Menu

Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 604 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.

Build a paper

Topics (none ticked: all of them)
Question types (none ticked: all of them)

Practice paper

4 questions · 6 marks

Pick again
Print
1Multiple choice1 markEmbedded Systems Swap Remove

Modern cars contain many embedded systems.

Identify what the embedded system that controls the cruise control does.

[1 mark]
  • AIt controls the interior lights
  • BIt displays a map for the driver
  • CIt keeps the car at a constant speed
  • DIt sounds an alarm if the car is broken into
Mark scheme
  • C It keeps the car at a constant speed (1)
  • The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is it keeps the car at a constant speed.
  • A is not correct because controlling the interior lights is done by a different embedded system in the car
  • B is not correct because displaying a map for the driver is done by the satellite navigation system
  • D is not correct because sounding an alarm is done by a different embedded system in the car
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

C It keeps the car at a constant speed

Why: Correct option: this is the function of the embedded system that controls the cruise control (1).

No marks0/1

B It displays a map for the driver

Why: Near miss: displaying a map is the function of the satellite navigation system, which the mark scheme says is not correct, so no mark.

No marks0/1

A It controls the interior lights

Why: Misconception: the interior lights are controlled by a different embedded system, so no mark.

2Multiple choice1 markCharacter Sets Swap Remove

Characters are encoded using 7-bit ASCII.

Identify the number of different characters that can be represented using 7-bit ASCII.

[1 mark]
  • A64
  • B127
  • C128
  • D256
Mark scheme
  • C 128 (1)
  • The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is 128.
  • A is not correct because 6 bits give only 64 different combinations
  • B is not correct because 127 is the largest 7-bit value, not the number of characters that 7 bits can represent
  • D is not correct because 256 characters need 8 bits, as used by 8-bit extended ASCII
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

C 128

Why: Selects the only correct option (1): 7 bits give 2 to the power of 7, which is 128 different characters.

No marks0/1

D 256

Why: Near miss scoring 0: 256 is the number of characters that 8 bits give in extended ASCII, not 7-bit ASCII.

No marks0/1

B 127

Why: Misconception scoring 0, the off-by-one error the examiners' report describes: 127 is the largest 7-bit value, but 7 bits give 128 different characters.

3Describe2 marksFile Management Swap Remove

Describe the purpose of file management in an operating system.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Keeps a record/index of where each file is stored on the disk (1) so the file can be found and opened later (1)
  • Allocates space on the disk for each file (1) so files are stored without overwriting each other (1)
  • Provides facilities to name file(s) and organise them into folder(s)/directories (1) so the user can find and manage their files (1)

Do not accept responses about process management, peripheral management or user management.

Do not accept bare statements of storing/saving, e.g. 'it stores files', 'it saves files' or 'it keeps files safe', with no development.

Do not award a mark for responses that repeat the question, e.g. 'it manages files', with no development.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It keeps a record of where each file is stored on the disk (1) so the file can be found and opened later (1).

Why: Linked point (1) and purpose (1).

Some marks1/2

It organises files into folders.

Why: Creditworthy point (1) but no development of how this helps the user.

No marks0/2

It manages processes and peripherals so the computer runs smoothly.

Why: Describes other operating system functions, not file management; no creditworthy point.

4Describe2 marksTranslators Swap Remove

High-level code can be translated by a compiler or by an interpreter.

Describe how a compiler translates high-level code differently from an interpreter.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The compiler translates the whole program/complete source code in one go (1) whereas the interpreter translates one line/statement at a time (1)
  • The compiler translates all of the source code before any of it is run/executed (1) but the interpreter translates each line/statement as it reads it (1)
  • The interpreter translates one line/statement at a time (1) and the compiler translates the whole program/source code together (1)

Accept the compiler point and the interpreter point in either order.

Do not accept responses about object code/executable files, when the translated code is executed, how errors are reported, or speed/memory use.

Do not accept 'the interpreter executes/runs each line' on its own, without saying that it translates one line/statement at a time.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A compiler translates the whole program in one go, while an interpreter translates one line at a time.

Why: Whole program translated in one go (1) and interpreter translates one line at a time (1).

Some marks1/2

A compiler translates the whole program in one go.

Why: Whole program translated in one go (1); no linked point about the interpreter translating a line at a time.

No marks0/2

A compiler produces an executable file, but an interpreter does not.

Why: Describes the output, not the amount translated at a time; object code/executable files are not accepted.

Questions by topic

More ways to revise Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2)

Teachers: build a paper, print it with the mark schemes at the end, and sign your school up to set your classes activities on every topic.

Fetch Decode Explain isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson Edexcel.