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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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4 questions · 7 marks

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1Short recall1 markTranslators Swap Remove

An interpreter translates high-level code.

State what happens to the translation of a program when an interpreter finds a syntax error.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for any of the following:

  • Translation/execution stops (when the error is found) / the rest of the program is not translated/executed (1)

Allow stops/terminates/halts when the error is found

Do not accept shows/displays an error message on its own

Do not accept the whole program is translated and errors are reported at the end

Do not accept translates line by line on its own

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

The translation stops as soon as the error is found, so the rest of the program is not translated.

Why: Translation stops when the error is found (1).

No marks0/1

An error message is displayed.

Why: Only an error message; it does not say translation stops, and the scheme does not accept a displayed error message on its own.

No marks0/1

The whole program is translated and all the errors are reported at the end.

Why: Describes a compiler; the scheme does not accept errors being reported at the end of translating the whole program.

2Short recall2 marksTranslators Swap Remove

An interpreter is a type of translator.

Define the term interpreter.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Translates/converts (high-level/source) code one line/statement at a time (1)
  • Translates/converts the code and executes/runs each line as it goes (1)
  • Executes/runs each line/statement immediately after it is translated (1)
  • Reports/stops with an error message as soon as a syntax error is found (1)

Allow 'runs' for executes, 'converts' for translates and 'instruction' for line/statement

Do not accept translates the whole program before it is run

Do not accept produces/creates object code, an executable file or machine code that is saved

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

An interpreter is a program that translates high-level code line by line. Each line is run as soon as it has been translated, so any errors are shown straight away.

Why: Line-by-line translation (1) and each line executed immediately (1); the point about errors would be a third creditworthy point but the maximum is two.

Some marks1/2

An interpreter translates code one line at a time.

Why: Line-by-line translation (1); no point for immediate execution.

No marks0/2

An interpreter translates the whole program before it is run.

Why: Near-miss describing a compiler; the scheme's 'Do not accept' line rules out whole-program translation.

3Explain2 marksTranslators Swap Remove

A programmer writes a program in a high-level language. The program is translated by a compiler.

Explain why a compiler must translate the whole program before any of it can be executed.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A compiler produces object code for the whole program, so there is no complete executable until every line has been translated.

Why: Object code for the whole program (1) linked to there being no complete executable until every line is translated (1).

Some marks1/2

A compiler translates the whole program in one go.

Why: Translation of the whole program only (1); no linked reason about when the program can be executed, so the second mark is not awarded.

No marks0/2

A compiler translates and runs the program one line at a time, so it stops when it finds an error.

Why: Confuses a compiler with an interpreter; nothing about translating the whole program before execution, so no creditworthy point.

4Explain2 marksTranslators Swap Remove

An interpreter translates and executes high-level code.

Explain why an interpreted program must be translated again each time it is run.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • No object code/machine code file is stored/saved (1) so there is no translated program to run on the next occasion (1)
  • The translation is only temporary/is lost when the program ends (1) because each line is translated as the program runs (1)
  • No executable file is created/saved (1) so the whole program has to be translated again every time it is run (1)
  • The interpreter translates each line while the program is running (1) so nothing is kept that could be run without the interpreter (1)

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

Do not accept 'it is interpreted' or 'it is not compiled' without saying that no object code/executable is stored/saved.

Do not accept 'the source code is high-level so it must be translated' or 'the source code has to be turned into machine code' on its own, as this is true of any translation.

Do not accept answers about the source code being deleted.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The interpreter does not store an object code file, so there is no machine code file to run on the next occasion.

Why: No object code stored (1) linked to no translated program for the next run (1).

Some marks1/2

No object code is saved.

Why: Point that nothing is stored (1) but no linked reason saying why this means the program must be translated again.

No marks0/2

It has to be translated again because the interpreter deletes the source code after each run.

Why: Incorrect: the interpreter does not delete the source code; no mark scheme point.

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

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Character Sets 18 questions Images 19 questions Sound 19 questions

2.3 Data storage and compression

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Compression 18 questions Units & Conversion 6 questions

3.1 Hardware

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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

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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

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Low and High Level Languages 19 questions Translators 18 questions

4.1 Networks

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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

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Network Security Risks 18 questions Preventing Network Security Risks 18 questions

5.1 Environmental

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E-waste 17 questions Manufacturing Technology 19 questions

5.2 Ethical and legal

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Data Protection Act 17 questions Impact of AI 16 questions Intellectual Property 12 questions

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