Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• Files/data download/upload more quickly (1)
• More employees can use the connection at the same time without it slowing down (1)
• Web pages/streamed video load more quickly with less buffering (1)
• Video calls/conferencing run at a higher quality (1)
• Updates/backups can be completed in less time (1)

Allow 'multiple users' or 'more devices' for the shared-use point

Allow 'video streams more quickly' or 'less buffering' on their own

Do not accept lower latency, as a higher bandwidth does not reduce latency

Do not accept 'more data can be transferred per second' or 'a bigger bandwidth', as these repeat what bandwidth is

Do not accept 'more reliable' on its own, as a higher bandwidth does not make a wired connection more reliable

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.

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

• Splits the data/file into packets (1) so each packet can be sent separately across the network (1)
• Adds a packet/sequence number to each packet (1) so the packets can be put back into the correct order at the destination (1)
• Detects lost/missing packets (1) so they can be requested/resent (1)
• Creates a connection between the two computers/hosts (1) before the file is sent (1)

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

Allow 'segments' for 'packets' (TCP divides the data into segments, which become packets at the internet layer).

Do not accept 'sends the data/file' on its own without saying what the transport layer does to the data.

Do not accept naming TCP or a port number on its own without expansion.

Do not accept routing/addressing packets using IP addresses, which is the internet layer.

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

• The router reads/checks the destination (IP) address in the packet (1) so it can forward/send the packet towards that address/destination (1)
• The router looks up/compares the destination (IP) address (1) to choose the route/next network/next router for the packet (1)
• The router uses the destination (IP) address to choose/select the outgoing connection/network (1) so the packet is sent one step closer to its destination (1)

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

Do not accept a restatement of the question, such as 'the router uses the IP address to forward the packet', without saying how the address is used, e.g. checking the destination address or choosing the route/next network.

Do not accept answers that say the router gives/adds an IP address to the packet, or that the router uses a MAC address instead of the destination IP address.