Every computer system needs an operating system.
State two functions of an operating system.
Mark scheme
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.
Example answers and how they were marked
File management and process management.
Why: Two creditworthy functions from the list, one mark each (1) + (1).
It does file management and it loads the programs that the user wants to run.
Why: File management earns one mark (1); 'loads the programs' is not one of the listed functions, so no second mark.
Anti-malware and backup.
Why: These are examples of utility software, not functions of the operating system, so no mark is awarded.