Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• Uses statements/instructions that look like English/maths (1)
• Does not depend on one type of processor / can be run on different types of computer with few or no changes (machine independent) (1)
• A single statement is translated into several machine code instructions (1)
• Provides data structures such as arrays and records (1)
• Provides built-in/library subprograms (1)
• Is translated by a compiler or an interpreter (1)

Allow portable/platform independent for machine independent.

Allow easier to read/write/understand/debug only when linked to the English-like statements, e.g. uses words that look like English so it is easier to understand.

Do not accept a high-level language / not a low-level language with no other detail.

Do not accept written in binary/machine code.

Do not accept faster to run / uses less memory, as these are characteristics of low-level languages.

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

• The same source code can be used on different processors (1) because a compiler/interpreter for each processor translates it into that processor's machine code/instructions (1)
• The program is machine/processor independent (1) because the code is translated into the machine code/instructions of each processor it is run on (1)
• A different compiler/interpreter is used for each type of processor (1) so the same source code can be translated into each processor's machine code/instructions (1)
• The program can be moved/copied to a computer with a different processor (1) because a compiler/interpreter that produces code for that processor exists (1)

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

Do not accept 'it is portable' without a linked reason about translation for different processors.

Do not accept 'it is easier to use/read/write' on its own without a linked reason about translation/processors.

Do not accept 'it is not written in binary'/'it is not machine code'/'it is not written in assembly language' as the reason without saying that the code is translated into each processor's machine code/instructions.

Do not accept the misconception that the program runs directly on any processor without being translated.

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

• The programmer can control/manipulate the hardware directly (1) because low-level instructions can access registers/memory addresses/hardware features (1)
• The code can be made to work efficiently with a specific device (1) because low-level languages are processor/chipset specific, so the instructions match that hardware (1)
• The code produced is fast to execute (1) because it is optimised for the specific processor/uses few instructions (1)
• The code produced is small (1) so it fits in the limited memory/ROM available in the device (1)

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

Fast execution and small code size are typical advantages of low-level languages; award them only where the linked reason relates to the device.

Do not accept 'it is easier to write/learn/understand' or 'it is faster to write' as a point or as the expansion, because low-level languages are not easier for these.

Do not accept 'it is close to the hardware' or 'it works with hardware' without expansion of what that allows the program to do.

Do not accept 'because it is low-level' as the expansion; the answer must say what the language/hardware allows.