Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• Manages user accounts/profiles/logins (1)
• Authenticates users when they log in (through passwords/biometrics) (1)
• Controls what each user is allowed to access (access rights/permissions) (1)
• Sets which files/folders/resources a user can use (1)
• Gives different levels of access to different users (e.g. administrator/standard user) (1)

Allow 'decides which users can use the computer' for the manage user accounts/logins mark.

Allow references to access to files/folders/resources for the access rights mark, as this is part of user management, not file management.

Do not accept 'manages users' on its own.

Do not accept 'controls user access' on its own, as it is unclear whether this means logging in or access rights.

Do not accept 'manages files' or 'manages peripherals' (these are other operating system functions).

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

• Makes a file/files smaller (1) so less storage space is needed on the disk (1)
• Reduces the size of the data (1) so it takes less time to upload/download/transfer the file (1)
• Compresses files/folders into a single file (1) so an attachment is under the size limit for email (1)
• Reduces the size of the files (1) so more of them fit onto a storage device/backup media (1)

Do not accept 'it compresses the files' on its own, as this repeats the question.

Do not accept responses about protecting files from malware/viruses or about deleting files.

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

• The operating system switches rapidly between processes (1) so each process runs for a short time slice before the next one starts (1)
• Each process is given a small amount of CPU time (1) so the CPU moves on to another process when that time is up (1)
• The operating system chooses which process to run next (1) so the CPU is shared between the programs (1)
• Processes take turns to use the CPU (1) because the CPU is so fast the user does not notice the switching (1)
• Only one process can run on the CPU at a time (1) so the operating system must swap processes in and out quickly (1)

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

Allow 'time slice' / 'time quantum'.

Do not accept 'the computer has more than one CPU' / 'each program runs on its own CPU'.

Do not accept 'the CPU does two things at once' without saying processes take turns/are switched.

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

• The operating system checks usernames/passwords at login (1) so only allowed users can access the computer (1)
• The operating system stores a list/database of users and passwords (1) so it knows who is allowed to log in (1)
• The operating system sets access rights/permissions for each user (1) so a user can only open/edit their own files (1)
• The operating system restricts programs/drives/settings by user (1) so certain users cannot change them (1)
• The operating system keeps each user's files separate (1) so one user cannot access another user's private files (1)

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

Do not accept 'so the computer is safe/secure' without saying what is protected and from whom.

Do not accept answers that say user management makes the computer faster.