Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• File management (1)
• Process management (1)
• Peripheral management (1)
• User management (1)

Allow 'managing files', 'managing processes', 'managing peripherals', 'managing users'.

Do not accept examples of utility software, such as anti-malware, backup or defragmentation, as these are not functions of the operating system.

Do not accept 'runs/loads the programs' on its own.

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

• Manages user accounts/profiles/logins (1)
• Authenticates users when they log in (through passwords/biometrics) (1)
• Controls what each user is allowed to access (access rights/permissions) (1)
• Sets which files/folders/resources a user can use (1)
• Gives different levels of access to different users (e.g. administrator/standard user) (1)

Allow 'decides which users can use the computer' for the manage user accounts/logins mark.

Allow references to access to files/folders/resources for the access rights mark, as this is part of user management, not file management.

Do not accept 'manages users' on its own.

Do not accept 'controls user access' on its own, as it is unclear whether this means logging in or access rights.

Do not accept 'manages files' or 'manages peripherals' (these are other operating system functions).

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

• Allocates memory/RAM to the process (1) so its instructions and data can be stored (1)
• Loads/moves the program instructions into RAM (1) so the process is ready to run (1)
• Adds the process to the ready queue (1) so it can be scheduled onto the CPU (1)
• Gives the process a process ID (PID)/identifier (1) so the operating system can track/manage it (1)

For both marks, the development must follow/be linked to the point.

Only award one of the first two bullets in any one response; allocating memory and loading into RAM are the same stage.

Accept 'memory' for 'RAM' and vice versa.

Accept 'added to a queue for the processor' for the ready queue point.

Do not accept responses that say the process is run on the CPU straight away.

Do not accept descriptions of the program executing/running its instructions, or of the program file being created/saved.

Do not accept responses about the process being blocked or terminated.

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

• A device driver is software/program (1) that controls a peripheral device (1)
• It translates instructions from the operating system (1) into commands/signals the device understands (1)
• It allows the operating system to communicate with a specific device (1) without needing to know the device's hardware details (1)
• It is installed for a new device (1) so the operating system can use that device (1)

Do not accept responses that say a device driver is hardware or that it makes a device faster.

Do not award 'it is part of the CPU'.

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.