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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.

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4 questions · 8 marks

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1Short recall2 marksWired Connections Swap Remove

A company can choose between two wired connections. Connection B has a higher bandwidth than connection A.

Give two benefits to the company of choosing connection B.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Files will download more quickly, and more employees can use the internet at the same time without the connection slowing down.

Why: Files download more quickly (1) and more users without slowdown (1).

Some marks1/2

Web pages will load faster and the connection will have a longer range.

Why: Web pages load faster (1); the range of a connection is not increased by bandwidth, so that point is not credited.

No marks0/2

The connection will be more reliable because it has a bigger bandwidth.

Why: 'More reliable' is not credited on its own and 'bigger bandwidth' repeats the question, so no marks.

2Describe2 marksWired Connections Swap Remove

A farm uses wired connections to link sensors in its fields to a computer in the farmhouse.

Describe how the range of a wired connection can affect the performance of this network.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • (Twisted pair/copper) cable only carries data over a limited distance (about 100 metres) (1) so sensors further away need another switch/device to pass the data on to the farmhouse (1)
  • Fibre optic cable can carry data over much longer distances (1) so wired connections can reach sensors across the whole farm (1)
  • Data sent further than the cable's range is not received (1) so the computer in the farmhouse does not get readings from those sensors (1)
  • A wireless connection can reach sensors that are out of range of the cables (1) so a mix of the two can give readings across the whole site (1)

Allow responses about signal weakening/being lost over a long cable.

Do not accept responses about bandwidth or speed, as range is about distance, not the amount or rate of data.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Twisted pair copper cable only carries data for about 100 metres so a switch is needed in each field to pass the readings on to the farmhouse.

Why: Point that copper cable has a limited distance (1) linked to needing another device to extend the network (1).

Some marks1/2

Fibre optic cable can carry data much further than copper cable.

Why: Gives the first point of a linked pair (1) but does not develop it to say what this allows the farm to do.

No marks0/2

A longer cable gives the network a bigger bandwidth so the sensors work faster.

Why: About bandwidth and speed rather than range, which the mark scheme says is not accepted.

3Explain2 marksThe Internet Swap Remove

Routers on the internet choose a route for each packet.

Explain one benefit of a router being able to choose a different route for a packet.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Data can avoid a busy/congested link (1) because the router can choose another path (1)
  • Data can still arrive if a link fails (1) because the router sends it another way (1)
  • Data can take the shortest/fastest path (1) because the router compares the routes and chooses the one with the fewest hops/least traffic (1)

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

Allow other valid benefits with a linked reason, e.g. traffic can be shared across routes/load balanced (1) because the router can send some packets by another path (1)

Do not accept 'the route is always the same' as this is not a benefit of choosing a route.

Do not accept 'routers are fast' or 'packets are sent faster' on its own: the reason must say how the route is chosen, e.g. avoiding congestion or using a routing table.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

If one route is busy, the data can still get there because the router can choose a different path.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): a different path avoids the busy route.

Some marks1/2

It can choose the fastest route because routers are quick.

Why: Point (1) for choosing the fastest route, but 'routers are quick' is a speed statement that does not say how the route is chosen, so it does not earn the second mark.

No marks0/2

It means more devices can connect to the internet.

Why: No link to choosing a route for a packet; does not answer the question.

4Explain2 marksWireless Connections Swap Remove

A student plays an online game using a laptop connected to the school Wi-Fi.

Explain one reason why an online game can respond more slowly over a wireless connection than over a wired connection.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Wireless signals can be blocked or absorbed by walls (1) so the data must be re-sent, which adds delay (1)
  • A device further from the access point has a weaker signal (1) so data must be re-sent/transmitted at a lower rate, adding delay (1)
  • Devices on a wireless network share a channel (1) so a device must wait its turn to transmit, which adds delay (1)
  • Interference from other devices affects the radio signal (1) so data must be re-sent, adding delay (1)

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

Allow 'waiting to send' or 'collisions' as the delay caused by devices sharing a channel.

Do not accept 'wireless is slower than wired' on its own, as this repeats the question.

Do not accept a reason that only affects download speed/bandwidth (e.g. 'files take longer to download') without a link to delay.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Interference from other devices affects the radio signal, so the data has to be re-sent and this adds delay before the player's action appears.

Why: Linked point (1): interference affects the signal; reason (1): re-sending the data adds delay (latency).

Some marks1/2

Walls can block the wireless signal.

Why: Point only (1): walls block the signal. No linked reason saying that this means data must be re-sent, which adds delay.

No marks0/2

Wireless has less bandwidth than wired, so a game update takes longer to download.

Why: Confuses latency with bandwidth/download speed; the mark scheme says not to accept this without a link to delay.

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

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

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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

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