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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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3 questions · 9 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).

2Explain2 marksSecondary Memory Swap Remove

A Blu-ray disc and a CD are the same physical size.

Explain why a Blu-ray disc can store more data than a CD.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The pits and lands on a Blu-ray disc are smaller/closer together (1) because the blue laser has a shorter wavelength than the infrared laser used by a CD (1)
  • More pits and lands can be stored in the same length of track (1) because the blue laser has a shorter wavelength, so it can focus on a smaller area/read smaller details (1)
  • A blue laser can focus on a smaller area (1) so smaller pits and lands can be used, allowing more data to be stored on the disc (1)

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

Do not accept 'a Blu-ray is newer/better' or 'a Blu-ray has more space/bigger storage' without a linked reason about the laser/pits and lands.

Do not accept answers about read/write speed, for example 'a Blu-ray spins faster', because the question asks about the amount of data stored, not how quickly it is read.

Do not award 'a Blu-ray disc can have more layers' on its own as the reason; it must be linked to the smaller pits and lands/shorter wavelength of the laser.

Do not accept 'red laser' for a CD; a CD uses an infrared laser (red is used by DVD).

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A Blu-ray is read with a blue laser which has a shorter wavelength so the pits and lands on the disc can be smaller and more of them fit on the disc.

Why: Linked point (1) shorter wavelength of the blue laser with reason (1) smaller pits and lands so more data fits on the same disc.

Some marks1/2

The pits and lands on a Blu-ray are smaller than the ones on a CD so it can store more data.

Why: Point (1) that the pits and lands are smaller, but the second part repeats the question and does not give the linked reason (shorter wavelength of the blue laser/infrared CD laser), so only one mark.

No marks0/2

A Blu-ray spins faster than a CD so more data can be read from it in the same time.

Why: Do not accept answers about read/write speed; the question asks about the amount of data stored, not how quickly it is read.

3Discuss6 marksPrimary Memory Swap Remove

An employee is writing a report on a laptop. There is a power cut and the laptop turns off. When power is restored, the employee cannot find the report file.

Discuss the role of RAM in this situation.

Your answer should include:

  • why the report was lost
  • the difference between RAM and secondary storage
  • how the employee could prevent this in future.
[6 marks]
Mark scheme

Indicative content

Why the report was lost

  • The report was being created and edited in RAM, which is volatile.
  • Volatile memory loses its contents when the power supply is removed.
  • The power cut removed the power, so the data in RAM was lost.
  • The report had not been saved to secondary storage before the power cut.
  • Only data that had been saved to secondary storage would remain after the power cut.

The difference between RAM and secondary storage

  • RAM is volatile and holds data temporarily while the computer is on.
  • Secondary storage is non-volatile and keeps data permanently when the power is off.
  • RAM is directly accessible by the CPU and is much faster than secondary storage.
  • Secondary storage has a larger capacity and is cheaper per gigabyte than RAM.
  • RAM holds the programs and data currently in use; secondary storage holds files for long-term storage.

How the employee could prevent this in future

  • The employee should save the report regularly to secondary storage, such as the hard drive or a USB flash drive.
  • The employee could enable autosave or autosave/recovery features in the word processor.
  • The employee could use cloud storage that saves changes automatically.
  • The employee could use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or battery to keep the laptop on during a power cut.
  • The employee should not rely on RAM to keep work permanently.

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)

Additional guidance

  • Level 3 responses must explain that RAM is volatile and contrast this with non-volatile secondary storage.
  • Do not award marks for stating that the report was lost from secondary storage unless it had been saved there.
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks6/6

The report was lost because it was being held in RAM, which is volatile memory. RAM only keeps its contents while the computer has power. When the power cut happened, the laptop turned off and everything in RAM was lost, including the unsaved report. RAM is different from secondary storage because secondary storage is non-volatile and keeps data permanently even when the power is off. For example, the hard drive would still contain the report if it had been saved. RAM is also much faster than secondary storage and is used for programs and data currently in use. To prevent this in future, the employee should save the report regularly to the hard drive or use autosave. They could also save to cloud storage, which saves automatically, or use a UPS to keep the laptop running during a power cut.

Why: Comprehensive understanding of RAM volatility, clear contrast with non-volatile secondary storage, and well-linked prevention methods applied to the employee's situation.

Some marks4/6

The report was lost because it was in RAM. RAM is temporary memory and it loses data when the power goes off. Secondary storage is permanent, so if the employee had saved the report it would still be there. RAM is faster than secondary storage. To prevent it, they should save their work.

Why: Adequate understanding shown through the volatility of RAM and the difference from permanent secondary storage, but the answer lacks detail about why the report was specifically lost and gives only a brief prevention method.

No marks0/6

The report was lost from the hard drive because the power cut erased it. RAM is permanent storage, so the report should have been saved there. The employee should buy more RAM to stop this happening again.

Why: No creditworthy points. The answer wrongly says the report was lost from the hard drive and that RAM is permanent storage, and it suggests more RAM will prevent power-loss data loss. These are misconceptions.

Questions by topic

2.1 Binary

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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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