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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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3 questions · 6 marks

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1Describe2 marksWireless Connections Swap Remove

A school provides a wireless network for its students.

Describe how the range of a wireless network can affect its performance.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The further a device is from the wireless access point (1) the weaker the signal becomes (1)
  • A device outside the range of an access point (1) cannot connect to the network / loses its connection (1)
  • Walls and other obstacles reduce the range of the signal (1) so some areas of a building have a poor or no connection (1)
  • A wireless network with a greater range (1) allows devices to connect from further away (1)

Do not accept responses that only state that range is measured in metres or give a definition of range, as these do not describe an effect on performance.

Do not accept responses about the number of devices or interference unless they are linked to range.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The further a device is from the access point, the weaker the signal becomes, so the device may lose its connection.

Why: Linked point: distance from the access point (1), developed by the weaker signal and lost connection (1).

Some marks1/2

Walls and other objects can reduce the range of a wireless signal.

Why: Point given: obstacles reduce range (1), but there is no development of the effect on performance.

No marks0/2

Range is the maximum distance a wireless signal can travel.

Why: A definition of range, not a description of its effect on performance, which the mark scheme does not accept.

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 marksPacket Switching Swap Remove

A file is sent across the internet in packets.

Explain why packets from the same file may take different routes.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Each router chooses the best route at the time (1) so when a route becomes busy/congested or fails, later packets are forwarded along a different path (1)
  • Routers forward each packet separately (1) so the path a packet takes depends on the traffic conditions when that packet arrives (1)
  • A router may send a packet to a different next router (1) if its routing table shows a better/less congested route for that packet (1)
  • Traffic on the internet changes (1) so no single path is kept for the file and each packet can use whichever route is best when it is sent (1)

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

Allow reference to a routing table, or to how a router decides the route, as part of the linked reason.

Do not accept 'the packets have different IP addresses' because all packets from the same file have the same destination IP address, even though their routes can differ.

Do not accept 'the internet is busy' or 'there is a lot of traffic' on its own without linking this to the router choosing a different route.

Do not accept 'different routers send the packets' on its own without a reason why a different router/route is chosen.

Do not accept an answer that only says the packets take different routes without explaining why.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Each router chooses the best route at the time, so if one route becomes busy or fails, later packets are sent a different way.

Why: Linked point (1) that each router chooses the best route at the time and reason (1) that a busy or failed route means later packets take a different path.

Some marks1/2

Routers send packets along the least congested route.

Why: States that a router chooses the least congested route (1) but gives no linked reason why this makes the packets from the file take different routes.

No marks0/2

Because each packet is given a different IP address so they go to different places.

Why: Misconception named in the mark scheme: all packets from the same file share the same destination IP address, even though their routes can differ.

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

Build a paper on this topic 36
Malware 18 questions Social Engineering 18 questions

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