Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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.

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

• Makes a file/files smaller (1) so less storage space is needed on the disk (1)
• Reduces the size of the data (1) so it takes less time to upload/download/transfer the file (1)
• Compresses files/folders into a single file (1) so an attachment is under the size limit for email (1)
• Reduces the size of the files (1) so more of them fit onto a storage device/backup media (1)

Do not accept 'it compresses the files' on its own, as this repeats the question.

Do not accept responses about protecting files from malware/viruses or about deleting files.

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.

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

• Data can avoid a busy/congested link (1) because the router can choose another path (1)
• Data can still arrive if a link fails (1) because the router sends it another way (1)
• Data can take the shortest/fastest path (1) because the router compares the routes and chooses the one with the fewest hops/least traffic (1)

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

Allow other valid benefits with a linked reason, e.g. traffic can be shared across routes/load balanced (1) because the router can send some packets by another path (1)

Do not accept 'the route is always the same' as this is not a benefit of choosing a route.

Do not accept 'routers are fast' or 'packets are sent faster' on its own: the reason must say how the route is chosen, e.g. avoiding congestion or using a routing table.