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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 659 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 · 7 marks

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1Calculate2 marksAdding Binary Numbers Swap Remove

Computer systems manipulate bit patterns.

Complete the table to show the result of the 8-bit binary addition.

[2 marks]
1286432168421
10111000
00011111
Mark scheme

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

  • 1101 (1)
  • 0111 (1)

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

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

1101 0111

Why: 184 + 31 = 215, carrying where a column adds to 2: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

1010 0111

Why: Writes 0 for 1 + 1 but forgets to carry the 1. The second nibble is correct (1); the first is not.

No marks0/2

1011 1111

Why: Writes 1 in every column with a 1 and never carries. Neither nibble is correct.

2Calculate2 marksBinary Shifts Swap Remove

Computer systems manipulate bit patterns.

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

[2 marks]
Binary patternShift8-bit binary result
1000 0111Logical shift right by 1
Mark scheme

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

  • 0100 (1)
  • 0011 (1)

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

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

0100 0011

Why: Every bit moves 1 place right, with 0s in from the left: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

0100 0010

Why: A slip in the last bit. The first nibble is correct (1); the second is not.

No marks0/2

0000 1110

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

3Calculate3 marksAdding Binary Numbers Swap Remove

Computers manipulate binary patterns.

(a)

Complete the table to show the 8-bit result of the binary addition.

[2 marks]
1286432168421
10111001
10111100
Mark scheme

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

  • 0111 (1)
  • 0101 (1)

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

Ignore a carry shown beyond the eighth bit.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

0111 0101

Why: 185 + 188 = 373, which needs 9 bits; the 8 bits that are kept are both correct (2).

Some marks1/2

0000 0101

Why: Forgets to carry the 1s. The second nibble is correct (1); the first is not.

No marks0/2

1011 1101

Why: Never carries. Neither nibble is correct.

(b)

State the name of the error that occurs when this addition is carried out.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • overflow (error) (1)
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

Overflow

Why: The result needs more bits than are available (1).

No marks0/1

Underflow

Why: A near miss: the result is too big for 8 bits, not too small.

No marks0/1

A syntax error

Why: A syntax error is a mistake in a program's code, not in arithmetic.

Questions by topic

5.3 Cybersecurity

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