Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• The memory (that was) used by the program is freed/released/marked as free (1) so it can be allocated/reused by another program/process (1)
• The operating system's memory allocation table/record (of memory in use) is updated (1) to show that the program's memory locations/blocks are now free/available (1)
• The program's instructions/data are removed/overwritten in main memory (1) so the space they used is no longer reserved for that program (1)
• The memory pages/blocks allocated to the program are returned to the list of free pages/blocks (1) that can be used when the next program is loaded (1)

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

Do not award two marks for the same idea described twice (e.g. the memory is freed and added to a list of free blocks); the two marks must come from two different linked descriptions.

Do not accept responses about closing the program window, stopping/terminating the program/process, saving the file or deleting the program from secondary storage/the hard disk.

Ignore statements that main memory is 'managed'/'cleaned up' with no development.

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

• A storage limit/quota is set for each user account (1) so the drive is shared fairly between users (1)
• The operating system records how much space each user's files are using (1) and refuses to save more files when the limit is reached (1)
• Each user is given a fixed share/quota of the drive (1) so one user cannot use the space set aside for another (1)

Allow a limit set by an administrator or through the operating system's user management settings; an administrator is not required for credit.

Allow a warning that stops the save; do not award the development for a warning alone where the save is not stopped.

Do not accept responses about passwords/authentication, keeping files separate/folders with no storage limit, deleting old files, compressing files, or buying a larger drive.

Do not accept 'the operating system gives the user a bigger hard drive'.

Do not accept a single global limit for all users; the limit must apply to each user/user account.

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

• Files take up less storage space (1) because compression stores the data using fewer bits/removes redundant or unnecessary data (1)
• Files can be transferred/downloaded faster (1) because there is less data to send over a network (1)
• More files fit on a storage device (1) because each file is smaller (1)
• Email attachments can be sent without exceeding attachment size limits (1) because compression reduces the size of the file (1)

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

Do not accept 'it makes files smaller' on its own without a named benefit such as using less storage space or faster transfer; this repeats the question.

Do not accept 'compression frees up space by deleting files' as compression does not delete the original file.

Do not accept answers about disk defragmentation as this is a different utility.