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.
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
The cable is not affected by interference from other devices such as other networks or microwaves so the data is sent at a steady speed instead of slowing down.
Why: Point that the cable is not affected by interference (1) linked to a consistent data transfer speed (1).
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.
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.