Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

• B RAM is faster to access than secondary storage (1)
• The only correct answer is B. The correct answer is RAM is faster to access than secondary storage.
• A is not correct because RAM is volatile
• C is not correct because RAM has a smaller capacity than secondary storage
• D is not correct because RAM is more expensive than secondary storage

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

• The program instructions and data are stored together in main memory/RAM (1)
• The same memory is used for both instructions and data (1)
• The instructions are fetched from main memory and executed by the CPU (1)
• The instructions are fetched and executed one at a time / in sequence (1)
• The program can be changed/replaced by loading new instructions into memory, without changing the hardware (1)

Do not accept the program is stored in secondary storage / on the hard disk.

Do not accept the program is stored in the CPU / in registers.

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

• It is a computer/processor built into a larger device (1) to carry out a single dedicated task/function (1)
• It is a combination of a processor, memory and input/output in one unit (1) that controls the device it is part of (1)
• It is a computer that forms part of another device (1) so it is not used as a general purpose computer (1)

Allow 'forms part of another device' or 'inside another device' for the first mark.

Do not award the second mark for a separate fact that is not linked to the first point, e.g. 'It is built into a device and it uses little power' would earn only the first mark (1).

Do not accept 'a small computer' on its own, with no reference to being part of another device or performing a dedicated task.

Do not accept 'a computer that controls a device' on its own, with no reference to it being built into/part of a larger device or carrying out a dedicated task.

Do not accept 'it performs a single dedicated task' on its own, with no reference to it being built into/part of a larger device.

Do not accept descriptions of a general purpose computer, e.g. 'it can run many different programs' or 'new software can be installed'.

Do not accept 'it is a system that is embedded in another system' as this repeats the term in the question.

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

• It reads/monitors the temperature/humidity/light level using sensors (1) to switch the heaters/vents/lamps/watering system on or off when the reading is outside the set range (1)
• It compares the readings from the sensors with the set values/thresholds stored in its memory (1) to decide whether the conditions need to be changed (1)
• It monitors the light level using a light sensor (1) and turns the lamps on when the light falls below the level the plants need (1)
• It monitors the soil moisture using a soil moisture sensor (1) and turns the water pump/irrigation on when the soil is too dry (1)

For the second mark, the action/response must be linked to the sensor reading given in the first point.

Allow named sensors (temperature/humidity/light/soil moisture) and named outputs (heater, fan, vent/window, lamp, irrigation/water pump).

Do not accept answers that only name a sensor or only name an output, e.g. 'it has a temperature sensor and a heater', as there is no link between the reading and the control action.

Do not accept answers where a person switches the equipment on or off, as the embedded system controls the conditions automatically.

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

• (The ECU) is more reliable/less likely to crash (1) because it only runs the one program/has a single purpose (1)
• (The ECU) cannot be affected by other software/viruses (1) because it cannot run other software/it can only run the program it was made for (1)
• (The ECU) is cheaper (1) because it has limited processing resources/less memory/simple components (1)
• (The ECU) uses less power (1) because it has limited processing resources/a simpler processor (1)
• (The ECU) is smaller (1) because it has fewer components/less memory than a general purpose computer (1)

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

A suitable benefit stated on its own earns one mark.

Do not accept a description or a location given as the reason, e.g. 'because it is part of the car', 'because it is inside the engine', 'because it is embedded'.

Do not accept a description of an embedded system on its own as the benefit, e.g. 'it does one specific job' or 'it is part of the car'.

Do not accept 'it is faster'/'it has a more powerful processor' as embedded systems have limited processing resources.