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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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3 questions · 5 marks

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1Multiple choice1 markSound Swap Remove

Identify the term used for the number of bits used to record each sample of a sound.

[1 mark]
  • AAmplitude
  • BBit depth
  • CSample interval
  • DSample rate
Mark scheme
  • B Bit depth (1)
  • The only correct answer is B. The correct answer is bit depth.
  • A is not correct because amplitude is the height of the sound wave at the point it is sampled
  • C is not correct because the sample interval is the time between each sample
  • D is not correct because the sample rate is the number of samples taken each second
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

B Bit depth

Why: Selects the only correct option (1).

No marks0/1

D Sample rate

Why: Near miss: this is the number of samples taken each second, not the number of bits per sample (0).

No marks0/1

A Amplitude

Why: Typical confusion: amplitude is what is measured at a sample, not the number of bits used to store it (0).

2Short recall2 marksSound Swap Remove

A sound wave is sampled and the amplitude of each sample is stored using a small number of bits.

Give two limitations of storing the sound in binary when only a small number of bits is available for each sample.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Only a limited/fixed number of amplitude values can be stored (1)
  • The amplitude of each sample is rounded/approximated to the nearest value that can be stored (1)
  • The recording is less accurate than the original analogue sound/does not match the analogue wave exactly (1)
  • Sounds louder than the highest amplitude that can be stored are clipped/distorted (1)
  • Sounds quieter than the lowest amplitude that can be stored cannot be represented/are lost (1)

Allow quantisation error/noise for the amplitude being rounded to the nearest value that can be stored, but do not award a second mark for the same idea

Allow a stated consequence as a separate mark only when it is a different point from the list, e.g. fewer amplitude values can be stored (1) so very quiet sounds are lost (1)

Do not accept 'lower quality'/'poorer sound' on its own; the answer must say the recording is less accurate than the original/does not match the analogue wave

Do not accept sample rate/sample interval/number of channels (stereo/mono), as these are not limited by the number of bits available for each sample

Do not accept remedies such as 'a larger bit depth would make it more accurate', as these do not describe a limitation

Do not accept answers about file size, compression or playback method

Do not accept a statement that repeats the stem, e.g. 'the sound is stored in binary using a fixed number of bits'

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The amplitude of each sample has to be rounded to the nearest value that can be stored, and very quiet sounds cannot be represented.

Why: Amplitude rounded to the nearest stored value (1) and quiet sounds cannot be represented (1): two different points from the list.

Some marks1/2

The recording is less accurate than the original sound.

Why: The recording is less accurate than the original analogue sound (1); a second, different limitation is not given.

No marks0/2

The sample rate is too low, so parts of the wave are missed.

Why: Sample rate is not limited by the number of bits per sample, so it is not accepted.

3Short recall2 marksCharacter Sets Swap Remove

ASCII is a character set that uses 7 bits to represent each character.

Give two limitations of 7-bit ASCII when it is used to represent text.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • (Only) 128 different characters can be represented / 7 bits give 2^7 = 128 different codes (1)
  • It cannot represent characters from languages other than English / non-English alphabets, e.g. Greek, Chinese (1)
  • It cannot represent accented characters, e.g. é, ñ (1)
  • It cannot represent symbols or emoji that are not in the ASCII character set (1)

Award a maximum of one mark for the last three bullets, as they are all examples of characters that fall outside the 128 ASCII codes.

Allow 'it can only represent 128 characters, so some characters are missing' for the first bullet.

Do not accept 'it uses 7 bits' / 'it only uses 7 bits' on its own, without saying what this limits.

Do not accept 'it can only store a limited amount of text' / 'it can only store short messages', as 7 bits limits the number of characters available, not the length of a message.

Do not accept 'it can only represent the characters in the ASCII character set', as this repeats the question.

Do not accept 'it is old/out of date' or 'it cannot store numbers'.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Only 128 different characters can be represented, so it cannot store characters from other languages such as Greek.

Why: 128 character limit (1) and characters from other languages (1); two separate creditworthy limitations.

Some marks1/2

It cannot show accented characters like é and it only uses 7 bits.

Why: Accented characters (1); 'only uses 7 bits' is not qualified, so scores 0.

No marks0/2

It only uses 7 bits, so it can only store a small amount of text.

Why: Scores 0: text length is not a limitation of 7-bit ASCII, and 'only uses 7 bits' is unqualified; both Do not accept lines apply.

Questions by topic

2.1 Binary

Build a paper on this topic 58
Adding Binary Numbers 6 questions Binary and Hexadecimal Basics 10 questions Binary Shifts 6 questions Binary to Denary Conversion 6 questions Binary to Hexadecimal Conversion 6 questions Denary to Binary Conversion 6 questions Denary to Hexadecimal Conversion 6 questions Denary to Negative Binary Conversion 6 questions Hexadecimal to Binary Conversion 6 questions

2.2 Data representation

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Character Sets 18 questions Images 19 questions Sound 19 questions

2.3 Data storage and compression

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Compression 18 questions Units & Conversion 6 questions

3.1 Hardware

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Embedded Systems 17 questions Fetch Decode Execute Cycle 15 questions Primary Memory 15 questions Secondary Memory 15 questions Stored Program Computers 15 questions

3.2 Software

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File Management 18 questions Memory Management 16 questions Peripheral Management 11 questions Process Management 12 questions Purpose & Function of Operating Systems 17 questions Software Basics 13 questions User Management 18 questions Utility Software 19 questions

3.3 Programming languages

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Low and High Level Languages 19 questions Translators 18 questions

4.1 Networks

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Addressing 16 questions LANs & WANs 16 questions Network Speed 5 questions Packet Switching 16 questions Protocols & Layers 17 questions The Internet 16 questions Topologies 17 questions Wired Connections 17 questions Wireless Connections 18 questions

4.2 Network security

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Network Security Risks 18 questions Preventing Network Security Risks 18 questions

5.1 Environmental

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E-waste 17 questions Manufacturing Technology 19 questions

5.2 Ethical and legal

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Data Protection Act 17 questions Impact of AI 18 questions Intellectual Property 18 questions Software Licences 18 questions

5.3 Cybersecurity

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Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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