Menu
Exam Questions

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.

Build a paper

Topics (none ticked: all of them)
Question types (none ticked: all of them)

Practice paper

3 questions · 4 marks

Pick again
Print
1Short recall1 markWired Connections Swap Remove

A school's computers are connected to the network using Ethernet cables.

Define the term 'latency'.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • A (time) delay between data/a signal being sent and being received (1)

Allow 'the time taken for data to travel from source to destination'

Allow 'the time taken for data to arrive at its destination after it is sent'

Allow 'time lag/time delay'

Do not accept the amount of data that can be transferred per second (this is bandwidth)

Do not accept the speed of the connection/how fast data travels (this is speed, not latency)

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

The time delay between data being sent and arriving at its destination.

Why: Gives a delay between data being sent and being received, which is the creditworthy point (1).

No marks0/1

How much data the cable can carry each second.

Why: Describes bandwidth, which the mark scheme says not to accept, so no mark.

No marks0/1

How fast data travels along the Ethernet cable.

Why: Describes speed rather than a delay; the mark scheme does not accept 'how fast data travels', so no mark.

2Short recall1 markCharacter Sets Swap Remove

A computer can store a maximum of 80 bits for a text message. Each character is stored using 7-bit ASCII.

State the maximum number of whole characters that can be stored in the message.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • 11 (characters) (1)

Allow 11 remainder 3.

Allow 80 ÷ 7 = 11.428... rounded down to 11.

Do not accept 11.4 or 12 (rounding up or giving a decimal answer).

Do not award an unevaluated calculation such as 80 ÷ 7 with no answer.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

11

Why: Correct: 80 ÷ 7 = 11 remainder 3, so 11 whole characters can be stored (1).

No marks0/1

11.4

Why: Near miss: gives a decimal result rather than the number of whole characters; the mark scheme does not accept 11.4.

No marks0/1

12

Why: Rounds up to 12, but 12 characters would need 84 bits, more than the 80 available; the mark scheme does not accept 12.

3Short recall2 marksUnits & Conversion Swap Remove

A solid state drive has a capacity of 5 gibibytes.

Give an expression to calculate the number of bits in 5 gibibytes. You do not need to do the calculation.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each of:

  • 5 × 1024^3 / 5 × 1024 × 1024 × 1024 / 5 × 2^30, for the number of bytes (1)
  • A fully correct expression with × 8 to convert bytes to bits, in any order, e.g. 5 × 1024^3 × 8, 8 × 5 × 2^30 (1)

Accept 5 × 1 073 741 824 × 8.

Accept 5 × 2^33 or 42 949 672 960 as a fully correct expression (2 marks).

Do not accept 5 × 1000^3 × 8, which uses decimal multiples.

Do not accept ÷ 8, which converts bits to bytes.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

8 × 5 × 2^30

Why: 5 × 2^30 is the number of bytes (1) and × 8 converts bytes to bits (1).

Some marks1/2

5 × 2^30

Why: Correct number of bytes using the binary multiple 2^30 (1), but no conversion to bits.

No marks0/2

5 × 1000^3 × 8

Why: Uses decimal 1000^3 instead of binary 1024^3, so the expression is not fully correct; no creditworthy point.

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

Build a paper on this topic 56
Character Sets 18 questions Images 19 questions Sound 19 questions

2.3 Data storage and compression

Build a paper on this topic 24
Compression 18 questions Units & Conversion 6 questions

3.1 Hardware

Build a paper on this topic 77
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

Build a paper on this topic 124
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

Build a paper on this topic 37
Low and High Level Languages 19 questions Translators 18 questions

4.1 Networks

Build a paper on this topic 138
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

Build a paper on this topic 36
Network Security Risks 18 questions Preventing Network Security Risks 18 questions

5.1 Environmental

Build a paper on this topic 36
E-waste 17 questions Manufacturing Technology 19 questions

5.2 Ethical and legal

Build a paper on this topic 71
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

More ways to revise Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2)

Activities Flashcards Revision notes

Teachers: build a paper, print it with the mark schemes at the end, and sign your school up to set your classes activities on every topic.

Fetch Decode Explain isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson Edexcel.