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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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3 questions · 5 marks

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1Short recall1 markTopologies Swap Remove

A bus topology uses terminators at each end of the main cable.

State the purpose of terminators in a bus topology.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • Absorb signals (at the ends of the bus cable) / prevent signals reflecting (back along the cable) (1)

Allow 'stop data/signals bouncing back' for prevent signals reflecting

Do not accept 'terminate the cable' / 'close the end of the cable' on its own

Do not accept boost/repeat/strengthen the signal

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

To absorb signals so that they do not reflect back along the bus cable.

Why: Absorbing signals and preventing reflection are alternatives within the one creditworthy point (1).

No marks0/1

To terminate the cable at each end.

Why: Near miss: this is rejected by the 'terminate the cable' guidance because it does not say signals are absorbed or prevented from reflecting.

No marks0/1

To make the signal stronger at the end of the cable.

Why: Misconception: terminators absorb signals; they do not boost, repeat or strengthen them.

2Short recall2 marksCharacter Sets Swap Remove

ASCII is a character set that uses 7 bits to represent each character.

Give two limitations of 7-bit ASCII when it is used to represent text.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • (Only) 128 different characters can be represented / 7 bits give 2^7 = 128 different codes (1)
  • It cannot represent characters from languages other than English / non-English alphabets, e.g. Greek, Chinese (1)
  • It cannot represent accented characters, e.g. é, ñ (1)
  • It cannot represent symbols or emoji that are not in the ASCII character set (1)

Award a maximum of one mark for the last three bullets, as they are all examples of characters that fall outside the 128 ASCII codes.

Allow 'it can only represent 128 characters, so some characters are missing' for the first bullet.

Do not accept 'it uses 7 bits' / 'it only uses 7 bits' on its own, without saying what this limits.

Do not accept 'it can only store a limited amount of text' / 'it can only store short messages', as 7 bits limits the number of characters available, not the length of a message.

Do not accept 'it can only represent the characters in the ASCII character set', as this repeats the question.

Do not accept 'it is old/out of date' or 'it cannot store numbers'.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Only 128 different characters can be represented, so it cannot store characters from other languages such as Greek.

Why: 128 character limit (1) and characters from other languages (1); two separate creditworthy limitations.

Some marks1/2

It cannot show accented characters like é and it only uses 7 bits.

Why: Accented characters (1); 'only uses 7 bits' is not qualified, so scores 0.

No marks0/2

It only uses 7 bits, so it can only store a small amount of text.

Why: Scores 0: text length is not a limitation of 7-bit ASCII, and 'only uses 7 bits' is unqualified; both Do not accept lines apply.

3Describe2 marksTranslators Swap Remove

A compiler and an interpreter both translate source code.

Describe one difference between what a compiler produces and what an interpreter produces.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A compiler produces object code/machine code/an executable (file) (1) whereas an interpreter produces no object code/translated file (1)
  • A compiler produces a machine code file (1) that can be run on its own/without the compiler/translator being present (1)
  • An interpreter produces no object code/file (1) because it translates and executes each line instead of saving translated code (1)
  • The compiler's output can be saved/stored (1) and run again later, while interpreted code has to be translated again each time it is run (1)

Allow binary for machine code.

Allow executable/an executable for object code.

Do not accept responses about translating the whole program, reporting errors or the speed of execution.

Do not accept 'the interpreter translates/executes one line at a time' on its own: this is how it translates, not what it produces. It earns the development only when linked to no object code/translated file being produced.

Do not accept the interpreter producing object code/an executable.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A compiler produces object code, which is saved as a file, whereas an interpreter does not produce a file because it translates and executes each line.

Why: Compiler produces object code (1) contrasted with the interpreter producing no object code/translated file (1).

Some marks1/2

The compiler produces machine code.

Why: Machine code/object code produced (1); there is no contrast with the interpreter, so the development is not earned.

No marks0/2

The interpreter produces object code for each line it translates.

Why: Reverses the translators' outputs: the interpreter produces no object code, so nothing is creditworthy.

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 12 questions

5.3 Cybersecurity

Malware 8 questions

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