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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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3 questions · 10 marks

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1Short recall2 marksUnits & Conversion Swap Remove

A solid state drive has a capacity of 5 gibibytes.

Give an expression to calculate the number of bits in 5 gibibytes. You do not need to do the calculation.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each of:

  • 5 × 1024^3 / 5 × 1024 × 1024 × 1024 / 5 × 2^30, for the number of bytes (1)
  • A fully correct expression with × 8 to convert bytes to bits, in any order, e.g. 5 × 1024^3 × 8, 8 × 5 × 2^30 (1)

Accept 5 × 1 073 741 824 × 8.

Accept 5 × 2^33 or 42 949 672 960 as a fully correct expression (2 marks).

Do not accept 5 × 1000^3 × 8, which uses decimal multiples.

Do not accept ÷ 8, which converts bits to bytes.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

8 × 5 × 2^30

Why: 5 × 2^30 is the number of bytes (1) and × 8 converts bytes to bits (1).

Some marks1/2

5 × 2^30

Why: Correct number of bytes using the binary multiple 2^30 (1), but no conversion to bits.

No marks0/2

5 × 1000^3 × 8

Why: Uses decimal 1000^3 instead of binary 1024^3, so the expression is not fully correct; no creditworthy point.

2Describe2 marksTranslators Swap Remove

A compiler and an interpreter both translate source code.

Describe one difference between what a compiler produces and what an interpreter produces.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A compiler produces object code/machine code/an executable (file) (1) whereas an interpreter produces no object code/translated file (1)
  • A compiler produces a machine code file (1) that can be run on its own/without the compiler/translator being present (1)
  • An interpreter produces no object code/file (1) because it translates and executes each line instead of saving translated code (1)
  • The compiler's output can be saved/stored (1) and run again later, while interpreted code has to be translated again each time it is run (1)

Allow binary for machine code.

Allow executable/an executable for object code.

Do not accept responses about translating the whole program, reporting errors or the speed of execution.

Do not accept 'the interpreter translates/executes one line at a time' on its own: this is how it translates, not what it produces. It earns the development only when linked to no object code/translated file being produced.

Do not accept the interpreter producing object code/an executable.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A compiler produces object code, which is saved as a file, whereas an interpreter does not produce a file because it translates and executes each line.

Why: Compiler produces object code (1) contrasted with the interpreter producing no object code/translated file (1).

Some marks1/2

The compiler produces machine code.

Why: Machine code/object code produced (1); there is no contrast with the interpreter, so the development is not earned.

No marks0/2

The interpreter produces object code for each line it translates.

Why: Reverses the translators' outputs: the interpreter produces no object code, so nothing is creditworthy.

3Discuss6 marksPrimary Memory Swap Remove

A video production company edits films for its clients. The editors use computers to work on 4K video, and they say the computers have become slow. One editor wants to replace the CPU, but a colleague thinks adding more RAM would be better.

Discuss whether adding more RAM will improve the performance of the computers used to edit 4K video. (6)

Your answer should include:

  • how RAM is used when editing video
  • why too little RAM causes poor performance
  • why adding more RAM may not always improve performance.
[6 marks]
Mark scheme

Indicative content

How RAM is used when editing video

  • The editing software and the video project being worked on are loaded into RAM so that the CPU can access them quickly.
  • RAM holds the frames, effects and timeline data that the CPU is processing as part of the fetch-decode-execute cycle.
  • The CPU fetches the instructions and the video data it needs from RAM, which is much faster than fetching them from secondary storage.
  • Having more RAM means that more of the 4K video project and its effects can be held in memory at the same time.
  • RAM is also used by the operating system and any other open software, so not all of the RAM is available to the editing software.

Why too little RAM causes poor performance

  • If there is not enough RAM, the operating system uses virtual memory on secondary storage for data that will not fit in RAM.
  • Virtual memory is much slower than RAM, so the editor waits longer for 4K video to load and for effects to be applied.
  • Data has to be swapped between RAM and virtual memory, which is extra work that slows the computer down.
  • The editing software may freeze or close if it runs out of memory while working on the 4K video.
  • Playback of the 4K video is not smooth because the frames cannot all be held in RAM ready for the CPU.

Why adding more RAM may not always improve performance

  • If the computer already has enough RAM for the editing software, the extra RAM will not be used and performance will hardly change.
  • The clock speed and the number of cores of the CPU decide how quickly instructions are processed, so a slow CPU will still limit how quickly the video is edited.
  • A slow secondary storage drive will still limit how quickly the 4K video files can be loaded into RAM.
  • Adding RAM only improves performance if a shortage of RAM was the reason for the computer being slow.

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)

Additional guidance

  • Level 3 responses must explain how RAM is used when editing video and give a developed reason why adding more RAM may not always improve performance; responses that only explain how RAM is used, or only why too little RAM causes poor performance, are limited to Level 2.
  • Accept 'paging' or 'swap file' as equivalent to virtual memory, but do not accept 'cache' or 'ROM'; do not credit statements that adding RAM increases the CPU clock speed or makes the CPU faster, or that 'RAM is volatile' explains poor performance, as these are not linked to the question asked.
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks6/6

RAM holds the editing software and the 4K video project that is being worked on, so the CPU can fetch the frames and the effects it needs much faster than from the hard drive. If there is not enough RAM, the operating system has to use virtual memory on secondary storage instead, and this is much slower than RAM, so the editors have to wait for video to load and the playback is not smooth. Adding more RAM can help because more of the 4K project and its effects can be held in memory at once. However, it will not always improve performance. If the computer already has enough RAM the extra memory will not be used, and if the CPU has a low clock speed or too few cores it will still take longer to process each frame. A slow hard drive will also limit how quickly the 4K files can be loaded into RAM, so adding RAM only solves the problem if the computer was short of memory.

Why: Level 3: explains how RAM is used when editing video and applies it to the frames and effects (AO1/AO2), gives a developed reason for poor performance using virtual memory and its slowness, and gives developed reasons why extra RAM may not help, namely a CPU bottleneck (clock speed and cores) and a slow drive, applied to the company's 4K editing.

Some marks2/6

RAM is used to store the video while it is being edited. If you don't have enough RAM, the computer will be slow because it has to use the hard drive instead. Adding more RAM will make the computer faster because it can store more video. The CPU also matters because it does the processing.

Why: Level 1, top end (2 marks). A basic relevant use of RAM, storing the video being edited, and a basic point that the hard drive is used when RAM is short; the extra RAM point is asserted with no reasoning and the single CPU statement is not linked to why adding RAM may not help, so there is little development and the answer does not reach Level 2.

No marks0/6

RAM is the same as the CPU, so adding more RAM makes the CPU faster. The video editor should add more RAM to increase the clock speed. 4K video is slow because RAM is volatile.

Why: No creditworthy content: treating RAM as the CPU and saying adding RAM increases the clock speed are the misconceptions named in the guidance, and 'RAM is volatile' is not linked to performance, so it earns nothing.

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 18 questions Intellectual Property 18 questions Software Licences 18 questions

5.3 Cybersecurity

Build a paper on this topic 36
Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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