Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

• A Executes the line (1)
• The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is that the interpreter executes the line.
• B is not correct because an interpreter does not produce object code; that is what a compiler does
• C is not correct because an interpreter does not save the translated code to a file
• D is not correct because the interpreter executes the current line before it translates the next line

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.

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.