Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• The file's entry is removed from the folder/directory (1) so the file no longer appears in the list of files/is no longer listed (1)
• The (disk) space used by the file is marked as free/available/unused (1) so another file can be saved/stored in that space (1)
• The file's data/contents are not erased/removed (1) so the file may still be recovered until the space is overwritten (1)

A point stated without development, e.g. 'the file is removed from the folder', earns one mark only.

For the first mark, accept that the file's entry is removed from the folder/directory; the second mark must state that the file no longer appears/is listed.

Do not accept 'stays on disk' alone for the third point; accept 'data is not erased' or 'contents remain'.

Do not accept 'the file is wiped from the disk straight away' or 'the data is destroyed and can never be recovered'.

Do not accept 'the file is moved to the recycle bin/bin' or 'the file is deleted from the hard drive' on its own, as this does not describe what happens to the file or the disk space.

Do not accept responses about moving the file to another folder.

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

• Data is sent to/received from the correct peripheral (1) because the operating system controls the transfer of data between the computer and each device (1)
• A new peripheral can be used as soon as it is connected (1) because the operating system installs/loads the correct device driver for that device (1)
• Data can be sent to a slow peripheral such as a printer (1) because the operating system stores it in a buffer/print queue until the device is ready to receive it (1)
• The user is told when a peripheral has a problem (1) because the operating system receives status information from the device and reports the error to the user (1)

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

Allow specific peripherals as the example (e.g. a mouse, a printer) provided the reason says what the operating system does.

Allow 'the operating system responds to an interrupt from a device' as a point, with the reason that the device is signalling that it needs attention/has finished its job.

Do not accept 'the operating system manages/controls the peripherals' or 'it lets the devices be used'/'the peripherals work correctly' on their own, as these repeat the question without saying what the operating system does.

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

• Lost/damaged files can be restored (1) because a copy is stored separately from the original (1)
• Data can be recovered after a hardware failure (1) because a duplicate copy is kept on another storage device/location (1)
• Files can be recovered if they are deleted by accident (1) because a copy was made before they were deleted (1)
• A previous version of a file can be recovered (1) because backups are made regularly/at set times (1)

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

A benefit stated on its own, such as 'lost files can be restored', earns the first mark only.

Do not accept a description of what backup software does, such as 'it makes a copy of the files' or 'it backs up files', without a benefit it provides.

Do not accept 'keeps data safe' or 'stops files being lost' on its own without saying how the data can be recovered.

Do not accept protection from malware/viruses, e.g. 'it protects the computer from viruses'; that is the purpose of anti-malware software.