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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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4 questions · 8 marks

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1Short recall2 marksLow and High Level Languages Swap Remove

Device drivers allow hardware devices to work with a computer system.

Give two advantages of using a low-level programming language to write device drivers.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • It can control/manipulate the hardware (components/registers/memory locations) directly (1)
  • Each instruction maps to a single machine-code instruction, so the behaviour/timing can be controlled precisely (1)
  • The code can run very quickly / has a fast execution time (1)
  • The code uses less memory/RAM (1)
  • The code can be optimised for a particular processor/chipset (1)

Only award one mark where both 'controls the hardware' and 'accesses registers/memory locations' are given, as these are the same point.

Do not accept 'it is closer to the hardware' without saying that it controls or accesses the hardware directly.

Do not accept easier/faster to write/program/learn/understand/debug (these are advantages of high-level languages).

Do not accept faster/quicker without qualification.

Do not accept portable/machine independent.

Do not accept does not need to be translated/compiled (assembly language must be assembled).

Do not accept it is a low-level language / a repeat of the question.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It can control the hardware directly and the code runs very quickly.

Why: Two creditworthy advantages: controls the hardware directly (1); fast execution (1).

Some marks1/2

It uses less memory than a high-level language.

Why: Creditworthy point: uses less memory/RAM (1). Only one advantage given.

No marks0/2

It is easier to understand and debug than a high-level language.

Why: These are advantages of high-level languages, not low-level ones; the mark scheme does not accept easier to understand or debug.

2Describe2 marksTranslators Swap Remove

A high-level program must be translated into machine code before it can be run.

Describe how a compiler and an interpreter differ in when the translated code is executed.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The interpreter executes each line as soon as it has been translated (1) so translation and execution happen together/at the same time (1)
  • The compiler translates the whole program first (1) and the machine code is run later/separately (1)
  • The interpreter translates the code and runs it while the program is running (1) whereas the compiler does not run the code it produces (1)
  • The compiler produces translated code that is executed only after all the translation has finished (1) but the interpreter executes each line immediately (1)

Allow 'translates one line at a time' where it is linked to executing each line immediately.

Do not accept answers that only state that a compiler is faster/an interpreter is slower, without reference to when execution happens.

Do not accept answers that only give object code, error reporting or portability, without reference to when execution happens.

Do not accept the compiler executing the program as it translates it.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The compiler translates the code first and the program is executed afterwards, but the interpreter executes each line as soon as it has been translated.

Why: Compiler translates the whole program first and it is executed afterwards (1) and interpreter executes each line as soon as it is translated (1).

Some marks1/2

The interpreter executes each line immediately after translating it.

Why: Correct interpreter timing (1); no comparison with when the compiler's translated code is executed.

No marks0/2

The compiler executes the program line by line as it translates it.

Why: Reverses the two translators; a compiler does not execute the program it translates, so no mark.

3Explain2 marksLow and High Level Languages Swap Remove

A programmer writes the same program in a low-level language and in a high-level language.

Explain one reason why the program written in the low-level language may run faster.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The programmer can choose the most efficient instructions/registers to use (1) so the program completes its task in fewer steps (1)
  • The programmer can optimise the code for the processor (1) because low-level instructions give direct control of registers/memory (1)
  • Each low-level instruction maps to one machine code instruction (1) so fewer instructions are executed than for the equivalent high-level code (1)
  • The translated code is smaller (1) so fewer instructions are fetched from memory and executed (1)

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

Do not accept 'it is low-level' / 'it is closer to machine code' / 'low-level code is faster' on its own without a reason why it makes the program run faster.

Do not accept 'high-level code has to be translated' / 'high-level code is interpreted' on its own without saying why that makes the program slower.

Do not accept 'the code is smaller' on its own without saying that this means fewer instructions are fetched/executed.

Do not accept 'it is easier to write' or 'quicker to type' as a reason for faster execution.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The programmer can choose the most efficient instructions and registers to use so the program completes its task in fewer steps.

Why: Linked point (1) of choosing efficient instructions/registers and reason (1) that the task is completed in fewer steps, so it runs faster.

Some marks1/2

Each low-level instruction maps to one machine code instruction so the program is shorter to type.

Why: Point (1) that one low-level instruction maps to one machine code instruction, but being shorter to type does not explain why the program runs faster, so no second mark.

No marks0/2

Because it is closer to machine code.

Why: 'Closer to machine code' alone gives no reason why that makes the program run faster, and the mark scheme does not accept it on its own.

4Explain2 marksTranslators Swap Remove

A program can be translated by a compiler or by an interpreter.

Explain why a compiled program usually runs faster than an interpreted program.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The compiler translates the whole program into machine code before it is run (1) so no translation is needed while the program is executing (1)
  • The machine code/object code is already produced before execution (1) so the CPU can carry out the instructions directly without translating them (1)
  • The compiled program does not need an interpreter at run time (1) so no time is spent translating each line before it is executed (1)

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

A statement that translation happens before execution, with no linked reason for faster running, earns 1 mark only.

Do not accept 'faster to run' or 'quicker' on its own without a reason linked to translation before/during execution.

Do not accept 'compiled code is optimised' or 'compilation takes less time' without linking this to translation before execution/at run time.

Do not accept answers about the compiler being installed or available.

The question asks why a compiled program usually runs faster, so answers must refer to when translation happens, not just general performance claims.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The compiler translates the whole program into machine code before it is run, so the CPU does not have to translate each line during execution.

Why: Translation before execution (1) linked to no translation needed during the run, so faster (1).

Some marks1/2

The compiler translates the whole program first.

Why: Pre-translation point (1) but no link to faster running.

No marks0/2

A compiled program runs faster because the compiler is installed on the computer.

Why: Compiler being installed does not make execution faster; 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

Build a paper on this topic 56
Character Sets 18 questions Images 19 questions Sound 19 questions

2.3 Data storage and compression

Build a paper on this topic 24
Compression 18 questions Units & Conversion 6 questions

3.1 Hardware

Build a paper on this topic 77
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

Build a paper on this topic 37
Low and High Level Languages 19 questions Translators 18 questions

4.1 Networks

Build a paper on this topic 138
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

Build a paper on this topic 36
Network Security Risks 18 questions Preventing Network Security Risks 18 questions

5.1 Environmental

Build a paper on this topic 36
E-waste 17 questions Manufacturing Technology 19 questions

5.2 Ethical and legal

Build a paper on this topic 65
Data Protection Act 17 questions Impact of AI 18 questions Intellectual Property 18 questions Software Licences 12 questions

5.3 Cybersecurity

Malware 8 questions

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