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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 693 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

The operating system is held in main memory while the computer is running.

Describe how the operating system stops a running program from overwriting memory that is not its own.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • It keeps a record of which memory addresses/areas belong to each program and to the operating system (1) so it knows which addresses a program is allowed to use (1)
  • Each program is given its own area of main memory (1) so a program cannot write to the addresses used by another program or by the operating system (1)
  • The memory used by the operating system is marked as protected/reserved (1) so a program that tries to write to it is blocked/causes an error (1)
  • The address a program writes to is checked against the record of its allocated area (1) and the write is stopped if the address is outside that area (1)

Allow the memory being protected to be that of the operating system or of another program.

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

Do not award generic answers such as 'the operating system manages memory' or 'the operating system keeps track of memory'.

Do not award responses about stopping programs using too much memory or allocating memory, as these are not about protecting memory being overwritten.

Do not award responses about virtual memory, paging or moving processes to secondary storage.

Do not award responses about firewalls, antivirus software or passwords.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The operating system gives each program its own area of main memory so that a program cannot write to the addresses used by another program or by the operating system.

Why: Each program is given its own area of main memory (1) linked to it not being able to write to the addresses used by another program or the operating system (1).

Some marks1/2

The operating system gives each program its own area of main memory.

Why: Each program is given its own area of main memory (1), but there is no linked development saying how this stops a program overwriting memory that is not its own.

No marks0/2

The operating system stops a program overwriting memory by moving it into virtual memory when it uses too much.

Why: This describes virtual memory and limiting how much memory a program uses, not protecting memory from being overwritten, so neither bullet applies and the Do not award lines rule it out.

3Explain2 marksProcess Management Swap Remove

A user opens a web browser.

Explain what the operating system does to get the browser's process ready to run.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A process is created for the program (1) so that its instructions can be loaded into RAM (1)
  • The process is put into the ready state (1) so that it can wait for the CPU to become available (1)
  • The operating system adds the process to a queue of ready processes (1) so the scheduler can choose it when the CPU is free (1)
  • The operating system allocates the resources the process needs (1) so that it can start running when it is given CPU time (1)

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

Allow 'main memory' for RAM.

Do not accept 'the browser is downloaded/loaded from the internet'.

Do not accept 'the program is run immediately on the CPU' without the ready step.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It creates a process and loads the browser's instructions into RAM, then puts the process in the ready state to wait for CPU time.

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

Some marks1/2

It moves the program into RAM.

Why: A correct point (1) but no linked reason about the process being made ready.

No marks0/2

It runs the program straight away on the CPU.

Why: This describes the running state, not making the process ready, so no credit.

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

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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 18 questions Intellectual Property 18 questions Software Licences 18 questions

5.3 Cybersecurity

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Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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