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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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3 questions · 6 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 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.

3Describe2 marksUser Management Swap Remove

A school laptop is shared by several teachers.

Describe the purpose of giving each teacher their own user account on the laptop.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Each teacher can keep their own files/desktop separate (1) so other teachers cannot see or change their work (1)
  • Each teacher's work is saved under their own account (1) so they can find their files easily when they log in (1)
  • The operating system knows which teacher is logged in (1) so it can apply the right access rights to that person (1)
  • Each teacher can set up their own desktop/settings (1) so the laptop is set up the way they like to work (1)

Do not accept responses about the laptop running faster or having more storage because it has more accounts.

Do not accept 'so they can log in' without saying why having separate accounts helps.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Each teacher's files are stored separately, so other teachers cannot open or change their work.

Why: Separate files for each account (1) and other teachers kept out of that work (1).

Some marks1/2

So that each teacher has their own files.

Why: First point of separate files per account (1), but no development of what this achieves (0).

No marks0/2

So the laptop runs faster because each teacher has their own account.

Why: Gives speed as a purpose of user accounts, which is not correct for user management; no creditworthy point.

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

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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

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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

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Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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