Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) exam questions

Build a practice paper from 514 exam-style questions, each with its mark scheme and example answers. Print it, or answer it on paper and then open the mark schemes. Or browse the questions by topic.

Practice paper

8 questions · 12 marks

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1Multiple choice1 markPrimary Memory Swap Remove

RAM is the main memory of a computer.

Identify the effect on the contents of RAM when the computer is switched off.

[1 mark]

AThey are lost
BThey are stored permanently
CThey are saved to secondary storage
DThey are written to ROM

Mark scheme

A They are lost (1)
The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is They are lost
B is not correct because RAM is volatile and its contents are lost when the power is switched off, so they are not stored permanently
C is not correct because RAM is volatile and its contents are lost when the power is switched off, so they are not saved to secondary storage
D is not correct because ROM is read-only memory that holds the start-up instructions, so the contents of RAM are not written to it

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks1/1

A They are lost

Why: Selected the correct option. RAM is volatile, so its contents are lost when the power is switched off (1).

No marks0/1

C They are saved to secondary storage

Why: Near miss: thinks RAM contents are automatically saved, but RAM is volatile and its contents are not saved to secondary storage (0).

No marks0/1

B They are stored permanently

Why: Misconception: thinks RAM is non-volatile and keeps data permanently, but RAM is volatile and loses its contents when the power is switched off (0).

2Multiple choice1 markSecondary Memory Swap Remove

A company stores films on optical media.

Identify the optical storage medium that can store the most data.

[1 mark]

ABlu-ray Disc
BCD
CDVD
DMagnetic tape

Mark scheme

A Blu-ray Disc (1)
The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is Blu-ray Disc.
B is not correct because a CD stores less data than a Blu-ray Disc, up to about 700 MB
C is not correct because a DVD stores less data than a Blu-ray Disc, up to about 4.7 GB (single-layer) or 8.4 GB (dual-layer)
D is not correct because magnetic tape is not an optical storage medium

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks1/1

A Blu-ray Disc

Why: Correct option (1): a Blu-ray Disc has the greatest capacity of the optical media.

No marks0/1

C DVD

Why: Near miss scoring 0: a DVD is optical but stores less than a Blu-ray Disc (mark scheme line C). Only A is credited.

No marks0/1

D Magnetic tape

Why: Misconception scoring 0: candidates pick tape for its large capacity but magnetic tape is not an optical storage medium (mark scheme line D).

3Short recall1 markPrimary Memory Swap Remove

Computers use RAM to store the data and instructions that are in use.

Name the term used to describe memory that loses its contents when the power is switched off.

[1 mark]

Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

Volatile (1)

Allow volatile memory / it is volatile.

Do not accept non-volatile, ROM, RAM or temporary/short term memory on their own, as these are not the term asked for.

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks1/1

Volatile

Why: Correct term for memory that loses its contents when the power is switched off (1).

No marks0/1

Temporary memory

Why: Describes what such memory does but is not the term asked for; 'temporary memory' is on the Do not accept line, so no mark.

No marks0/1

Non-volatile

Why: Non-volatile memory keeps its contents when the power is switched off, the opposite of what the question describes; it is explicitly not accepted.

4Short recall1 markSecondary Memory Swap Remove

Data is stored on optical discs as pits and lands.

Name the component in an optical disc drive that reads this data.

[1 mark]

Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

Laser (1)

Allow laser beam

Do not accept read/write head

Do not accept pits

Do not accept lands

Do not accept reflective surface

Do not accept magnet/magnetic

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks1/1

Laser

Why: Laser is the creditworthy answer (1).

No marks0/1

A read/write head

Why: Read/write head is not accepted by the mark scheme; it reads magnetic media, not optical discs, so no marks are awarded.

No marks0/1

Pits and lands

Why: Pits and lands are what the laser reads, not the component that reads the data, so the mark scheme does not accept them.

5Describe2 marksSecondary Memory Swap Remove

Computers use secondary storage.

Describe the role of secondary storage.

[2 marks]

Mark scheme

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

Stores programs (including the operating system) and data that are not currently in use (1) so that they can be loaded into RAM/main memory when needed (1)
Keeps files/programs/data when the power is turned off (1) which happens because it is non-volatile (1)
Stores files/data for backup or archiving (1) so that they can be recovered if the originals are lost/corrupted (1)

A correct role on its own earns one mark; the second mark requires a linked development.

Accept either order if both the role and the link are given.

Do not accept 'it is non-volatile' on its own, unless it is linked to keeping data when the power is turned off.

Do not accept answers that only name a storage type (magnetic, optical, solid state) without describing a role.

Do not accept responses that describe primary storage/RAM, e.g. storing the data/instructions the CPU is currently working on, or that secondary storage makes the computer run faster.

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks2/2

Secondary storage stores programs and data that are not currently in use so that they can be loaded into RAM when they are needed.

Why: Role point (1) linked to loading into RAM when needed (1).

