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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.

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4 questions · 8 marks

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1Short 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.

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 marksProtocols & Layers Swap Remove

Two computers exchange data over a network.

Explain why network protocols are needed for the two computers to communicate.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Devices (can) understand/interpret the data they receive (1) because they follow the same set of rules for communication (1)
  • Data is sent in an agreed format/structure (1) so the receiving device can interpret/understand it correctly (1)
  • Devices (can) connect/communicate successfully (1) because they agree how the data is transmitted, such as the type of signal used (1)
  • Errors (can) be detected/handled (1) because both devices follow the same rules for checking the data (1)

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

Do not accept 'so devices can talk/communicate with each other' or 'so they can understand each other' without saying they follow the same rules/agreed format.

Do not accept an answer that only states protocols are a set of rules, without saying what this allows (e.g. the data can be understood/interpreted).

Do not accept a faster connection/speed as a reason why protocols are needed.

Do not accept naming a protocol (e.g. TCP/IP, HTTP, Wi-Fi) without an explanation of why it is needed.

Do not accept a description of what a protocol does (e.g. 'TCP splits data into packets') without saying why this is needed.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Devices can understand the data they receive because they follow the same set of rules for communication.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): following the same rules is what lets the devices understand the data.

Some marks1/2

Data is sent in an agreed format.

Why: Point (1) identified, but no linked reason saying what the agreed format achieves.

No marks0/2

Protocols are needed so the connection is faster because more data can be sent at once.

Why: Speed is not a reason protocols are needed, so there is no creditworthy point or linked reason.

4Explain2 marksProtocols & Layers Swap Remove

The TCP/IP model has four layers.

Explain one function of the transport layer when a file is sent over a network.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Splits the data/file into packets (1) so each packet can be sent separately across the network (1)
  • Adds a packet/sequence number to each packet (1) so the packets can be put back into the correct order at the destination (1)
  • Detects lost/missing packets (1) so they can be requested/resent (1)
  • Creates a connection between the two computers/hosts (1) before the file is sent (1)

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

Allow 'segments' for 'packets' (TCP divides the data into segments, which become packets at the internet layer).

Do not accept 'sends the data/file' on its own without saying what the transport layer does to the data.

Do not accept naming TCP or a port number on its own without expansion.

Do not accept routing/addressing packets using IP addresses, which is the internet layer.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The transport layer splits the data into packets so each packet can be sent separately across the network.

Why: Linked point (1) and reason (1): splitting into packets lets each one be sent separately.

Some marks1/2

It splits the data into packets.

Why: Point (1) identified, but no linked reason given, so only the first mark is awarded.

No marks0/2

It routes the packets using IP addresses so they reach the right destination.

Why: Routing using IP addresses is the internet layer, not the transport layer, so no credit is given.

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

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

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