Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

• C Main memory (RAM) (1)
• The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is main memory (RAM); accept 'main memory', 'RAM' or 'random access memory'.
• A is not correct because the arithmetic logic unit performs arithmetic and logical operations
• B is not correct because the clock sends regular pulses to synchronise the components of the CPU
• D is not correct because the program counter holds the address of the next instruction, not the instructions and data

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

• During fetch, the program counter holds the address of the next instruction (1) which is used to fetch that instruction from main memory/RAM (1)
• During fetch, the instruction is held in a register/current instruction register (1) so the control unit can decode it (1)
• During decode, the control unit decodes the instruction held in a register/current instruction register (1) to identify the operation/operand to be carried out (1)
• During execute, a register/accumulator holds the data being operated on (1) and stores the result from the ALU (1)
• During execute, a register holds the result of an ALU operation (1) before it is written back to main memory/RAM (1)

Accept other correctly named registers (program counter/PC, current instruction register/CIR, memory address register/MAR, memory data register/MDR, accumulator) where their role is linked to a stage of the fetch-decode-execute cycle.

Do not accept 'registers store data' or 'registers hold data' on its own, without a link to fetch, decode or execute (or to the CPU currently processing it).

Do not accept responses that state registers are in main memory or that registers store data/instructions permanently.

Do not accept 'registers are a type of memory' or 'registers store the program' as they do not describe a role in the fetch-decode-execute cycle.

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

• (The ECU) is more reliable/less likely to crash (1) because it only runs the one program/has a single purpose (1)
• (The ECU) cannot be affected by other software/viruses (1) because it cannot run other software/it can only run the program it was made for (1)
• (The ECU) is cheaper (1) because it has limited processing resources/less memory/simple components (1)
• (The ECU) uses less power (1) because it has limited processing resources/a simpler processor (1)
• (The ECU) is smaller (1) because it has fewer components/less memory than a general purpose computer (1)

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

A suitable benefit stated on its own earns one mark.

Do not accept a description or a location given as the reason, e.g. 'because it is part of the car', 'because it is inside the engine', 'because it is embedded'.

Do not accept a description of an embedded system on its own as the benefit, e.g. 'it does one specific job' or 'it is part of the car'.

Do not accept 'it is faster'/'it has a more powerful processor' as embedded systems have limited processing resources.