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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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5 questions · 8 marks

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1Short recall1 markAddressing Swap Remove

Routers forward data packets across the internet.

State the part of a data packet that a router uses to decide where to send it.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • (Destination) IP address (1)

Allow IP address on its own (the destination is implied).

Do not accept source IP address/IP address of the sender.

Do not accept MAC address.

Do not accept domain name/web address.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

The destination IP address.

Why: Names the destination IP address (1).

No marks0/1

The domain name.

Why: A domain name is not used by a router to route a packet; it must be translated to an IP address first, so no mark.

No marks0/1

The MAC address.

Why: A MAC address is not used to route packets across the internet; the Do not accept line applies.

2Short recall1 markWired Connections Swap Remove

Wired connections have characteristics that affect network performance.

State what is meant by the range of a wired network connection.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • The maximum distance data/a signal can be transmitted before it becomes too weak to be received (1)

Allow 'how far a signal can travel'.

Do not accept the number of devices that can be connected to the network.

Do not accept the speed at which data is transmitted.

Do not accept bandwidth/the maximum capacity of a channel.

Do not accept latency/the delay between a signal being sent and received.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

The maximum distance a signal can be transmitted before it becomes too weak to be received.

Why: Gives the maximum distance a signal can be transmitted before it becomes too weak, which is the creditworthy point (1).

No marks0/1

The maximum capacity of the connection.

Why: This describes bandwidth, which the mark scheme says not to accept for range, so no mark.

No marks0/1

The delay between a signal being sent and received.

Why: This describes latency/delay, which the mark scheme says not to accept for range, so no mark.

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.

4Explain2 marksPacket Switching Swap Remove

Data is split into packets before it is sent across the internet.

Explain why each packet has a packet number in its header.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The receiver can put the packets back into the correct order (1) because packets may arrive out of order/take different routes (1)
  • The receiver can see if a packet is missing (1) because the sequence of numbers shows a gap (1)
  • The receiver knows when the whole file has arrived (1) because the total number of packets/last packet number is known (1)

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

Allow 'so the packets can be put back in the correct order/reassembled' for the first mark, but the second mark needs the reason, i.e. packets may arrive out of order/take different routes.

Do not accept 'so the packets can be identified' without stating what the number is used for, e.g. reordering or spotting a missing packet.

Do not accept 'so the router knows where to send it' - the router uses the destination IP address, not the packet number.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The receiver can put the packets back in the correct order because they may arrive out of order.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): the packet number allows reordering because packets can arrive out of order.

Some marks1/2

It shows the receiver the order of the packets.

Why: The point is given (1) but there is no linked reason, such as packets arriving out of order.

No marks0/2

So the router knows which route to use.

Why: Routers use the destination IP address, not the packet number, so this earns nothing; it is named in the mark scheme as a 'Do not accept'.

5Explain2 marksWireless Connections Swap Remove

A wireless access point has a limited bandwidth.

Explain why connecting more devices to the access point can reduce the speed each device gets.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • (All) devices share the bandwidth of the access point (1) so each device gets a smaller share, which reduces its speed/slows down transfers (1)
  • Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred at one time (1) so when devices send more data than this, the data must wait/queue, which slows down transfers (1)
  • (Many) devices send data at the same time (1) so the devices take turns, which reduces the amount of data each one can send/the speed each device gets (1)

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

Allow 'connection speed'/'download speed' for speed.

Do not accept 'the signal is shared' without saying that this reduces the bandwidth/data each device can send.

Do not accept the idea that adding devices increases the bandwidth.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

All the devices share the access point's bandwidth, so each device gets less bandwidth and its downloads take longer.

Why: Linked point (1): bandwidth is shared; reason (1): each device gets a smaller share, which reduces its speed/slows transfers.

Some marks1/2

The bandwidth is shared between all the devices.

Why: Point only (1): the bandwidth is shared. No linked reason about each device getting less bandwidth or a reduced speed.

No marks0/2

Adding more devices increases the bandwidth, so the network can send more data.

Why: Misconception that adding devices increases bandwidth; the mark scheme says not to accept this.

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

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

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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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