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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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3 questions · 14 marks

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1Short recall2 marksUnits & Conversion Swap Remove

Data storage is measured in binary multiples.

Define the term bit.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A binary digit (1)
  • Has the value 0 or 1 (1)
  • The smallest unit of data storage (1)
  • A single 0 or 1 (1)

Allow binary digit/binary place value for binary digit

Allow a single binary digit for a single 0 or 1

Do not accept a group of 8 bits/half a nibble of 4 bits, which describe a byte or a nibble

Do not accept a binary number/binary on its own

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A binary digit that can have the value 0 or 1.

Why: A binary digit (1) and has the value 0 or 1 (1).

Some marks1/2

It is the smallest unit of data storage.

Why: Smallest unit of data storage (1), but does not state that it is a binary digit or that it has the value 0 or 1.

No marks0/2

A group of 8 bits.

Why: Describes a byte, not a bit; no creditworthy point and named in the Do not accept line.

2Discuss6 marksPeripheral Management Swap Remove

A design studio buys 30 new graphics tablets for its artists. The tablets are a new model that the studio's computers have not used before. The studio's computers already have drivers installed for the older tablets the artists use. Each artist connects a tablet to a computer running the same operating system.

Discuss the role of device drivers when the new graphics tablets are connected to the studio's computers.

Your answer should include:

  • what a device driver is and how the operating system uses it
  • why each peripheral needs its own driver
  • what must be done before an artist can use a new tablet.
[6 marks]
Mark scheme

Indicative content

What a device driver is and how the operating system uses it

  • A device driver is a program that controls a peripheral device such as a graphics tablet by communicating with the operating system.
  • The driver translates instructions from the operating system into signals that the graphics tablet understands, and passes the artist's pen movements back to the operating system.
  • The operating system loads the driver into memory when the tablet is connected, so that it can then send data to the tablet and receive input from it.
  • Without a driver the operating system cannot control the tablet, so the tablet does not work.

Why each peripheral needs its own driver

  • Every make and model of peripheral uses its own set of commands, so a driver is written for that particular device.
  • The drivers already installed for the studio's older tablets do not work with the new model, even though both are graphics tablets.
  • An operating system includes drivers for many common devices, but it does not have one for a brand new model.
  • The correct driver means the pen movements are received by the computer in the form the drawing program expects.

What must be done before an artist can use a new tablet

  • The new tablet is supplied with its driver on a disc or as a download, and it must be installed on each computer.
  • The operating system may need to be updated so that it recognises the new model.
  • The driver must be enabled or selected for the tablet once it is installed.
  • Drivers are updated later to fix faults or to improve performance.
  • If the correct driver is not installed, the tablet does not work or some of its features are not available.

Additional guidance

  • Level 3 responses must explain why a driver is specific to a device and what must be done before an artist can use a new tablet, as well as describing what a driver is, all applied to the studio.
  • Responses that only state what a driver is, or that state a driver must be installed without explaining why the tablet needs its own driver, are limited to Level 1.
  • Accept 'software', 'program' or 'set of instructions' for a driver.
  • Do not accept a device driver described only as a cable or a physical connection.
  • Do not accept the claim that all drivers are already built into the operating system, or that one driver works for every graphics tablet.

Levels

  • Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
  • Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
  • Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
  • Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks6/6

A device driver is software that lets the operating system communicate with a peripheral such as a graphics tablet. When an artist connects a tablet, the operating system loads the driver into memory so that it can send instructions to the tablet and receive the pen movements back. Each make and model of tablet has its own set of commands, so the drivers already installed for the studio's older tablets will not work with the new model, and the operating system will not have a driver built in for a brand new device. Because the tablets are a new model, the supplier provides a driver on a disc or as a download, and it must be installed on every computer before an artist can use a tablet. The studio may also need to update the operating system so that it recognises the new model, and install updated drivers later if faults are found. If the correct driver is not installed, the operating system cannot control the tablet, so the pen will not work.

Why: Level 3: defines a driver and explains the operating system's role in loading and using it (AO1), explains why the driver is specific to the make and model and applies this to the studio's older tablets (AO1/AO2), and gives the installation, operating system update, later driver updates and the consequence of a missing driver, all applied to the studio in a sustained line of reasoning.

Some marks2/6

A device driver is a program that controls the graphics tablet. The new tablets are a different model, so the computers may not have the right driver. The studio needs to install the driver that comes with the tablet before the artist can use it.

Why: Level 1 upper: a basic definition, a brief unexplained point that the new model may not have the right driver, and the point that the supplied driver must be installed. Nothing explains why a driver is specific to a device (different commands, make and model) or how the operating system uses the driver, so the points stay independent with little linkage and are limited to Level 1 by the guidance.

