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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 514 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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3 questions · 6 marks

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1Convert2 marksDenary to Binary Conversion Swap Remove

Computers manipulate binary patterns.

Convert the denary number 184 to 8-bit binary.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each correct nibble in the correct order:

  • 1011 (1)
  • 1000 (1)

0 marks if the response is not 8-bit binary.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

1011 1000

Why: 184 = 128 + 32 + 16 + 8: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

1011 1001

Why: Converts 185 instead (a slip in adding up the place values). The first nibble is correct (1); the second is not.

No marks0/2

0001 1101

Why: The bits are written in reverse, smallest place value first. Neither nibble is correct.

2Convert2 marksDenary to Negative Binary Conversion Swap Remove

Computer systems manipulate bit patterns.

Convert the denary number -48 to 8-bit binary using two's complement.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each correct nibble in the correct order:

  • 1101 (1)
  • 0000 (1)

0 marks if the response is not 8-bit binary.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

1101 0000

Why: 48 is 00110000; flip the bits (11001111) and add 1: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

1011 0000

Why: Uses sign and magnitude (a 1 in front of 48) instead of two's complement. The second nibble is correct (1); the first is not.

No marks0/2

1100 1111

Why: Flips the bits of 48 but doesn't add 1. Neither nibble is correct.

3Calculate2 marksBinary Shifts Swap Remove

Binary, denary and hexadecimal patterns represent numbers.

Complete the table with the result of applying the shift to the binary pattern.

[2 marks]
Binary patternShift8-bit binary result
1010 1100Arithmetic shift right by 1
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each correct nibble in the correct order:

  • 1101 (1)
  • 0110 (1)

0 marks if the response is not 8-bit binary.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

1101 0110

Why: Every bit moves 1 place right, with copies of the sign bit (1) in from the left: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

0101 0110

Why: Fills the gap on the left with 0s, as a logical shift would, instead of copying the sign bit. The second nibble is correct (1); the first is not.

No marks0/2

0101 1000

Why: Shifts the bits the wrong way. Neither nibble is correct.

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