Menu
Exam Questions

Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 659 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.

Build a paper

Topics (none ticked: all of them)
Question types (none ticked: all of them)

Practice paper

4 questions · 12 marks

Pick again
Print
1Short recall1 markSecondary Memory Swap Remove

Data is stored on optical discs as pits and lands.

Name the component in an optical disc drive that reads this data.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • Laser (1)

Allow laser beam

Do not accept read/write head

Do not accept pits

Do not accept lands

Do not accept reflective surface

Do not accept magnet/magnetic

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

Laser

Why: Laser is the creditworthy answer (1).

No marks0/1

A read/write head

Why: Read/write head is not accepted by the mark scheme; it reads magnetic media, not optical discs, so no marks are awarded.

No marks0/1

Pits and lands

Why: Pits and lands are what the laser reads, not the component that reads the data, so the mark scheme does not accept them.

2Short recall3 marksStored Program Computers Swap Remove

The CPU contains several components.

Name three components of the CPU.

[3 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Control unit / CU (1)
  • Arithmetic logic unit / ALU (1)
  • Register(s) (1)
  • Clock (1)

Do not accept main memory / RAM.

Do not accept cache.

Marks can be awarded in any order.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks3/3

Control unit, arithmetic logic unit and registers.

Why: Names three creditworthy CPU components (control unit, ALU, registers), one mark each.

Some marks2/3

Control unit, clock and main memory.

Why: Control unit (1) and clock (1) are creditworthy; main memory is not a component of the CPU, a common misconception seen in the June 2023 question.

No marks0/3

Main memory, RAM and cache.

Why: None are CPU components named in the specification; candidates often confuse main memory with CPU components.

3Explain2 marksEmbedded Systems Swap Remove

An engine control unit (ECU) in a car is an embedded system.

Explain one benefit of using an embedded system for the engine control unit instead of a general purpose computer.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • (The ECU) is more reliable/less likely to crash (1) because it only runs the one program/has a single purpose (1)
  • (The ECU) cannot be affected by other software/viruses (1) because it cannot run other software/it can only run the program it was made for (1)
  • (The ECU) is cheaper (1) because it has limited processing resources/less memory/simple components (1)
  • (The ECU) uses less power (1) because it has limited processing resources/a simpler processor (1)
  • (The ECU) is smaller (1) because it has fewer components/less memory than a general purpose computer (1)

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

A suitable benefit stated on its own earns one mark.

Do not accept a description or a location given as the reason, e.g. 'because it is part of the car', 'because it is inside the engine', 'because it is embedded'.

Do not accept a description of an embedded system on its own as the benefit, e.g. 'it does one specific job' or 'it is part of the car'.

Do not accept 'it is faster'/'it has a more powerful processor' as embedded systems have limited processing resources.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It is more reliable than a general purpose computer because it only runs the one program so it will not crash and stop the engine working.

Why: Benefit stated (1) with a linked reason (1); the reason shows why only running one program makes it reliable.

Some marks1/2

It is more reliable because it is part of the car's engine.

Why: Only the benefit earns a mark (1); being part of the car is a location, not a linked reason why it is reliable.

No marks0/2

It is faster than a general purpose computer because it is embedded in the engine.

Why: Misconception that an embedded system is faster; embedded systems have limited processing resources, so neither point nor reason is creditworthy.

4Discuss6 marksPrimary Memory Swap Remove

A school is buying new computers for its IT room. The computers the technician has ordered have 16 GB of RAM and a large hard drive.

Discuss why main memory (RAM) is needed for programs to run on these computers.

Your answer should include:

  • the role of RAM in the stored program concept
  • what happens to a program when it is opened
  • why the CPU cannot execute a program directly from secondary storage.
[6 marks]
Mark scheme

Indicative content

the role of RAM in the stored program concept

  • In the von Neumann stored program concept, a program's instructions and the data it uses are held together in main memory.
  • RAM holds the instructions and data of the program that the CPU is currently processing.
  • The CPU fetches each instruction from RAM during the fetch-decode-execute cycle, so a program must be in RAM before it can be run.
  • RAM is directly accessible by the CPU, so instructions can be fetched quickly enough for the CPU to keep working.

