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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 659 exam-style questions, each with its mark scheme and example answers. Print it, or answer it on paper and then open the mark schemes. Or browse the questions by topic.

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4 questions · 7 marks

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1Multiple choice1 markAddressing Swap Remove

Every device that connects to the internet is given an IP address.

Identify the number of bits in an IPv4 address.

[1 mark]
  • A4
  • B8
  • C32
  • D128
Mark scheme
  • C 32 (1)
  • The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is 32.
  • A is not correct because 4 is the number of groups of numbers in an IPv4 address
  • B is not correct because 8 is the number of bits in each group of an IPv4 address
  • D is not correct because 128 is the number of bits in an IPv6 address
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

C 32

Why: Correct option (1): an IPv4 address is 32 bits long.

No marks0/1

B 8

Why: 8 is the number of bits in one group of an IPv4 address, not the whole address (mark scheme line B), so no mark.

No marks0/1

D 128

Why: 128 is the length of an IPv6 address, not an IPv4 address (mark scheme line D), so no mark.

2Short recall2 marksWireless Connections Swap Remove

Latency affects the performance of a network.

Define the term latency.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A delay/time/lag (1)
  • Between a signal/request being sent and a response/data being received (1)

Allow 'the time taken for data to travel from source to destination' for both marks.

Do not accept 'the speed at which data travels' / 'bandwidth' / 'the amount of data sent per second'.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The delay between a signal being sent and a response being received.

Why: Gives the delay (1) and the time between sending and receiving (1).

Some marks1/2

The time taken for data to travel.

Why: Gives the idea of time taken (1) but does not say between sending and receiving (1).

No marks0/2

The speed at which data is sent over the network.

Why: Describes speed, not latency; no creditworthy point.

3Short recall2 marksWired Connections Swap Remove

A school connects its desktop computers to the network using cables.

Give two reasons why the wired connections give better network performance than the wireless connections.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Faster transmission speed (1)
  • Higher bandwidth (1)
  • Lower latency (1)
  • Not affected by interference (from other devices/walls) (1)
  • No blind spots/not affected by distance from the wireless access point (1)

Do not accept benefits of wireless connections, e.g. users can move around the building with their devices

Do not accept 'easier to set up' or 'does not need a password' as these are not about network performance

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The wired connection is not affected by interference from other devices, and it has a lower latency than Wi-Fi.

Why: Interference point (1) and lower latency point (1).

Some marks1/2

It has a faster transmission speed and the users can move around the building with their computers.

Why: Faster transmission speed (1); moving around is a benefit of wireless, so is not credited.

No marks0/2

It is easier to set up the network and the users do not need a password.

Why: Neither point is about network performance; the mark scheme does not accept 'easier to set up' or password points, so no marks.

4Describe2 marksWireless Connections Swap Remove

A school provides a wireless network for its students.

Describe how the range of a wireless network can affect its performance.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The further a device is from the wireless access point (1) the weaker the signal becomes (1)
  • A device outside the range of an access point (1) cannot connect to the network / loses its connection (1)
  • Walls and other obstacles reduce the range of the signal (1) so some areas of a building have a poor or no connection (1)
  • A wireless network with a greater range (1) allows devices to connect from further away (1)

Do not accept responses that only state that range is measured in metres or give a definition of range, as these do not describe an effect on performance.

Do not accept responses about the number of devices or interference unless they are linked to range.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The further a device is from the access point, the weaker the signal becomes, so the device may lose its connection.

Why: Linked point: distance from the access point (1), developed by the weaker signal and lost connection (1).

Some marks1/2

Walls and other objects can reduce the range of a wireless signal.

Why: Point given: obstacles reduce range (1), but there is no development of the effect on performance.

No marks0/2

Range is the maximum distance a wireless signal can travel.

Why: A definition of range, not a description of its effect on performance, which the mark scheme does not accept.

Questions by topic

5.3 Cybersecurity

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