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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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4 questions · 7 marks

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1Multiple choice1 markProtocols & Layers Swap Remove

A user reads email on a laptop. The emails are downloaded to the laptop and removed from the mail server.

Identify the email protocol being used.

[1 mark]
  • AFTP
  • BIMAP
  • CPOP3
  • DSMTP
Mark scheme
  • C POP3 (1)
  • The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is POP3.
  • A is not correct because FTP is used to transfer files.
  • B is not correct because IMAP keeps emails on the server.
  • D is not correct because SMTP is used to send outgoing email between mail servers.
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

C POP3

Why: POP3 downloads emails and removes them from the server (1).

No marks0/1

B IMAP

Why: IMAP keeps emails on the server, so it does not match the scenario where emails are removed from the server (0).

No marks0/1

D SMTP

Why: SMTP is used to send outgoing email, not to retrieve email (0).

2Short recall2 marksWireless Connections Swap Remove

Wireless connections use radio waves.

Give two reasons why a wireless connection can have a lower speed than a wired connection.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Interference from other electrical/electronic devices (1)
  • Walls/obstacles block or weaken the signal (1)
  • The signal gets weaker the further a device is from the access point (1)
  • Other devices/networks use the same wireless channel/frequency (1)
  • A wireless channel has less bandwidth than a wired connection (1)

Do not accept 'higher latency', because latency is a delay and does not reduce the speed at which data is transferred.

Do not accept 'wireless is slower' / 'wired is faster' without a reason.

Do not accept 'radio waves are slower than signals in a cable' as they travel at the same speed.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Other electrical devices can cause interference, and walls can block the signal.

Why: Gives interference (1) and walls blocking the signal (1).

Some marks1/2

Walls can block the wireless signal.

Why: Gives one valid reason, walls blocking the signal (1), but no second reason.

No marks0/2

Wireless is slower because it has a higher latency, so the data takes longer to arrive.

Why: Confuses latency (a delay) with speed; 'higher latency' is not accepted and no other creditworthy reason is given.

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 marksWired Connections Swap Remove

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

Describe one way that using a wired connection can give a faster transfer of data than a wireless connection.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • (Ethernet) cables are not affected by interference from other devices (1) so data is transferred at a consistent/steady speed (1)
  • Each device has its own cable to the switch (1) so the full bandwidth is available to that device and speeds do not drop as more users join (1)
  • Fibre optic cable has a higher bandwidth than a wireless link (1) so more data can be sent along the cable each second (1)
  • The cable gives a direct/physical path to the switch (1) so data is less likely to be lost and resent, which would slow the transfer (1)

Do not accept responses about security, reliability or users being unable to move around, as these are not about speed.

Do not accept answers that only say a wired/cable connection is faster, or that fibre is faster, without saying why.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The cable is not affected by interference from other devices such as other networks or microwaves so the data is sent at a steady speed instead of slowing down.

Why: Point that the cable is not affected by interference (1) linked to a consistent data transfer speed (1).

Some marks1/2

Ethernet cables are not affected by interference.

Why: Gives the first point of a linked pair (1) but does not develop it to say how this makes the transfer faster.

No marks0/2

A wired connection is faster because the data travels down a cable and not through the air.

Why: Repeats the question (wired is faster) with no reason, which the mark scheme's final line says is not accepted.

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

Build a paper on this topic 36
Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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