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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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4 questions · 8 marks

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1Short recall2 marksPurpose & Function of Operating Systems Swap Remove

A home computer can have more than one user account.

Name two tasks carried out by the user 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:

  • Creating/deleting user accounts (1)
  • Storing usernames and passwords (1)
  • Checking login details/authenticating a user at login (1)
  • Setting access rights/permissions for each user, e.g. restricting which files/folders/programs/drives they can access (1)

Allow logging in as an example of checking login details.

Do not accept managing users on its own.

Do not accept provides a user interface, as this is not user management.

Do not accept managing files or managing processes, as these are other functions.

Do not accept stopping hackers/protecting from malware, as this is security, not user management.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It stores usernames and passwords and sets access rights for each user.

Why: Storing usernames and passwords (1) and setting access rights (1) are two different user management tasks.

Some marks1/2

It checks the password at login and manages users.

Why: Checking a password at login earns (1); managing users repeats the question and earns nothing.

No marks0/2

It manages users and stops hackers accessing the computer.

Why: Managing users repeats the question; stopping hackers is security, not user management.

2Describe2 marksMemory Management Swap Remove

A user closes a program that is running on a computer.

Describe how the operating system manages the main memory that the program was using.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The memory (that was) used by the program is freed/released/marked as free (1) so it can be allocated/reused by another program/process (1)
  • The operating system's memory allocation table/record (of memory in use) is updated (1) to show that the program's memory locations/blocks are now free/available (1)
  • The program's instructions/data are removed/overwritten in main memory (1) so the space they used is no longer reserved for that program (1)
  • The memory pages/blocks allocated to the program are returned to the list of free pages/blocks (1) that can be used when the next program is loaded (1)

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

Do not award two marks for the same idea described twice (e.g. the memory is freed and added to a list of free blocks); the two marks must come from two different linked descriptions.

Do not accept responses about closing the program window, stopping/terminating the program/process, saving the file or deleting the program from secondary storage/the hard disk.

Ignore statements that main memory is 'managed'/'cleaned up' with no development.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The operating system updates its memory allocation table to show that the memory locations the program was using are now free, so another program can be loaded into them.

Why: The memory allocation table/record is updated (1) linked to showing the program's memory locations are now free/available (1).

Some marks1/2

The operating system frees up the memory the program was using.

Why: The memory used by the program is freed/released (1), but there is no linked development of what this allows.

No marks0/2

The operating system deletes the program from the hard disk to free up memory.

Why: This confuses main memory with secondary storage; deleting the program from secondary storage is named in the 'Do not accept' line, so no creditworthy point is made.

3Explain2 marksPeripheral Management Swap Remove

A new printer is connected to a computer.

Explain the purpose of a device driver.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It allows the operating system to send commands to the printer because it translates them into signals that the printer understands.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1).

Some marks1/2

It contains the instructions that the printer needs.

Why: Point (1) but no linked reason.

No marks0/2

It is a piece of hardware that connects the printer to the computer.

Why: Misconception: a device driver is software, not hardware, and saying it connects the printer is not accepted without saying it provides the instructions/commands.

4Explain2 marksUser Management Swap Remove

A college computer room has computers that many students share.

Explain one reason why each student has their own user account.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Each student's files/work are kept separate (1) because the operating system checks the access rights of the user who is logged in, so other students cannot open/see/change/delete them (1)
  • A student's own settings/desktop are loaded when they log in (1) because the operating system stores settings for each user account (1)
  • Students cannot install software or change system settings (1) because their user account does not have administrator privileges (1)

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

Award 1 mark for a correct point on its own, even if no linked reason is given.

Allow answers about personal settings/desktop/wallpaper being saved/loaded for that user.

Allow answers about a standard user account not having administrator privileges.

Do not accept 'so they can log in' on its own, because logging in is what the user account is for.

Do not accept 'so they can save files/work' on its own without saying other students cannot access their files.

Do not accept 'so the computer is secure' without saying what is protected or who is kept out.

Do not accept answers about stopping viruses or making the computer run faster.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Each student has their own account so their files are kept separate from everyone else's. When they log in, the operating system checks their access rights, so another student cannot open or delete their work.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): files/work are kept separate because the operating system checks the logged-in user's access rights, so other students cannot open/change/delete them.

Some marks1/2

Each student's work is kept separate so they can save more files on the computer.

Why: Correct point (1) that work is kept separate, but the reason 'so they can save more files' is not linked to user management/access rights and does not say other students cannot access the files, so no second mark.

No marks0/2

So that the computer does not get a virus from other students.

Why: No credit: stopping viruses is not a reason for separate user accounts, and no user-management point or linked reason is given.

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

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

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