Peripheral Management Exam Questions

• A Device driver (1)
• The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is device driver
• B is not correct because a file manager organises files and folders
• C is not correct because a print queue stores print jobs waiting to be printed
• D is not correct because a process manager allocates processor time to processes

• C Print queue (1)
• The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is print queue.
• A is not correct because a device driver controls a peripheral device
• B is not correct because a file manager organises files and folders
• D is not correct because a process manager allocates processor time to processes

• A Buffer (1)
• The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is buffer.
• B is not correct because a cache stores frequently used instructions and data
• C is not correct because a register is a storage location inside the CPU
• D is not correct because a stack stores data such as return addresses for subroutines

Award one mark for any of the following:

• A program/software that controls a peripheral device (1)
• Allows the operating system to send data to/receive data from a peripheral device (1)
• Translates instructions from the operating system into signals the peripheral can understand (1)

Only one mark is available; the bullets are alternative ways of wording the same point.

Allow answers that name a peripheral instead of saying 'peripheral', e.g. printer.

Do not accept vague answers that do not say the driver controls the device or allows communication with it, e.g. 'it allows the printer to work', 'it lets the computer use the printer'.

Do not accept 'connects the peripheral to the computer' on its own.

Do not accept 'a piece of hardware' or 'a cable'.

Award one mark for any of the following up to a maximum of two marks:

• Managing/controlling peripheral devices/(input and output devices) (1)
• (Sending and receiving) data to/from peripherals (1)
• (Handling the) transfer of data between the computer and its peripherals (1)
• Controlling the input and output of data between the computer and its peripherals (1)

Allow 'communicating with peripherals' / 'using device drivers to control the peripherals' for the managing/controlling point.

Do not award a second mark for a statement that only repeats the managing/controlling point, e.g. 'the operating system controls the peripherals using their device drivers' after 'the operating system controls the peripherals'.

Allow 'managing hardware' only where peripheral devices or input and output devices are named.

Do not accept managing files, processes or users.

Do not accept 'managing the computer's resources' on its own, as this is given in the stem.

Award one mark for any of the following up to a maximum of two marks:

• Monitor/display/screen (1)
• Scanner (1)
• Webcam/digital camera (1)
• Microphone (1)
• Speaker/headphones (1)
• Graphics tablet (1)
• Touchscreen (1)
• Projector (1)
• Joystick/game controller (1)
• External storage device/USB flash drive (1)

Allow any other valid input or output device/peripheral that is not named in the question.

Allow touchscreen and monitor/display as two separate answers.

Do not allow touchscreen and monitor/display where the candidate describes a single device, e.g. 'a touchscreen monitor'.

Do not accept keyboard or printer, as these are given in the question.

Do not accept internal components or internal storage, such as CPU, RAM, motherboard or hard drive.

Do not accept software such as the operating system or a device driver.

Award up to two marks for a linked description such as:

• A device driver is software/program (1) that controls a peripheral device (1)
• It translates instructions from the operating system (1) into commands/signals the device understands (1)
• It allows the operating system to communicate with a specific device (1) without needing to know the device's hardware details (1)
• It is installed for a new device (1) so the operating system can use that device (1)

Do not accept responses that say a device driver is hardware or that it makes a device faster.

Do not award 'it is part of the CPU'.

Award up to two marks for a linked description such as:

• The operating system receives signals/data from the graphics tablet (1) and converts them into data the program can use/process (1)
• The operating system receives data from the graphics tablet (1) and passes/forwards it to the program being used/the active program (1)
• The tablet's device driver receives/interprets the signals/data from the tablet (1) so the operating system can pass the input to the program (1)
• The operating system identifies the graphics tablet as the source of the input (1) so the data is sent to the correct program (1)

Accept 'signals' for 'data' throughout.

Accept reference to the device driver only where it is linked to receiving/interpreting the input (e.g. the driver receives the tablet's signals (1) so the OS can pass data to the program (1)).

Do not accept 'the operating system uses a driver' on its own, without saying what the driver does with the input.

Do not accept generic statements such as 'the operating system runs the tablet' as a description of how input is managed.

Do not accept responses that say the operating system creates/finishes the drawing, or that the tablet stores the input permanently.

Award up to two marks for a linked explanation such as:

• Data is sent to/received from the correct peripheral (1) because the operating system controls the transfer of data between the computer and each device (1)
• A new peripheral can be used as soon as it is connected (1) because the operating system installs/loads the correct device driver for that device (1)
• Data can be sent to a slow peripheral such as a printer (1) because the operating system stores it in a buffer/print queue until the device is ready to receive it (1)
• The user is told when a peripheral has a problem (1) because the operating system receives status information from the device and reports the error to the user (1)

For both marks, the expansion must follow/associate with the statement.

Allow specific peripherals as the example (e.g. a mouse, a printer) provided the reason says what the operating system does.

Allow 'the operating system responds to an interrupt from a device' as a point, with the reason that the device is signalling that it needs attention/has finished its job.

Do not accept 'the operating system manages/controls the peripherals' or 'it lets the devices be used'/'the peripherals work correctly' on their own, as these repeat the question without saying what the operating system does.

Award up to two marks for a linked explanation such as:

• It allows the operating system/OS to communicate with the device/printer (1) because it translates the commands into signals the device understands (1)
• It contains/sends the instructions/commands needed by a particular device (1) so the device carries out the correct actions (1)
• It controls the device/printer (1) by sending commands/signals to it (1)
• Different devices need different commands (1) so each one needs its own driver to work with the operating system (1)

For both marks, the expansion must follow/associate with the statement.

Do not accept 'it drives/controls the device' on its own without saying how, e.g. by sending commands/signals.

Do not accept hardware/a physical device (a device driver is software).

Do not accept 'it connects the printer to the computer' or 'it installs the printer' without saying that it provides the instructions/commands for the device.

Indicative content

What a device driver is and how the operating system uses it

• A device driver is a program that controls a peripheral device such as a graphics tablet by communicating with the operating system.
• The driver translates instructions from the operating system into signals that the graphics tablet understands, and passes the artist's pen movements back to the operating system.
• The operating system loads the driver into memory when the tablet is connected, so that it can then send data to the tablet and receive input from it.
• Without a driver the operating system cannot control the tablet, so the tablet does not work.

Why each peripheral needs its own driver

• Every make and model of peripheral uses its own set of commands, so a driver is written for that particular device.
• The drivers already installed for the studio's older tablets do not work with the new model, even though both are graphics tablets.
• An operating system includes drivers for many common devices, but it does not have one for a brand new model.
• The correct driver means the pen movements are received by the computer in the form the drawing program expects.

What must be done before an artist can use a new tablet

• The new tablet is supplied with its driver on a disc or as a download, and it must be installed on each computer.
• The operating system may need to be updated so that it recognises the new model.
• The driver must be enabled or selected for the tablet once it is installed.
• Drivers are updated later to fix faults or to improve performance.
• If the correct driver is not installed, the tablet does not work or some of its features are not available.

Additional guidance

• Level 3 responses must explain why a driver is specific to a device and what must be done before an artist can use a new tablet, as well as describing what a driver is, all applied to the studio.
• Responses that only state what a driver is, or that state a driver must be installed without explaining why the tablet needs its own driver, are limited to Level 1.
• Accept 'software', 'program' or 'set of instructions' for a driver.
• Do not accept a device driver described only as a cable or a physical connection.
• Do not accept the claim that all drivers are already built into the operating system, or that one driver works for every graphics tablet.

Levels

• Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
• Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)