Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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).

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

• The start and end address/size of the block allocated to each program is recorded (1) so the operating system knows which areas of main memory are in use and which are free (1)
• The record is checked before memory is allocated (1) so memory already in use is not given to another program/is not overwritten (1)
• The record is searched for a free block that is large enough (1) so a newly loaded program is placed in a suitable area of main memory (1)
• The record is updated when a program ends/closes (1) so the memory it was using is marked as free for other programs (1)

Allow the record to be called a memory map/memory table/allocation table.

A response that only says the operating system keeps a record/list of the memory each program is using, without saying what the record contains, earns 0 marks.

A response that states what the record contains, e.g. the addresses/the start and end address of each block, earns 1 mark even if it does not say how the record is used.

Do not accept responses about saving programs/files to secondary storage or about moving programs to virtual memory, as these are not uses of this record.

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

• It allows the operating system/OS to communicate with the device/printer (1) because it translates the commands into signals the device understands (1)
• It contains/sends the instructions/commands needed by a particular device (1) so the device carries out the correct actions (1)
• It controls the device/printer (1) by sending commands/signals to it (1)
• Different devices need different commands (1) so each one needs its own driver to work with the operating system (1)

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

Do not accept 'it drives/controls the device' on its own without saying how, e.g. by sending commands/signals.

Do not accept hardware/a physical device (a device driver is software).

Do not accept 'it connects the printer to the computer' or 'it installs the printer' without saying that it provides the instructions/commands for the device.

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

• The operating system keeps a record of where each file is stored (1) so files can be found/retrieved later (1)
• The operating system keeps files in separate storage locations (1) so files are not overwritten/lost (1)
• The operating system allocates files to folders/directories (1) so it can keep track of the files stored on the disk (1)
• The operating system deletes/moves files (1) so storage space is freed/reused (1)

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

Do not accept 'it manages files'/'it organises files' without expansion as to what is managed or organised.

Do not accept 'so files are managed/organised' as the linked reason.

Do not accept 'so the computer works' as the linked reason.

Indicative content

How malware could affect the charity's computers

• A virus could damage or delete the charity's files, such as its records of donations.
• Spyware could record keystrokes and send staff passwords or personal data to a hacker.
• A Trojan horse could hide malicious code inside a useful-looking program that a volunteer downloads, so it is installed without the user knowing.
• Malware could spread from one laptop to another through files shared on the charity's network, so more laptops become infected and more files are lost.

How anti-malware software finds and deals with malware

• It scans files and compares their code with a database of known malware patterns (signatures) to identify a match.
• It can apply rules (heuristics) to decide whether a program is behaving suspiciously.
• A suspicious file can be run in a sandbox to see whether its behaviour is malicious.
• When malware is found, the file is quarantined so that it cannot run, and it can be deleted.
• Downloads and email attachments can be scanned before a member of staff opens them.

What else the charity must do for the anti-malware software to be effective

• The database of malware definitions must be kept up to date, or new malware will not be recognised.
• Staff and volunteers should be trained not to open unexpected attachments or download from unreliable sites.
• Backups are still needed, because anti-malware cannot repair files that malware has already damaged.
• Scheduled scans must be allowed to run on all 15 laptops, so that malware is found even if no one opens the file.

Levels

• Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
• Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)

Level 3 responses must cover both how malware could affect the computers and how anti-malware software finds or deals with it; a brief deal-with point and an unexplained update point, with no identification method and no effect on the charity's files, are Level 1.

Do not accept anti-malware software described as a firewall, or 'scans files'/'finds viruses' on its own as a method of identifying malware.