Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• The start and end address/size of the block allocated to each program is recorded (1) so the operating system knows which areas of main memory are in use and which are free (1)
• The record is checked before memory is allocated (1) so memory already in use is not given to another program/is not overwritten (1)
• The record is searched for a free block that is large enough (1) so a newly loaded program is placed in a suitable area of main memory (1)
• The record is updated when a program ends/closes (1) so the memory it was using is marked as free for other programs (1)

Allow the record to be called a memory map/memory table/allocation table.

A response that only says the operating system keeps a record/list of the memory each program is using, without saying what the record contains, earns 0 marks.

A response that states what the record contains, e.g. the addresses/the start and end address of each block, earns 1 mark even if it does not say how the record is used.

Do not accept responses about saving programs/files to secondary storage or about moving programs to virtual memory, as these are not uses of this record.

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

• Attempts to repair/rebuild the corrupted file (1) so that it can be opened by its program again (1)
• Recovers/retrieves the parts of the file that can still be read (1) so that the user does not lose all of the data in the file (1)
• Reconstructs the file from data held in other parts of the disk (1) because part of the file/the disk is corrupted (1)
• Saves a new/repaired copy of the file (1) as some of the data in it may not be recoverable (1)

Do not accept 'it repairs the file' on its own, as this repeats the question.

Do not accept responses about restoring a backup/previous version of the file, as this is backup software.

Do not accept responses about scanning for or removing malware.

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

• The CPU can only execute one process at a time (1) so the operating system must decide which process runs next (1)
• Each process needs CPU time (1) so the operating system must share the CPU between processes (1)
• One process could use the CPU for too long (1) so the operating system must give other processes a turn (1)
• A process may be waiting for a resource or user input (1) so the operating system can run another process that is ready (1)
• The user wants to run more than one program (1) so the operating system must manage which process uses the CPU and when (1)

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

Allow 'program' for 'process'.

Do not accept 'to manage processes' / 'so processes are managed' without a reason.

Do not accept answers about managing files, memory or peripherals.