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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 693 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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3 questions · 4 marks

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1Short recall1 markAddressing Swap Remove

An IPv4 address is made up of four 8-bit numbers separated by dots.

State the range of values that each number in an IPv4 address can have.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • 0 to 255 (1)

Allow 0–255 / 0-255 / between 0 and 255 / 0 and 255.

Do not accept 1 to 255 (0 is a valid value).

Do not accept any range that includes 256, e.g. 0 to 256.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

0 to 255

Why: Gives the correct range (1).

No marks0/1

1 to 255

Why: Near miss: excludes 0, which is a valid value; the Do not accept line applies.

No marks0/1

0 to 256

Why: Includes 256, which is not valid; 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.

3Explain2 marksTopologies Swap Remove

A bus topology uses one main cable shared by all devices.

Explain why a bus topology can be a security risk.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • All devices receive every data packet (1) because the main cable is shared by all nodes (1)
  • Data can be read by any device on the network (1) because there is no central switch to send it only to the destination (1)
  • A device can intercept/capture data not meant for it (1) because all transmissions travel along the same cable (1)
  • Any device can view all data on the cable (1) so data is not private/secure (1)

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

Do not accept 'it is easy to hack' without saying data can be seen/intercepted on the shared cable.

Do not accept 'the central switch can be hacked' because a bus topology has no central switch.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Any device on the bus can see all the data because every packet travels along the same shared cable.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): data is visible to all devices because the cable is shared.

Some marks1/2

All devices can see the data.

Why: Awarded 1 mark for stating that all devices can see the data, but no linked reason about the shared cable is given.

No marks0/2

It is less secure because the central switch can be hacked.

Why: No credit: a bus topology has no central switch; the answer gives a misconception and no valid point about the shared cable.

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