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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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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.

2Describe2 marksWired Connections Swap Remove

A hospital connects the computers on a ward using wired connections.

Describe how using wired connections can reduce latency on this network.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Data travels along the cable directly to the switch on a single continuous path (1) so the time between sending and receiving the data is short (1)
  • A cable is not affected by interference from other devices/wireless traffic nearby (1) so packets are not lost and resent, which would add to the delay (1)
  • The switch sends the data only to the port of the correct device, not to every device (1) so the data spends less time travelling and the delay is lower (1)
  • Fewer devices share a cable than share a wireless channel (1) so packets do not queue/wait before they are sent (1)

The first mark is for the way the wired connection carries the data; the second mark is for how this reduces the delay between sending and receiving.

Do not accept responses about bandwidth or the amount of data a cable can carry, as latency is the delay between sending and receiving.

Do not accept responses that confuse latency with speed/bandwidth, e.g. 'a wired connection is faster so there is less latency', unless they describe how the delay is reduced.

Do not accept answers that only say a wired connection is faster, with no link to the delay.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The cable is not affected by interference from other devices so packets do not need to be resent and the delay stays low.

Why: First mark for the cable being free of interference (1); linked development that no packets are resent and so the delay is lower (1).

Some marks1/2

There is no interference from other devices on a cable.

Why: Gives the first point of a linked pair (1) but does not say how this reduces the delay between sending and receiving.

No marks0/2

Wired connections have a higher bandwidth so there is less latency.

Why: Confuses bandwidth with latency, which the 'Do not accept' lines rule out (0).

3Explain2 marksProtocols & Layers Swap Remove

Two computers exchange data over a network.

Explain why network protocols are needed for the two computers to communicate.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Devices (can) understand/interpret the data they receive (1) because they follow the same set of rules for communication (1)
  • Data is sent in an agreed format/structure (1) so the receiving device can interpret/understand it correctly (1)
  • Devices (can) connect/communicate successfully (1) because they agree how the data is transmitted, such as the type of signal used (1)
  • Errors (can) be detected/handled (1) because both devices follow the same rules for checking the data (1)

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

Do not accept 'so devices can talk/communicate with each other' or 'so they can understand each other' without saying they follow the same rules/agreed format.

Do not accept an answer that only states protocols are a set of rules, without saying what this allows (e.g. the data can be understood/interpreted).

Do not accept a faster connection/speed as a reason why protocols are needed.

Do not accept naming a protocol (e.g. TCP/IP, HTTP, Wi-Fi) without an explanation of why it is needed.

Do not accept a description of what a protocol does (e.g. 'TCP splits data into packets') without saying why this is needed.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Devices can understand the data they receive because they follow the same set of rules for communication.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): following the same rules is what lets the devices understand the data.

Some marks1/2

Data is sent in an agreed format.

Why: Point (1) identified, but no linked reason saying what the agreed format achieves.

No marks0/2

Protocols are needed so the connection is faster because more data can be sent at once.

Why: Speed is not a reason protocols are needed, so there is no creditworthy point or linked reason.

4Explain2 marksThe Internet Swap Remove

A home network is connected to the internet by a router.

Explain one reason why a home network uses a router to connect its devices to the internet.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • All the devices can share one internet connection (1) because the router forwards data packets between the home network and the internet (1)
  • Data can reach the correct device on the home network (1) because the router uses the destination IP address to forward each packet to that device (1)
  • Each device does not need its own separate connection to the internet (1) because the router forwards data packets for all the devices between the home network and the internet (1)

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

Do not accept 'it provides Wi-Fi' because Wi-Fi is not why a router is needed to connect to the internet.

Do not accept 'it connects the home network/devices to the internet' or 'a router connects networks' without saying what the router does with the data, as this restates the question.

Do not accept 'it connects the cables' without saying what it does with the data.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It lets all the devices share the internet connection because it forwards their data packets between the home network and the internet.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): the router forwards data packets between the home network and the internet.

Some marks1/2

All the devices can share one internet connection because it connects the home network to the internet.

Why: Point (1) for sharing one internet connection, but the reason only restates that it connects the network to the internet, which the scheme does not accept.

No marks0/2

It provides Wi-Fi for the devices.

Why: Wi-Fi is not why a router is needed to connect to the internet; do not accept.

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

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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