam will be easy.

2. Watch the Assignment 05 Deadline
The schedule notes that Assignment 05 is due September 5th, but it covers work (Chapter 8) that might not be fully taught by lecturers yet. Start this assignment in August!

3. Peer Review (Assignment 4)
Many students treat this as a joke, but it is easy marks. Do it early so you don’t have to stress about it during exam prep.

Conclusion

INF2603 is a “lightbulb” module. Once you understand how tables link together, everything clicks. It is a highly practical module that will help you in your third year (INF3707).

Good luck, and don’t forget your WHERE clause!

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