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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 693 exam-style questions, each with its mark scheme and example answers. Print it, or answer it on paper and then open the mark schemes. Or browse the questions by topic.

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4 questions · 8 marks

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1Short recall2 marksPurpose & Function of Operating Systems Swap Remove

An operating system manages the peripheral devices connected to a computer.

State two tasks carried out by the peripheral management function of an operating system.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for any of the following up to a maximum of two marks:

  • Receives input from/sends output to peripheral devices (1)
  • Communicates with/controls a peripheral using its device driver, including installing the driver for a new device (1)
  • Manages the print queue/buffer so that print jobs are sent to the printer in turn (1)
  • Reports the status of a device/a device error to the user, e.g. out of paper (1)

Allow answers that name a specific peripheral, as long as they also say what the operating system does with it, e.g. 'it controls the printer using its driver'.

Do not accept 'manages peripherals'/'controls the hardware' on its own, as this repeats the question.

Do not accept 'managing files' or 'managing users' (file management and user management are other functions of an operating system).

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It uses device drivers to control each peripheral and it reports a printer error such as out of paper to the user.

Why: Communicating with a peripheral using its device driver (1) and reporting a device error to the user (1) are two different peripheral management tasks.

Some marks1/2

It manages the print queue.

Why: Managing the print queue is one named peripheral management task (1); no second task is given.

No marks0/2

It manages peripherals and it manages users.

Why: 'Manages peripherals' repeats the question and earns nothing; 'manages users' is user management, not peripheral management.

2Describe2 marksFile Management Swap Remove

A user deletes an unwanted file from their computer.

Describe what happens when the file is deleted.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The file's entry is removed from the folder/directory (1) so the file no longer appears in the list of files/is no longer listed (1)
  • The (disk) space used by the file is marked as free/available/unused (1) so another file can be saved/stored in that space (1)
  • The file's data/contents are not erased/removed (1) so the file may still be recovered until the space is overwritten (1)

A point stated without development, e.g. 'the file is removed from the folder', earns one mark only.

For the first mark, accept that the file's entry is removed from the folder/directory; the second mark must state that the file no longer appears/is listed.

Do not accept 'stays on disk' alone for the third point; accept 'data is not erased' or 'contents remain'.

Do not accept 'the file is wiped from the disk straight away' or 'the data is destroyed and can never be recovered'.

Do not accept 'the file is moved to the recycle bin/bin' or 'the file is deleted from the hard drive' on its own, as this does not describe what happens to the file or the disk space.

Do not accept responses about moving the file to another folder.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The space the file used is marked as free so another file can be saved in that space.

Why: Linked point (1) and development (1): space marked free and another file can be saved.

Some marks1/2

The file is removed from the folder.

Why: Point (1) only; no development about the file no longer being listed.

No marks0/2

The data is wiped from the disk straight away so it can never be recovered.

Why: Common misconception; 'wiped straight away' is not accepted, so no mark.

3Describe2 marksPeripheral Management Swap Remove

A student uses a graphics tablet connected to a computer to draw in a program.

Describe how the operating system passes input from the graphics tablet to the program.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The operating system receives signals/data from the graphics tablet (1) and converts them into data the program can use/process (1)
  • The operating system receives data from the graphics tablet (1) and passes/forwards it to the program being used/the active program (1)
  • The tablet's device driver receives/interprets the signals/data from the tablet (1) so the operating system can pass the input to the program (1)
  • The operating system identifies the graphics tablet as the source of the input (1) so the data is sent to the correct program (1)

Accept 'signals' for 'data' throughout.

Accept reference to the device driver only where it is linked to receiving/interpreting the input (e.g. the driver receives the tablet's signals (1) so the OS can pass data to the program (1)).

Do not accept 'the operating system uses a driver' on its own, without saying what the driver does with the input.

Do not accept generic statements such as 'the operating system runs the tablet' as a description of how input is managed.

Do not accept responses that say the operating system creates/finishes the drawing, or that the tablet stores the input permanently.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The operating system receives signals from the graphics tablet and passes the data to the program.

Why: Receives signals/data from the tablet (1) and passes the data to the active program (1).

Some marks1/2

The operating system receives signals from the graphics tablet.

Why: Gives the first half of a linked description (1): it receives signals, but does not say what happens to the input.

No marks0/2

The operating system uses a device driver to control the graphics tablet and stores the input.

Why: Only says the OS uses a driver to control the tablet and that input is stored; it does not describe the driver receiving/interpreting the input or the input being passed to the program, so no linked point is credited. The mark scheme rejects 'uses a driver' on its own.

4Describe2 marksUtility Software Swap Remove

A student has a large number of photographs stored on a computer.

Describe the purpose of data compression software.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Makes a file/files smaller (1) so less storage space is needed on the disk (1)
  • Reduces the size of the data (1) so it takes less time to upload/download/transfer the file (1)
  • Compresses files/folders into a single file (1) so an attachment is under the size limit for email (1)
  • Reduces the size of the files (1) so more of them fit onto a storage device/backup media (1)

Do not accept 'it compresses the files' on its own, as this repeats the question.

Do not accept responses about protecting files from malware/viruses or about deleting files.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It makes the files smaller so that they use less storage space on the computer and more of them fit on the disk.

Why: The point (1) and a linked development giving the benefit (1).

Some marks1/2

It makes files smaller.

Why: This is the point (1) but there is no development of what the smaller size leads to, so only one mark.

No marks0/2

It protects the files from viruses so that they cannot be damaged.

Why: This describes anti-malware software, which the mark scheme does not accept; no creditworthy point is made.

Questions by topic

2.1 Binary

Build a paper on this topic 58
Adding Binary Numbers 6 questions Binary and Hexadecimal Basics 10 questions Binary Shifts 6 questions Binary to Denary Conversion 6 questions Binary to Hexadecimal Conversion 6 questions Denary to Binary Conversion 6 questions Denary to Hexadecimal Conversion 6 questions Denary to Negative Binary Conversion 6 questions Hexadecimal to Binary Conversion 6 questions

2.2 Data representation

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Character Sets 18 questions Images 19 questions Sound 19 questions

2.3 Data storage and compression

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Compression 18 questions Units & Conversion 6 questions

3.1 Hardware

Build a paper on this topic 77
Embedded Systems 17 questions Fetch Decode Execute Cycle 15 questions Primary Memory 15 questions Secondary Memory 15 questions Stored Program Computers 15 questions

3.2 Software

Build a paper on this topic 124
File Management 18 questions Memory Management 16 questions Peripheral Management 11 questions Process Management 12 questions Purpose & Function of Operating Systems 17 questions Software Basics 13 questions User Management 18 questions Utility Software 19 questions

3.3 Programming languages

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Low and High Level Languages 19 questions Translators 18 questions

4.1 Networks

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Addressing 16 questions LANs & WANs 16 questions Network Speed 5 questions Packet Switching 16 questions Protocols & Layers 17 questions The Internet 16 questions Topologies 17 questions Wired Connections 17 questions Wireless Connections 18 questions

4.2 Network security

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Network Security Risks 18 questions Preventing Network Security Risks 18 questions

5.1 Environmental

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E-waste 17 questions Manufacturing Technology 19 questions

5.2 Ethical and legal

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Data Protection Act 17 questions Impact of AI 18 questions Intellectual Property 18 questions Software Licences 18 questions

5.3 Cybersecurity

Build a paper on this topic 36
Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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