Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• Hard disk drive/HDD (1)
• External/portable hard disk drive (1)
• Magnetic tape drive (1)
• Magnetic tape (1)

Allow a named device or the storage media type, e.g. hard disk/hard disc for hard disk drive, tape for magnetic tape

Allow floppy disk/floppy disk drive

Do not accept solid state devices (SSD, USB flash drive/memory stick, SD card/memory card) or optical media (CD/DVD/Blu-ray) as these do not store data using magnetism

Award one mark for:

• Laser (1)

Allow laser beam

Do not accept read/write head

Do not accept pits

Do not accept lands

Do not accept reflective surface

Do not accept magnet/magnetic

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

• The address bus carries the address of the next instruction (1) so the CPU can locate/fetch it from main memory/RAM (1)
• The address bus carries the address of the memory location to be read (1) so the instruction/data stored there can be located/accessed (1)
• The CPU needs to know where the next instruction is stored (1) so the address bus sends the address to main memory/RAM (1)

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

Allow 'from the program counter/PC' as part of the point for one mark, e.g. the address bus carries the address from the program counter (1), but the second mark needs the destination or purpose (e.g. to locate/fetch the instruction in main memory/RAM).

Do not award the second mark for naming the program counter/PC alone.

Do not accept answers that say the address bus carries data/instructions from main memory to the CPU, as these travel on the data bus.

Do not accept answers that say the address bus stores the address.

Do not allow an answer that only restates that the address bus carries addresses without saying which address or why it is needed.

Indicative content

Fetching and decoding an instruction

• The register that holds the address of the next instruction (the program counter) contains the address of the instruction to be fetched.
• This address is sent to main memory (RAM) and the instruction is copied from main memory into a register inside the CPU.
• The program counter is updated so that it holds the address of the next instruction in the program.
• The control unit decodes the instruction that has been fetched, working out which operation is required and which data or registers are needed.
• The control unit sends control signals to coordinate the other components as the instruction is carried out.
• The control unit decides what happens next, for example after a comparison it decides whether the next instruction is the following one or a jump.

The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) executes an instruction

• The control unit directs the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to carry out the operation.
• The ALU performs arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, for example adding two values in a program written by the class.
• The ALU performs logical operations such as comparing two values to see if they are equal or whether one is greater than the other.
• The result of the operation carried out by the ALU is passed back and stored in a register.
• The ALU operates on data that has been fetched from main memory; it does not fetch the instruction and it does not decide which instruction is next.

Registers

• Registers are small, very fast memory locations inside the CPU.
• They hold the data, addresses and results that the CPU is working on during the cycle.
• Registers are used in every stage of the cycle, not only when the ALU produces a result.
• Because registers are inside the CPU they can be read and written much faster than main memory during the cycle.

Levels

• Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
• Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)
• A Level 3 answer must link the roles of all three components to the fetch, decode and execute stages. An answer that links only one component to a stage, with the other points listed separately, is Level 1 (1–2 marks); an answer that links two of the components to stages is Level 2 (3–4 marks). A point repeated under more than one heading is credited once only.
• Accept 'the program counter', 'the address register' or 'a register holding the address of the next instruction' as the register that holds the address of the next instruction. Do not accept 'the control unit performs the calculations', 'the ALU controls the timing of the CPU' / 'the ALU sends the clock signal' or 'registers are in main memory (RAM)'.