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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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4 questions · 12 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.

2Explain2 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.

3Explain2 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.

4Discuss6 marksUtility Software Swap Remove

A small graphic design company keeps all of its project files on one desktop computer. The computer's hard disk has failed and some files have been lost. The owner has been told to use backup software.

Discuss the backup strategy the company should use.

Your answer should include:

  • the types of backup that could be used
  • where and how often backups should be made
  • how the backups would be used if the hard disk failed again.
[6 marks]
Mark scheme

Indicative content

Types of backup that could be used

  • A full backup copies all of the company's project files every time it is run, so the whole set of files is held together in one backup.
  • A full backup takes longer to make and needs more storage space than an incremental backup.
  • An incremental backup copies only the files that have changed since the previous backup, so it is quicker to run each evening.
  • Restoring from incremental backups needs the last full backup plus every incremental backup made since, which takes longer and is more complex.
  • A weekly full backup with nightly incremental backups can be suitable for the company when the reason is explained using the properties of the two types.

Where and how often backups should be made

  • Backups should be kept on a separate device and, ideally, at a different location, so that a fire or theft in the office cannot destroy the computer and the backups together.
  • Backups should be made regularly, for example every evening, so that at most one day's design work would be lost.
  • Cloud storage can hold copies off-site automatically, without the owner taking a disk home.
  • An external hard disk or USB flash drive can be used as the backup medium, with a copy kept away from the office.

How the backups would be used if the hard disk failed again

  • If the hard disk fails again, the backup software is used to restore the latest full backup and any later incremental backups onto a replacement disk.
  • The restored project files allow the company to carry on working and meet its clients' deadlines.
  • The backups should be tested by restoring a file so that the company knows the backup is usable before it is needed.
  • Backup software does not repair the failed hard disk itself, so a replacement disk is still needed.

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 requires all three bullets to be developed and applied, including both types of backup (or a justified combination) and a restoration sequence; a response that describes only a full backup cannot reach Level 3.

An answer that explains only one type of backup with at most a brief location or frequency point and no developed restoration is Level 1 (1–2 marks). Credit one off-site point only: cloud storage, an external disk kept elsewhere and 'a different location' are the same point. Do not accept that backup software repairs a failed hard disk or recovers files that were never backed up; an answer that only makes this claim is Level 0. An unsupported weekly-full/nightly-incremental recommendation is not credited.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks6/6

The company should make a full backup once a week and incremental backups every evening. A full backup copies every project file, so the whole set is held in one place, but it takes a long time and a lot of space. An incremental backup copies only the files that have changed since the last backup, so it is quick enough to run each night. The backups should be copied to an external hard disk that the owner takes home, or uploaded to cloud storage, so that a fire or a theft cannot destroy the computer and the backups together. Backing up every evening means that at most one day's design work would be lost. If the hard disk fails again, the backup software is used to restore the latest full backup and then each incremental backup onto a new disk, so the company can carry on meeting its clients' deadlines.

Why: Level 3: full and incremental backups are explained and applied to a weekly and nightly schedule (AO1); off-site storage and the restore sequence onto a replacement disk are developed and clearly tied to the hard disk failure (AO2).

Some marks2/6

The company should back up its files to an external hard disk. A full backup copies all of the files, so the project files can be restored if the hard disk fails again. The backup should be kept in a different room in case there is a fire.

Why: Level 1: names a full backup and briefly links it to restoring files, and gives a weak location point, but there is no incremental backup, frequency or developed restore sequence, so the points remain basic and independent.

No marks0/6

Backup software repairs the hard disk when it fails, so the company will not lose anything and can open the files again.

Why: Level 0: the only claim is that backup software repairs the failed hard disk and prevents all loss, which the mark scheme does not accept; no valid type, location, frequency or restoration 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

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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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