Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

• B Compiler (1)
• The only correct answer is B. The correct answer is compiler.
• A is not correct because an assembler translates assembly language code into machine code, not a high-level program
• C is not correct because an interpreter translates and executes the code line by line, without producing a complete machine code program first
• D is not correct because a linker combines object code files into a single executable, it does not translate source code

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 compiler produces object code/machine code for the whole program (1) so there is no complete executable until every line has been translated (1)
• The compiler translates all the source code before producing the object code (1) so the program cannot start until translation has finished (1)
• The compiler checks the whole program for errors during translation (1) so all of the source code must be read before an executable can be produced (1)

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

Allow 'in one go'/'all at once' for the translation point, but this does not earn the second mark unless it is linked to why the program cannot be executed until translation has finished.

A statement that the whole program is translated, with no linked reason about when the program can be executed, earns 1 mark only.

Do not accept 'a compiler is faster' or 'compiled code runs faster' on its own; this does not explain why translation must finish before execution.

Do not accept 'it translates and runs the program one line at a time', as this describes an interpreter.

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.