An operating system manages the peripherals connected to a computer.
Explain one reason why an operating system needs to manage peripheral devices.
Mark scheme
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.
Example answers and how they were marked
So that data is sent to the correct peripheral (1) because the operating system controls the transfer of data between the computer and each device (1).
Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1).
So that data is sent to the correct device.
Why: Point (1) but no linked reason, so the second mark is not awarded.
Because the operating system manages the peripherals.
Why: Rewords the question; the 'Do not accept' line says this earns nothing without saying what the operating system does.