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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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4 questions · 6 marks

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1Short recall1 markSoftware Basics Swap Remove

A computer system runs both an operating system and utility software.

State one difference between an operating system and utility software.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for any of the following:

  • The operating system is needed/essential for the computer to run / utility software is optional (1)
  • The operating system manages the hardware/users/resources / utility software performs housekeeping tasks that keep the system running efficiently (1)
  • The operating system provides a platform for other software to run / utility software carries out extra/specific tasks (1)
  • Each utility program performs one specific task / the operating system carries out many different management tasks (1)
  • Utility software is often packaged with the operating system but can also be bought separately (1)

Do not accept answers that only give an example of each (e.g. Windows, anti-malware) without stating a difference.

Do not accept the operating system is hardware.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

The operating system is needed for the computer to work, but the utility software is optional.

Why: States a creditworthy difference: essential versus optional (1).

No marks0/1

Windows is an operating system and anti-malware is utility software.

Why: This only gives an example of each and does not state a difference, so no mark is awarded.

No marks0/1

The operating system is hardware and the utility software is software.

Why: The operating system is software, not hardware, so the answer contains no creditworthy difference.

2Short recall1 markSoftware Basics Swap Remove

A hard disk drive stores files in pieces in different places on the disk, so the files take longer to open.

Name the utility software that can be used to improve this.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • Disk defragmentation (software) (1)

Allow defragmentation software, defragmenter, defrag.

Do not accept disk cleanup, disk formatter, file repair software or backup software.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

Disk defragmentation software.

Why: Names the correct utility software (1).

No marks0/1

Disk cleanup software.

Why: Disk cleanup is a near-miss: it is not the utility that rearranges files stored in pieces, so no mark is awarded.

No marks0/1

File repair software.

Why: File repair fixes damaged files and does not bring the pieces of a file back together, so no mark is awarded.

3Short recall2 marksUser Management Swap Remove

An operating system sets access rights for each file.

Give two access rights that can be set for a file.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Read/view (1)
  • Write/edit/modify (1)
  • Execute/run (1)
  • Delete (1)

Allow 'read only' for read.

Treat write/edit/modify as one right only.

Do not accept 'open' or 'access' on its own.

Do not accept usernames/passwords (these are authentication, not file access rights).

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Read and write.

Why: Read (1) and write (1) are two separate accepted access rights.

Some marks1/2

Read-only.

Why: Read-only is allowed for read (1), but only one right is given.

No marks0/2

A username and a password.

Why: These are login details used for authentication, not access rights for a file, so no mark is awarded.

4Describe2 marksMemory Management Swap Remove

A program is stored on secondary storage before it is run.

Describe how the operating system manages memory when a program is started.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The program (and its data) is copied/loaded from secondary storage into main memory/RAM (1) so that the CPU can fetch/execute its instructions (1)
  • An area of main memory is allocated/reserved for the program (1) that is large enough to hold the program and its data (1)
  • The operating system checks that there is enough free main memory (1) before the program can be started/loaded, otherwise it cannot run/an error is reported (1)
  • The operating system keeps a record of the memory addresses used by the program (1) so that its instructions and data can be found when it runs (1)

Allow 'loaded into RAM', 'stored in memory' and 'put into main memory' as equivalent to copied into main memory.

A single statement that the program is loaded/stored in main memory, with no linked development, can be given one mark only.

Do not accept descriptions of the CPU fetching/executing instructions that do not refer to the operating system loading or allocating memory.

Do not accept responses about virtual memory (moving processes to secondary storage) or about which process runs next on the CPU.

Do not accept the program being run from secondary storage/hard disk.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The operating system copies the program and its data from secondary storage into main memory so that the CPU can fetch and execute its instructions.

Why: Copying the program and data into main memory (1) linked to the CPU fetching/executing instructions (1).

Some marks1/2

The operating system loads the program into main memory.

Why: The program is copied/loaded into main memory (1), but there is no linked development of how or what this leads to, so only one mark is given.

No marks0/2

The CPU fetches the program's instructions from main memory and executes them one at a time.

Why: This describes the fetch-decode-execute cycle, not the operating system loading or allocating memory, which is the Do not accept line; no creditworthy 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

Build a paper on this topic 36
Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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