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 description such as:

• Keeps a record/index of where each file is stored on the disk (1) so that the file can be found and opened when it is needed (1)
• Allocates each file to a folder/directory (1) so that files used for the same purpose are kept together (1)
• Decides where on the disk each new file is written (1) so that it does not overwrite an existing file (1)
• Allocates space on the disk for a file (1) so that the file has somewhere to be saved (1)

Allow 'files are organised into folders so that they are easy to find', with the folder point (1) and its purpose (1).

Do not accept responses that only state that the operating system 'organises' or 'controls' the files, with no way of doing it given.

Do not accept 'stores the files' or 'saves files to the disk' without a way of doing it.

Do not accept responses about backing files up, or about the amount of storage space left on the disk.

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

• A process is created for the program (1) so that its instructions can be loaded into RAM (1)
• The process is put into the ready state (1) so that it can wait for the CPU to become available (1)
• The operating system adds the process to a queue of ready processes (1) so the scheduler can choose it when the CPU is free (1)
• The operating system allocates the resources the process needs (1) so that it can start running when it is given CPU time (1)

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

Allow 'main memory' for RAM.

Do not accept 'the browser is downloaded/loaded from the internet'.

Do not accept 'the program is run immediately on the CPU' without the ready step.