Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Award one mark for any of the following up to a maximum of two marks:

• Decides/allocates which part/space on the disk a file is written to (1)
• Keeps an index/record of the location of each file so that it can be found/retrieved (1)
• Prevents a file from being overwritten by another file (1)
• Checks there is enough free space on the disk before a file is saved (1)

Allow 'file allocation table' for keeping an index/record of file locations

Only award one mark for answers that say the operating system decides/allocates where a file is stored or allocates free space on the disk

Do not accept defragmentation

Do not accept 'stores files', 'saves files' or 'backs up files' (these only repeat the stem)

Do not accept 'organises files into folders' on its own

Do not accept scheduling processes or managing peripherals

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

• Updates/changes the location/path stored for the file (1) so the file can be found in its new folder/location (1)
• Removes the file's entry/reference from the old folder (1) so the file no longer appears/is listed there (1)
• Adds/creates an entry/reference for the file in the new folder (1) so the file appears/is listed in its new location (1)
• Updates the folder/directory listing/structure (1) to show the file's new location/path (1)

Do not accept descriptions of copying the file or leaving a duplicate in the old folder.

Do not accept deleting and recreating the file, or moving the file's data to a different physical location on the disk; the marks are for updating the folder/directory structure.

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

• Each user/file is given permissions/access rights (1) so other users cannot read/write/open/change that user's files (1)
• A user may be given read-only/read access to a file (1) so they cannot edit/delete/change it (1)
• Each file is given permissions/access rights for different users (1) so the operating system allows/refuses access depending on which user is logged in (1)
• The operating system checks a user's permissions/access rights when a file is opened (1) so a user with read-only/read access cannot save/delete changes (1)

Do not accept responses about asking for a password/username, as this checks who the user is, not what they are allowed to do.

Do not accept 'files are protected/safe' or 'access rights protect files' without saying how access is limited (e.g. read-only access, permissions for different users).