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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 · 5 marks

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1Short recall2 marksLANs & WANs Swap Remove

A school has computers in every classroom.

Define the term 'local area network (LAN)'.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A network that covers a small geographical area / is on a single site / is within one building (1)
  • (Two or more) computers/devices connected together (1)
  • So that the connected devices can share data/files/resources such as printers or an internet connection (1)
  • Uses cabling/infrastructure owned by the organisation (1)

Do not accept a network that covers a large geographical area / connects networks in different countries, as this describes a WAN.

Do not accept 'a network in a school' on its own, as this repeats the stem without a LAN feature such as a single site or connected devices.

Do not accept 'a network that connects to the internet' without a LAN feature such as a single site or connected devices.

Do not accept 'owned by one organisation' on its own, as a WAN can also be owned by one organisation.

Do not accept 'local' on its own without saying what it means.

The share mark needs the sharing to be linked to the connected devices/network, e.g. 'share files' or 'share printers'.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A LAN is a group of computers connected together on one site, such as a school, so that they can share files and printers.

Why: Connected together (1) and single site (1); the sharing point is also made but the maximum is two marks.

Some marks1/2

A network that is in one building.

Why: Covers a single site/one building (1) but does not say that devices are connected together or what they share.

No marks0/2

A network that covers a large area and connects different countries.

Why: Describes a WAN, not a LAN, so no creditworthy LAN point is made.

2Short recall1 markWireless Connections Swap Remove

A wireless network has a fixed amount of bandwidth.

State what happens to the bandwidth available to each device as more devices connect to the network.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • It is shared between more devices, so each device gets less (bandwidth) (1)

Allow 'the bandwidth is divided/split between the devices'.

Allow 'there is less bandwidth for each device'.

Do not accept 'the speed decreases' / 'the connection slows down' on its own.

Do not accept 'the bandwidth decreases' unless it refers to the bandwidth available to each device.

Do not accept 'the bandwidth increases'.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

It is shared between more devices, so each device gets less bandwidth.

Why: States that the bandwidth is shared between more devices and so each device gets less (1).

No marks0/1

The speed for each device decreases.

Why: Describes speed rather than bandwidth; this near-miss is ruled out by the 'Do not accept' line.

No marks0/1

The bandwidth increases because more devices are connected.

Why: Contradicts the correct answer; bandwidth is shared between the devices, it does not increase, so no mark.

3Explain2 marksThe Internet Swap Remove

Each data packet has a header that contains the destination IP address.

Explain one reason why a data packet contains the destination IP address.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Routers can forward the packet towards its destination (1) because they read the destination IP address in the packet header (1)
  • The packet is delivered to the correct device (1) because the receiving device compares the destination IP address with its own IP address (1)
  • Each packet can take a different route (1) because routers use the destination IP address to choose the next router (1)
  • The packet can be passed on by each router in turn (1) because the destination IP address shows which network the packet is for (1)

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

Statements such as 'so it reaches the right destination' or 'so routers know where to send it' earn the first mark only; do not award the second mark unless the reason says that the address is read from the packet header and used to forward the packet.

Do not accept 'so it knows where it came from' as this describes the source address, not the destination address.

Do not accept 'so it gets there faster' without a linked reason.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Routers know where to send it because they use the address in the packet header to choose the next network.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): routers read the destination IP address in the header to forward the packet.

Some marks1/2

So that it reaches the right destination because every packet has an address.

Why: First mark (1) for reaching the right destination, but the reason is circular and does not say the address is read and used to forward the packet.

No marks0/2

So the packet knows where it came from.

Why: Describes the source address, not the destination address; 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

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Data Protection Act 17 questions Impact of AI 18 questions Intellectual Property 18 questions Software Licences 18 questions

5.3 Cybersecurity

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Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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