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

• Storage space/disk space/disk quota (1)
• Printer/printing (1)
• Processor time/CPU time (1)
• Memory/RAM (1)
• Internet/network access/bandwidth (1)
• Removable media/USB drives (1)
• Software/applications/programs (including the ability to install programs) (1)

Allow 'access to removable media/USB drives'.

Do not accept 'files' or 'folders' on their own.

Do not accept 'passwords' or 'usernames'.

Do not accept 'hardware' on its own.

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

• A storage limit/quota is set for each user account (1) so the drive is shared fairly between users (1)
• The operating system records how much space each user's files are using (1) and refuses to save more files when the limit is reached (1)
• Each user is given a fixed share/quota of the drive (1) so one user cannot use the space set aside for another (1)

Allow a limit set by an administrator or through the operating system's user management settings; an administrator is not required for credit.

Allow a warning that stops the save; do not award the development for a warning alone where the save is not stopped.

Do not accept responses about passwords/authentication, keeping files separate/folders with no storage limit, deleting old files, compressing files, or buying a larger drive.

Do not accept 'the operating system gives the user a bigger hard drive'.

Do not accept a single global limit for all users; the limit must apply to each user/user account.

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

• The operating system decides which process will use the CPU next (1) so the processor is shared between processes/processes take turns (1)
• The operating system allocates CPU time to each process/gives each process a small amount of time on the CPU (1) so multitasking can take place/several programs can appear to run at once (1)
• The operating system manages the state of each process, e.g. ready/running/blocked (1) so a process waiting for input/blocked does not stop other processes running (1)
• The operating system can terminate/end a process that has stopped responding (1) so it does not affect other processes/the computer keeps working (1)

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

Do not accept the idea that the CPU runs two or more processes at exactly the same time; multitasking shares CPU time.

Do not accept 'the OS shares the CPU' on its own without saying how/why, e.g. giving each process a turn/CPU time.

Do not accept 'it stops programs crashing' without a link to process management, e.g. ending a process that has stopped responding.

Do not accept 'it manages processes' without saying what the operating system does.