Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• Reduces the file size / uses less storage space (1)
• Takes less time to upload/download/send (1)
• Uses less bandwidth / reduces the amount of data transferred (1)
• The file is more likely to fit within an email attachment size limit (1)
• Reduces the amount of storage needed for backups / more files can be stored on backup media (1)

Do not award both 'reduces the file size' and 'uses less storage space' as two separate benefits.

Do not award both 'takes less time to send' and 'uses less bandwidth' as two separate benefits.

Do not accept 'it is compressed' on its own.

Do not accept 'it makes the file easier to send' unless a benefit such as a smaller file or less time is given.

Do not accept 'better quality'.

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

• Deciding which process runs next on the CPU/scheduling processes (1)
• Allocating processor/CPU time to processes/allowing multitasking (1)
• Managing the process life-cycle/process states (ready, running, blocked) (1)
• Handling interrupts so a running process is suspended and another can run (1)
• Stopping/terminating a process when it has finished (1)

Do not accept 'managing processes' on its own.

Do not accept 'handling interrupts' on its own.

Do not award two marks for the same task expressed twice, e.g. 'deciding which process runs next' and 'scheduling processes', or 'allocating CPU time' and 'giving each process a share of processor time'.

Do not accept 'managing memory/memory management', 'managing files/file management' or 'managing devices/peripherals' (these are other functions of an operating system).

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

• Creating/deleting user accounts (1)
• Storing usernames and passwords (1)
• Checking login details/authenticating a user at login (1)
• Setting access rights/permissions for each user, e.g. restricting which files/folders/programs/drives they can access (1)

Allow logging in as an example of checking login details.

Do not accept managing users on its own.

Do not accept provides a user interface, as this is not user management.

Do not accept managing files or managing processes, as these are other functions.

Do not accept stopping hackers/protecting from malware, as this is security, not user management.

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

• Updates/changes the location/path stored for the file (1) so the file can be found in its new folder/location (1)
• Removes the file's entry/reference from the old folder (1) so the file no longer appears/is listed there (1)
• Adds/creates an entry/reference for the file in the new folder (1) so the file appears/is listed in its new location (1)
• Updates the folder/directory listing/structure (1) to show the file's new location/path (1)

Do not accept descriptions of copying the file or leaving a duplicate in the old folder.

Do not accept deleting and recreating the file, or moving the file's data to a different physical location on the disk; the marks are for updating the folder/directory structure.

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

• Each user/file is given permissions/access rights (1) so other users cannot read/write/open/change that user's files (1)
• A user may be given read-only/read access to a file (1) so they cannot edit/delete/change it (1)
• Each file is given permissions/access rights for different users (1) so the operating system allows/refuses access depending on which user is logged in (1)
• The operating system checks a user's permissions/access rights when a file is opened (1) so a user with read-only/read access cannot save/delete changes (1)

Do not accept responses about asking for a password/username, as this checks who the user is, not what they are allowed to do.

Do not accept 'files are protected/safe' or 'access rights protect files' without saying how access is limited (e.g. read-only access, permissions for different users).

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

• It allows the operating system/OS to communicate with the device/printer (1) because it translates the commands into signals the device understands (1)
• It contains/sends the instructions/commands needed by a particular device (1) so the device carries out the correct actions (1)
• It controls the device/printer (1) by sending commands/signals to it (1)
• Different devices need different commands (1) so each one needs its own driver to work with the operating system (1)

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

Do not accept 'it drives/controls the device' on its own without saying how, e.g. by sending commands/signals.

Do not accept hardware/a physical device (a device driver is software).

Do not accept 'it connects the printer to the computer' or 'it installs the printer' without saying that it provides the instructions/commands for the device.