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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 631 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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4 questions · 5 marks

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1Multiple choice1 markUnits & Conversion Swap Remove

Units of data storage can be binary or decimal.

Identify the unit of storage that is equivalent to 1024 gibibytes.

[1 mark]
  • AGibibyte
  • BMebibyte
  • CTebibyte
  • DTerabyte
Mark scheme
  • C Tebibyte (1)
  • The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is tebibyte.
  • A is not correct because a gibibyte is 1024 mebibytes
  • B is not correct because a mebibyte is 1024 kibibytes
  • D is not correct because a terabyte is 1000 gigabytes
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

C Tebibyte

Why: Correct: 1024 gibibytes make one tebibyte (1).

No marks0/1

A Gibibyte

Why: Near miss: a gibibyte is 1024 mebibytes, not 1024 gibibytes (0).

No marks0/1

D Terabyte

Why: Typical misconception: uses the decimal terabyte (1000 gigabytes) instead of the binary tebibyte (0).

2Multiple choice1 markCompression Swap Remove

A student downloads a compressed music file and then decompresses it.

Identify what is meant by decompression.

[1 mark]
  • AData is encrypted so that it cannot be read
  • BData is permanently removed to reduce the file size
  • CData is restored to its original format
  • DData is stored using fewer bits
Mark scheme
  • C Data is restored to its original format (1)
  • The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is data is restored to its original format.
  • A is not correct because encryption changes data so that it cannot be read without a key; it does not restore the data
  • B is not correct because permanently removing data to reduce the file size is lossy compression, not decompression
  • D is not correct because storing data using fewer bits is compression, not decompression
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

C Data is restored to its original format

Why: Correct option (1).

No marks0/1

D Data is stored using fewer bits

Why: Near miss: this describes compression, not decompression.

No marks0/1

B Data is permanently removed to reduce the file size

Why: Misconception: this describes lossy compression, not decompression.

3Short recall1 markUnits & Conversion Swap Remove

A file has a size of 2 kibibytes.

State the number of bytes in the file.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • 2048 (1)
  • 2 × 1024 (1)
  • 2^11 (1)

Allow 2048 bytes.

Do not accept 2000, which is the number of bytes in two decimal kilobytes.

Do not accept 1024, which is the number of bytes in one kibibyte.

Do not accept 16, which is the number of bits in two bytes.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

2048

Why: 2048 is 2 × 1024, the number of bytes in 2 kibibytes (1).

No marks0/1

2000

Why: 2000 uses the decimal kilobyte, not the binary kibibyte; the mark scheme does not accept it.

No marks0/1

16

Why: 16 is the number of bits in two bytes, confusing bits with bytes; the mark scheme does not accept it.

4Describe2 marksCompression Swap Remove

Photographs are often saved as JPG files.

Describe how lossy compression reduces the size of a photograph.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Some data is removed permanently (1) choosing detail that people are least likely to notice (1)
  • Small changes in colour/shade are discarded (1) so fewer different values need to be stored (1)
  • Similar pixels are stored as one value (1) so there are fewer values in the file (1)
  • Fine detail is removed (1) so fewer bits are needed to store each area (1)

Do not accept answers that say repeated patterns are stored once / no data is lost.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It permanently removes some of the pixel data that the human eye is unlikely to notice, such as small colour changes.

Why: Linked point: data removed permanently (1) and development: detail least noticeable (1).

Some marks1/2

Some of the data in the photograph is removed permanently.

Why: States permanent removal of data (1); no linked development is given (1).

No marks0/2

It finds repeated pixels and stores them once, so no data is lost.

Why: Describes lossless compression, not lossy; no credit.

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 16 questions Intellectual Property 12 questions

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