A computer can run more than one process at a time.
Give two tasks carried out by the process management function of an operating system.
Mark scheme
Award one mark for any of the following up to a maximum of two marks:
- Deciding which process runs next on the CPU/scheduling processes (1)
- Allocating processor/CPU time to processes/allowing multitasking (1)
- Managing the process life-cycle/process states (ready, running, blocked) (1)
- Handling interrupts so a running process is suspended and another can run (1)
- Stopping/terminating a process when it has finished (1)
Do not accept 'managing processes' on its own.
Do not accept 'handling interrupts' on its own.
Do not award two marks for the same task expressed twice, e.g. 'deciding which process runs next' and 'scheduling processes', or 'allocating CPU time' and 'giving each process a share of processor time'.
Do not accept 'managing memory/memory management', 'managing files/file management' or 'managing devices/peripherals' (these are other functions of an operating system).
Example answers and how they were marked
Deciding which process runs next on the CPU and stopping a process when it has finished.
Why: Scheduling a process (1) and terminating a process (1) are two different named tasks.
Deciding which process runs next and scheduling processes.
Why: Both points are the same task expressed twice, so only one mark is awarded under the guidance.
Managing processes and managing files.
Why: 'Managing processes' repeats the question and earns nothing; 'managing files' is file management, not process management, so it is not credited.