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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 631 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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5 questions · 9 marks

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1Short recall1 markWired Connections Swap Remove

Wired connections have characteristics that affect network performance.

State what is meant by the range of a wired network connection.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • The maximum distance data/a signal can be transmitted before it becomes too weak to be received (1)

Allow 'how far a signal can travel'.

Do not accept the number of devices that can be connected to the network.

Do not accept the speed at which data is transmitted.

Do not accept bandwidth/the maximum capacity of a channel.

Do not accept latency/the delay between a signal being sent and received.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

The maximum distance a signal can be transmitted before it becomes too weak to be received.

Why: Gives the maximum distance a signal can be transmitted before it becomes too weak, which is the creditworthy point (1).

No marks0/1

The maximum capacity of the connection.

Why: This describes bandwidth, which the mark scheme says not to accept for range, so no mark.

No marks0/1

The delay between a signal being sent and received.

Why: This describes latency/delay, which the mark scheme says not to accept for range, so no mark.

2Short recall2 marksWireless Connections Swap Remove

Latency affects the performance of a network.

Define the term latency.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A delay/time/lag (1)
  • Between a signal/request being sent and a response/data being received (1)

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

Do not accept 'the speed at which data travels' / 'bandwidth' / 'the amount of data sent per second'.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The delay between a signal being sent and a response being received.

Why: Gives the delay (1) and the time between sending and receiving (1).

Some marks1/2

The time taken for data to travel.

Why: Gives the idea of time taken (1) but does not say between sending and receiving (1).

No marks0/2

The speed at which data is sent over the network.

Why: Describes speed, not latency; no creditworthy point.

3Describe2 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 (1) so the data is sent at a steady speed instead of slowing down (1).

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.

4Describe2 marksWireless Connections Swap Remove

A school provides a wireless network for its students.

Describe how the range of a wireless network can affect its performance.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The further a device is from the wireless access point (1) the weaker the signal becomes (1)
  • A device outside the range of an access point (1) cannot connect to the network / loses its connection (1)
  • Walls and other obstacles reduce the range of the signal (1) so some areas of a building have a poor or no connection (1)
  • A wireless network with a greater range (1) allows devices to connect from further away (1)

Do not accept responses that only state that range is measured in metres or give a definition of range, as these do not describe an effect on performance.

Do not accept responses about the number of devices or interference unless they are linked to range.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The further a device is from the access point, the weaker the signal becomes, so the device may lose its connection.

Why: Linked point: distance from the access point (1), developed by the weaker signal and lost connection (1).

Some marks1/2

Walls and other objects can reduce the range of a wireless signal.

Why: Point given: obstacles reduce range (1), but there is no development of the effect on performance.

No marks0/2

Range is the maximum distance a wireless signal can travel.

Why: A definition of range, not a description of its effect on performance, which the mark scheme does not accept.

5Explain2 marksPacket Switching Swap Remove

Data is split into packets before it is sent across the internet.

Explain why each packet has a packet number in its header.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The receiver can put the packets back into the correct order (1) because packets may arrive out of order/take different routes (1)
  • The receiver can see if a packet is missing (1) because the sequence of numbers shows a gap (1)
  • The receiver knows when the whole file has arrived (1) because the total number of packets/last packet number is known (1)

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

Allow 'so the packets can be put back in the correct order/reassembled' for the first mark, but the second mark needs the reason, i.e. packets may arrive out of order/take different routes.

Do not accept 'so the packets can be identified' without stating what the number is used for, e.g. reordering or spotting a missing packet.

Do not accept 'so the router knows where to send it' - the router uses the destination IP address, not the packet number.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The receiver can put the packets back in the correct order because they may arrive out of order.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): the packet number allows reordering because packets can arrive out of order.

Some marks1/2

It shows the receiver the order of the packets.

Why: The point is given (1) but there is no linked reason, such as packets arriving out of order.

No marks0/2

So the router knows which route to use.

Why: Routers use the destination IP address, not the packet number, so this earns nothing; it is named in the mark scheme as a '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

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

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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

Build a paper on this topic 45
Data Protection Act 17 questions Impact of AI 16 questions Intellectual Property 12 questions

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