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

• (Storage that is) non-volatile / keeps its data when the power is turned off (1)
• (Storage that is) used to store programs and data/files (for later use) (1)
• (Storage that is) not directly accessible by the CPU / not directly accessed by the CPU (1)

Allow both the non-volatile point and the stores programs and data point from one sentence if each idea is clearly stated, e.g. 'non-volatile storage that holds programs and data'.

Allow accessed via the CPU / must be copied into RAM before the CPU can use it for the third point.

Do not accept volatile / loses its data when the power is turned off.

Do not accept a description of primary storage, such as RAM or ROM.

Do not accept capacity.

Do not accept an example device on its own (e.g. hard disk drive).

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

• A read/write head moves over the surface of the disk (1) to read/write data by detecting or changing the magnetic alignment of areas of the surface (1)
• The head magnetises areas of the disk surface in different directions (1) so each area represents a binary 1 or 0 (1)
• Data is stored on concentric circles called tracks (1) which are divided into sectors (1)

Allow one mark for tracks/concentric circles on their own.

For the second mark in the first two bullets, the response must refer to the magnetic alignment/charge being detected or changed, not just that the head reads/writes data.

Do not award a mark for 'it is magnetic' or 'it stores data in binary' with no description of how the data is stored.

Do not accept descriptions of optical storage (e.g. a laser, pits and lands) or solid state storage (e.g. electric charges in chips).

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

• The battery lasts longer/needs charging less often (1) because embedded systems have low power consumption/use less power (1)
• It can be made small/light enough to wear on the wrist (1) because the processor, memory and input/output are combined on a single chip/microcontroller (1)
• It can carry out the step-counting function reliably (1) because it runs a single/dedicated program and cannot install other software (1)
• It has a low cost per unit (1) because it uses fewer/less powerful components than a general purpose computer (1)

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

Award one mark for a valid point stated on its own, e.g. 'it is small/light enough to wear on the wrist' (1) or 'its battery lasts longer before it needs charging' (1).

Accept the same linked ideas in either order, e.g. 'it uses less power (1) so the battery lasts longer (1)'.

Do not accept 'it uses less power'/'low power' on its own as a complete explanation; it must be linked to the battery lasting longer/needing charging less often for the second mark.

Do not accept an expansion that simply restates the point, e.g. 'it is small (1) so it fits on the wrist' earns only the point mark; 'fits on the wrist' is not a linked cause and is not enough for the second mark.

Do not accept 'the battery is small' as the linked reason for low power consumption.

Do not accept responses that say other software/apps can be installed on an embedded system (0); embedded systems have a single/dedicated function and cannot install new software.