The operating system creates a process when a program is opened.
Describe what the operating system does when it creates a process.
Mark scheme
Award up to two marks for a linked description such as:
- Allocates memory/RAM to the process (1) so its instructions and data can be stored (1)
- Loads/moves the program instructions into RAM (1) so the process is ready to run (1)
- Adds the process to the ready queue (1) so it can be scheduled onto the CPU (1)
- Gives the process a process ID (PID)/identifier (1) so the operating system can track/manage it (1)
For both marks, the development must follow/be linked to the point.
Only award one of the first two bullets in any one response; allocating memory and loading into RAM are the same stage.
Accept 'memory' for 'RAM' and vice versa.
Accept 'added to a queue for the processor' for the ready queue point.
Do not accept responses that say the process is run on the CPU straight away.
Do not accept descriptions of the program executing/running its instructions, or of the program file being created/saved.
Do not accept responses about the process being blocked or terminated.
Example answers and how they were marked
It allocates memory to the process so its instructions and data can be stored.
Why: Allocates memory to the process (1) linked to storing its instructions and data (1).
It loads the program into RAM.
Why: Gives the creditworthy point that the program instructions are loaded into RAM (1), but does not develop the point.
It runs the program on the CPU straight away.
Why: A newly created process is not normally run immediately; it becomes ready. This is explicitly not accepted, so no marks.