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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 693 exam-style questions, each with its mark scheme and example answers. Print it, or answer it on paper and then open the mark schemes. Or browse the questions by topic.

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3 questions · 5 marks

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1Short recall1 markSound Swap Remove

A digital sound representation is created by sampling an analogue sound wave.

State one way the accuracy of this representation can be increased.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for any of the following:

  • Increase the sample rate / take more samples per second (1)
  • Increase the bit depth/sample resolution / use more bits per sample (1)
  • Decrease the sample interval (1)

Do not accept increase the amplitude/volume

Do not accept decrease the sample rate / increase the sample interval

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

Increase the sample rate.

Why: Creditworthy point: increase the sample rate (1).

No marks0/1

Decrease the sample rate.

Why: Near-miss: decreasing the sample rate reduces accuracy, so no mark; the mark scheme's do-not-accept line covers this (0).

No marks0/1

Increase the volume of the sound.

Why: Misconception: loudness/amplitude is not a way to increase sampling accuracy; do not accept increase amplitude/volume (0).

2Describe2 marksImages Swap Remove

A bitmap image can use different colour depths.

Describe what is meant by the colour depth of a bitmap image.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The number of bits used to store/represent each pixel (1) which determines how many colours/shades it can have (1)
  • The number of binary values/combinations available for each pixel (1) so a greater colour depth gives a wider range of colours/a larger colour palette (1)
  • More bits are stored for each pixel (1) so each pixel can be one of more possible colours/shades (1)

Do not award 'the number of colours' alone, as it does not say that colour depth is the number of bits per pixel.

Do not accept responses about image resolution or the number of pixels.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The number of bits used to store each pixel; more bits means more colours can be represented.

Why: Point (1) that colour depth is the number of bits used to store each pixel and linked development (1) that more bits means more colours can be represented.

Some marks1/2

The number of bits used for each pixel.

Why: Point (1) that colour depth is the number of bits per pixel, but no linked development about the number of colours.

No marks0/2

The number of pixels across the image.

Why: No credit: this describes resolution, and responses about the number of pixels are not accepted.

3Explain2 marksImages Swap Remove

An image uses a colour depth of 2 bits per pixel. The original image contains 12 different colours.

Explain why the image cannot be represented accurately at this colour depth.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Only 4 colours can be represented (1) because 2 bits give 2^2 = 4 possible values (1)
  • Some of the 12 colours cannot be stored (1) so they are lost/replaced with a colour that can be represented (1)
  • The image will not match the original exactly (1) because there are fewer colour codes than the number of colours needed (1)
  • Many colours will share the same binary value (1) so the image will lose colour detail (1)

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

Allow 'four colours' or '2^2'.

Do not accept 'only two colours' (confusing the number of bits with the number of values) or 'resolution is too low'.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Only four colours can be represented because two bits give four possible binary values.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): 2 bits give 2^2 = 4 colour codes.

Some marks1/2

Only four colours can be represented.

Why: One mark for identifying that four colours can be represented; the linked reason about two bits giving four values is missing.

No marks0/2

Only two colours can be represented because each pixel has two bits.

Why: A common misconception: two bits give four possible values, not two, so no creditworthy point is given.

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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