Some marks1/6

A device driver is a program that makes the tablet work. All drivers are already built into the operating system, so the studio does not need to install anything for the new tablets.

Why: 1 mark: a basic statement that a driver is a program that controls the device. The claim that all drivers are already built in is a misconception named in the do-not-accept guidance, so it gains no credit for what must happen before the new tablets can be used.

3Discuss6 marksTranslators Swap Remove

A company writes a photo editing program in a high-level language. The company will sell the finished program to customers. Each customer will install the program on their own computer and run it many times.

Discuss whether the company should use a compiler or an interpreter to translate the program before it is sold.

Your answer should include:

  • the output of each type of translator
  • whether the program has to be translated each time it is run
  • what the customer needs on their computer to run the program.
[6 marks]
Mark scheme

Indicative content

The output of each type of translator

  • A compiler translates the whole program in one go and produces object code.
  • The object code is saved as an executable file, which is already in machine code so the processor can run it directly.
  • An interpreter does not produce object code, so no translated file exists for the company to save and sell.
  • An interpreter translates one line at a time and executes it immediately, but that translation is not kept.

Whether the program has to be translated each time it is run

  • Compiled code is translated once, so the executable can be run as many times as the customer likes without being translated again.
  • If the source code is edited, the whole program has to be compiled again to produce a new executable.
  • An interpreted program is translated again every time it is run, so a customer who runs the program often waits for translation at every run.
  • An executable runs faster than interpreted code because it is already in machine code.

What the customer needs on their computer to run the program

  • A customer who installs the executable needs no compiler on their computer, so the program will run straight away.
  • If the company supplied the source code instead, the customer would need an interpreter installed, and it would have to be an interpreter for their type of computer.
  • A customer given only the executable does not have the source code, so cannot change the program.

Conclusion

  • A compiler is the better choice for this company, because the executable can be sold and the customer runs it without it being translated again and without being given the source code.
  • Using an interpreter would mean supplying the source code to customers and translating the program on every run.

Levels

  • Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
  • Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
  • Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
  • Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)

Level 3 responses must cover all three bullets for this company's program, including translating once rather than on every run, and reach a conclusion.

Do not accept 'a compiler fixes errors' (a compiler reports syntax errors at the end of translation, it does not fix them) or 'a compiler is easier to use' with no link to output, translation or the customer. Do not accept answers about translating to assembly language.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks6/6

The company should use a compiler. A compiler translates the whole program in one go and produces object code, which is saved as an executable file. This executable is already in machine code, so the customer's processor can run it directly. The program is translated only once, so a customer who runs the program many times does not wait for it to be translated again, and it runs faster than interpreted code would. An interpreter produces no object code, so the company would have nothing to sell as an executable. The customer would have to be given the source code and would need an interpreter installed on their computer, and the program would be translated again every time it was run.

Why: Level 3. Covers the output of both translators (executable from the compiler, no object code from the interpreter), the effect of translating once rather than on every run, and what the customer needs on their computer, all applied to the company selling the program, with a clear conclusion.

Some marks3/6

A compiler produces an executable file, which the company can save and sell to its customers. An interpreter does not produce an executable file, so the customer would need the source code and an interpreter installed on their computer to run the program. This means a compiler is better for the company, because customers can just run the file they are given.

Why: Level 2. Gives the output of both translators and links this to what the customer needs, with a conclusion, but never says the compiled program is translated once while an interpreted one is translated on every run, so the reasoning is not developed enough for Level 3.

No marks0/6

The company should use a compiler because it is easier to write programs with a compiler and it fixes the errors in the program before the customers get it.

Why: Level 0. No creditworthy point: 'easier to write programs' is not linked to the output, the translation each run or the customer, and 'fixes the errors' is a misconception, as the mark scheme's guidance says a compiler only reports errors at the end of translation.

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

Build a paper on this topic 56
Character Sets 18 questions Images 19 questions Sound 19 questions

2.3 Data storage and compression

Build a paper on this topic 24
Compression 18 questions Units & Conversion 6 questions

3.1 Hardware

Build a paper on this topic 77
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

Build a paper on this topic 124
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

Build a paper on this topic 37
Low and High Level Languages 19 questions Translators 18 questions

4.1 Networks

Build a paper on this topic 138
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

Build a paper on this topic 36
Network Security Risks 18 questions Preventing Network Security Risks 18 questions

5.1 Environmental

Build a paper on this topic 36
E-waste 17 questions Manufacturing Technology 19 questions

5.2 Ethical and legal

Build a paper on this topic 18
Data Protection Act 14 questions Impact of AI 4 questions

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