Some marks1/2

It stores files and programs that are not currently in use.

Why: Correct role on its own earns one mark (1); no linked development, so the second mark is not awarded.

No marks0/2

It holds the data and instructions the CPU is working on so the computer runs faster.

Why: Describes primary storage/RAM and a speed benefit, which the mark scheme does not accept; no role of secondary storage is given.

6Describe2 marksSecondary Memory Swap Remove

A computer uses a magnetic hard disk.

Describe how data is stored on a magnetic hard disk.

[2 marks]

Mark scheme

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

A read/write head moves over the surface of the disk (1) to read/write data by detecting or changing the magnetic alignment of areas of the surface (1)
The head magnetises areas of the disk surface in different directions (1) so each area represents a binary 1 or 0 (1)
Data is stored on concentric circles called tracks (1) which are divided into sectors (1)

Allow one mark for tracks/concentric circles on their own.

For the second mark in the first two bullets, the response must refer to the magnetic alignment/charge being detected or changed, not just that the head reads/writes data.

Do not award a mark for 'it is magnetic' or 'it stores data in binary' with no description of how the data is stored.

Do not accept descriptions of optical storage (e.g. a laser, pits and lands) or solid state storage (e.g. electric charges in chips).

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks2/2

The read/write head moves over the magnetic surface and magnetises areas of the disk to store the 1s and 0s.

Why: Head moves over the surface (1) and magnetises areas to represent 1s and 0s (1).

Some marks1/2

The data is stored on tracks on the disk.

Why: Tracks/concentric circles (1), but no development such as tracks divided into sectors.

No marks0/2

It is magnetic and saves the data in 1s and 0s.

Why: Near-miss: 'magnetic' alone and 'data in binary/1s and 0s' with no description of how data is stored, which the mark scheme does not award.

7Explain2 marksEmbedded Systems Swap Remove

A greenhouse uses an embedded system to keep the plants healthy.

Explain how the embedded system controls the temperature in the greenhouse.

[2 marks]

Mark scheme

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

A temperature sensor measures/reads the temperature in the greenhouse (1) which the processor compares with the value stored in the system (1)
The heater is switched on (1) when the temperature reading goes below the value stored in the system (1)
A fan/vent/window is opened/a cooler is switched on (1) when the temperature reading goes above the value stored in the system (1)
The temperature is checked/measured continuously (1) so the heater/fan is switched on or off as soon as the temperature changes (1)

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

Allow one mark for a correct point on its own without a linked reason, e.g. 'a temperature sensor measures the temperature'.

Do not award 'the embedded system controls/keeps the temperature correct' as this repeats the question.

Do not accept naming a device without saying what it does, e.g. 'the greenhouse has a thermostat'.

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks2/2

A temperature sensor measures the temperature in the greenhouse (1), which the processor compares with the value stored in the system (1).

Why: Point (1): the input and what it measures. Reason (1): the linked statement about what the processor does with the reading.

Some marks1/2

The embedded system uses a temperature sensor that measures the temperature in the greenhouse (1).

Why: A correct point on its own (1); no linked statement about what the system does with the reading, so the second mark is not awarded.

No marks0/2

The embedded system controls the temperature so the plants do not get too cold (0).

Why: Rewords the question without saying how the temperature is measured or changed, so no mark is awarded.

8Explain2 marksFetch Decode Execute Cycle Swap Remove

The von Neumann architecture is used in most computers.

Explain one feature of the von Neumann stored program concept.

[2 marks]

Mark scheme

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

The instructions/program instructions and data are stored together in main memory/RAM (1) so the CPU can fetch each instruction (from its address) and execute it (1)
The instructions/program instructions are held in main memory/RAM (1) rather than being built into/part of the hardware, so the computer does not need to be rewired/rebuilt to run a different program (1)
The next instruction to be executed/instruction is held in main memory/RAM (1) so the CPU can fetch it using its address before it is decoded and executed (1)

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

A point/statement on its own can only earn one mark.

Do not accept a response that only refers to data being stored in main memory/RAM without referring to the instructions/program instructions.

Do not accept instructions/programs being stored on the hard disk/backing store.

Do not accept 'the program is stored in memory' without saying that it is the instructions/program instructions that are stored there.

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks2/2

Both the instructions of the program and the data it uses are stored together in the same main memory, so the CPU can fetch each instruction in turn and execute it.

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

Some marks1/2

The instructions of the program are stored in main memory.

Why: Point only (1); no linked reason about fetching/executing the instructions.

No marks0/2

The program is stored on the hard disk and is copied into the CPU when it is run.

Why: Misconception covered by the 'Do not accept' line: the instructions must be stored in main memory/RAM, not on the hard disk/backing store, for the CPU to fetch them.

Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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Questions by topic

2.1 Binary

2.2 Data representation

2.3 Data storage and compression

3.1 Hardware

3.2 Software

3.3 Programming languages

4.1 Networks

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