what happens to a program when it is opened

  • When a program is opened, a copy of its instructions and data is transferred from secondary storage, such as the hard drive, into RAM.
  • The operating system loads the program into RAM so that the CPU can start fetching and executing its instructions.
  • When the program is closed, it is removed from RAM, and the space it used is free for another program.
  • If a computer does not have enough RAM, the program may not open, or another open program has to be closed first.

why the CPU cannot execute a program directly from secondary storage

  • Secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive, is much slower to access than RAM.
  • The CPU can process instructions much faster than secondary storage can supply them, so the CPU would have to wait and would not be working at full speed.
  • RAM is fast electronic memory with no moving parts, so data can be read from it in a fraction of the time taken by a magnetic hard disk drive.
  • Running the school's programs directly from secondary storage would make the computers in the IT room very slow to use.

Levels

  • Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
  • Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
  • Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
  • Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)

Additional guidance

  • Level 3 responses must cover both the role of RAM in the stored program concept and the speed difference between RAM and secondary storage, with a reason such as the CPU having to wait for instructions.
  • Answers that make only basic, independent points, such as what RAM is, that a program is copied into RAM when it is opened, or that RAM is faster than a hard drive, without linking them to explain why the CPU would have to wait for instructions, are limited to Level 1.
  • Do not accept statements that RAM is permanent storage, that RAM replaces secondary storage, or that secondary storage is read-only.
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks6/6

The computers need RAM because of the von Neumann stored program concept, in which the instructions of a program and the data it uses are both held in main memory. When a student opens a program on one of the new computers, the operating system copies it from the hard drive into RAM. The CPU then fetches each instruction from RAM in the fetch-decode-execute cycle, so the program must be in RAM before it can be run. The CPU cannot execute a program directly from secondary storage because a hard disk drive is much slower than RAM. It has moving parts and a much lower transfer rate, so the CPU would often have nothing to do while it waited for the next instruction. RAM is fast electronic memory that the CPU can read directly, which is why 16 GB of RAM lets the school run several programs at once and still keep the CPU working at full speed.

Why: Comprehensive understanding: the stored program concept is explained (instructions and data held in main memory), the program being opened is linked to it, and the speed difference is developed with the reason that the CPU would wait for instructions, all applied to the school's computers. Level 3.

Some marks2/6

RAM is the main memory of the computer. It stores the programs and data that are being used at the moment. When you open a program it is copied into RAM, and the CPU fetches instructions from RAM. RAM is faster than the hard drive, so a program runs better from RAM. Having 16 GB means the school can have more programs open at once.

Why: Basic, independent points only: what RAM is, that a program is copied into RAM when it is opened, that the CPU fetches instructions from RAM, and that RAM is faster than a hard drive. None is linked to the stored program concept or developed to explain why the CPU would have to wait for instructions, so Level 1, 2 marks.

No marks0/6

RAM is the permanent storage inside the computer, like a hard drive. The school needs 16 GB of RAM so that all the students' files can be saved permanently. When a program is opened, it is copied from RAM to the CPU. The CPU cannot execute from secondary storage because secondary storage is read-only.

Why: No creditworthy points. RAM is described as permanent storage, files are said to be saved permanently in RAM, a program is said to be copied from RAM to the CPU, and secondary storage is said to be read-only. All are the misconceptions listed in the Do not accept guidance, so Level 0.

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

Build a paper on this topic 56
Character Sets 18 questions Images 19 questions Sound 19 questions

2.3 Data storage and compression

Build a paper on this topic 24
Compression 18 questions Units & Conversion 6 questions

3.1 Hardware

Build a paper on this topic 77
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

Build a paper on this topic 36
Network Security Risks 18 questions Preventing Network Security Risks 18 questions

5.1 Environmental

Build a paper on this topic 36
E-waste 17 questions Manufacturing Technology 19 questions

5.2 Ethical and legal

Build a paper on this topic 65
Data Protection Act 17 questions Impact of AI 18 questions Intellectual Property 18 questions Software Licences 12 questions

5.3 Cybersecurity

Malware 8 questions

More ways to revise Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2)

Activities Flashcards Revision notes

Teachers: build a paper, print it with the mark schemes at the end, and sign your school up to set your classes activities on every topic.

Fetch Decode Explain isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson Edexcel.