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 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.

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

• The pits and lands on a Blu-ray disc are smaller/closer together (1) because the blue laser has a shorter wavelength than the infrared laser used by a CD (1)
• More pits and lands can be stored in the same length of track (1) because the blue laser has a shorter wavelength, so it can focus on a smaller area/read smaller details (1)
• A blue laser can focus on a smaller area (1) so smaller pits and lands can be used, allowing more data to be stored on the disc (1)

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

Do not accept 'a Blu-ray is newer/better' or 'a Blu-ray has more space/bigger storage' without a linked reason about the laser/pits and lands.

Do not accept answers about read/write speed, for example 'a Blu-ray spins faster', because the question asks about the amount of data stored, not how quickly it is read.

Do not award 'a Blu-ray disc can have more layers' on its own as the reason; it must be linked to the smaller pits and lands/shorter wavelength of the laser.

Do not accept 'red laser' for a CD; a CD uses an infrared laser (red is used by DVD).