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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 631 exam-style questions, each with its mark scheme and example answers. Print it, or answer it on paper and then open the mark schemes. Or browse the questions by topic.

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3 questions · 6 marks

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1Short 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.

2Describe2 marksMemory Management Swap Remove

A user closes a program that is running on a computer.

Describe how the operating system manages the main memory that the program was using.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The memory (that was) used by the program is freed/released/marked as free (1) so it can be allocated/reused by another program/process (1)
  • The operating system's memory allocation table/record (of memory in use) is updated (1) to show that the program's memory locations/blocks are now free/available (1)
  • The program's instructions/data are removed/overwritten in main memory (1) so the space they used is no longer reserved for that program (1)
  • The memory pages/blocks allocated to the program are returned to the list of free pages/blocks (1) that can be used when the next program is loaded (1)

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

Do not award two marks for the same idea described twice (e.g. the memory is freed and added to a list of free blocks); the two marks must come from two different linked descriptions.

Do not accept responses about closing the program window, stopping/terminating the program/process, saving the file or deleting the program from secondary storage/the hard disk.

Ignore statements that main memory is 'managed'/'cleaned up' with no development.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The operating system updates its memory allocation table to show that the memory locations the program was using are now free, so another program can be loaded into them.

Why: The memory allocation table/record is updated (1) linked to showing the program's memory locations are now free/available (1).

Some marks1/2

The operating system frees up the memory the program was using.

Why: The memory used by the program is freed/released (1), but there is no linked development of what this allows.

No marks0/2

The operating system deletes the program from the hard disk to free up memory.

Why: This confuses main memory with secondary storage; deleting the program from secondary storage is named in the 'Do not accept' line, so no creditworthy point is made.

3Explain2 marksProcess Management Swap Remove

An operating system carries out process management.

Explain one reason why an operating system needs to manage processes.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The CPU can only execute one process at a time (1) so the operating system must decide which process runs next (1)
  • Each process needs CPU time (1) so the operating system must share the CPU between processes (1)
  • One process could use the CPU for too long (1) so the operating system must give other processes a turn (1)
  • A process may be waiting for a resource or user input (1) so the operating system can run another process that is ready (1)
  • The user wants to run more than one program (1) so the operating system must manage which process uses the CPU and when (1)

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

Allow 'program' for 'process'.

Do not accept 'to manage processes' / 'so processes are managed' without a reason.

Do not accept answers about managing files, memory or peripherals.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The CPU can only run one process at a time, so the operating system must decide which process gets the CPU and for how long.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1).

Some marks1/2

The operating system decides which process runs next.

Why: A correct point (1) but no linked reason.

No marks0/2

So that files can be saved in the right place.

Why: This is file management, not process management, so no creditworthy point.

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

Build a paper on this topic 124
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 16 questions Intellectual Property 12 questions

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