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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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3 questions · 6 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.

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.

3Explain2 marksLANs & WANs Swap Remove

A charity has one office. All of its computers are in the same building.

Explain one reason why the charity uses a LAN rather than a WAN to connect its computers.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A LAN covers a small geographical area (1) because all the charity's computers are in one building/on one site (1)
  • The charity can use its own cabling/equipment (1) so it does not need to rent leased lines from a telecoms provider (1)
  • The charity owns the infrastructure (1) so it avoids the cost of leased lines/external connections that a WAN needs (1)
  • The devices are close together (1) so the LAN can use short, high-speed cabling (1)

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

Do not accept 'it is faster/better/cheaper' on its own without a linked reason (e.g. short distance, own cabling, no leased lines).

Allow 'the LAN is private/secure' only with a linked reason such as the charity controls its own equipment.

Do not accept 'a LAN is local' or 'a WAN is too far/expensive' without a linked reason about the small area or leased lines.

Do not accept 'the computers are in one building/on one site' on its own because it repeats the stem; it must be linked to a reason such as a LAN covering a small geographical area.

Do not accept 'stronger Wi-Fi/signal' as a reason.

Do not accept 'can share files/printers' on its own because this is a reason for any network, not for choosing a LAN over a WAN.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

All the charity's computers are in one building so a LAN can cover this small geographical area.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): the computers are on one site and a LAN covers a small area.

Some marks1/2

The charity can use its own cabling and equipment.

Why: Earns the first mark for the point about using its own cabling/equipment; it gives no linked reason about avoiding leased lines.

No marks0/2

A LAN is cheaper.

Why: No credit: 'cheaper' on its own is rejected by the mark scheme because it has no linked reason such as avoiding leased lines.

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

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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

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Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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