A video streaming service stores many hours of video.
Describe one reason why the streaming service compresses its video files.
Mark scheme
Award up to two marks for a linked description such as:
- Makes each file smaller (1) so less secondary storage is needed for the videos (1)
- Uses less bandwidth (1) so the video streams without buffering (1)
- Reduces the amount of data sent (1) so users use less of their data allowance (1)
- Can be streamed (1) because the data can be sent as fast as the user watches it (1)
Award one mark for a valid point on its own; the second mark is only awarded when the development is linked to that point.
Do not award a second mark for a development that repeats the point made.
Allow "takes less time to transmit/upload/download" as the development for a smaller file.
Do not accept responses that say compression saves memory/RAM (the videos are stored in secondary storage).
Do not accept compression makes the video more secure or improves its quality.
Example answers and how they were marked
It makes each video file smaller (1) so the service needs less storage space for its library (1).
Why: Linked point: smaller file (1) and linked development: less storage needed (1).
It reduces the size of the video files.
Why: States that files are made smaller (1); no linked development is given, so the second mark is not awarded (0).
It encrypts the video so it is safer to send.
Why: Gives security, which the mark scheme does not accept, not a reason for compression; no creditworthy point.