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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 · 5 marks

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1Multiple choice1 markSecondary Memory Swap Remove

A computer stores files on a hard disk drive.

A computer stores files on a hard disk drive.

Identify what the drive uses to read and write data.

[1 mark]
  • AA drive head that moves over the spinning platters
  • BA laser that measures reflected light
  • CA memory chip that traps electric charges
  • DA pit and land pattern burnt onto the surface
Mark scheme
  • A A drive head that moves over the spinning platters (1)
  • The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is a drive head.
  • B is not correct because a laser that measures reflected light is used by optical media such as a CD or Blu-ray Disc
  • C is not correct because trapping electric charges is how solid state (flash) storage stores data
  • D is not correct because pits and lands are burnt or pressed onto optical media, not onto a hard disk drive
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

A A drive head that moves over the spinning platters

Why: Correct option (1): a hard disk drive uses a drive head that moves over the spinning platters to read and write data.

No marks0/1

D A pit and land pattern burnt onto the surface

Why: Near miss scoring 0: pits and lands are an optical feature, as line D of the mark scheme says. Only A is credited.

No marks0/1

C A memory chip that traps electric charges

Why: Misconception scoring 0: this confuses a hard disk drive with solid state storage, which stores data as trapped electric charges (line C).

2Describe2 marksSecondary Memory Swap Remove

A laptop uses a solid state drive (SSD) for secondary storage.

Describe how data is stored on a solid state drive.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Data is stored on (flash) memory chips/cells (1) as a pattern of electrical charges (1)
  • A current/voltage forces electrons through a barrier (1) so that they are trapped (or not trapped) to hold/represent a value (1)
  • Cells with a trapped charge and cells with no trapped charge (1) represent 1s and 0s/binary (1)
  • The trapped charge remains when the power is turned off (1) so the data is not lost/it is non-volatile (1)

Do not accept responses that describe magnetic storage, e.g. magnetised platters, spinning disks or read/write heads, or optical storage, e.g. lasers, pits and lands.

Do not award a mark for 'it is solid state' or 'it has no moving parts' without a description of how the data is stored.

Do not award a mark for restating the stem, e.g. 'a laptop uses an SSD' or 'an SSD uses flash memory'.

'Data is stored as electrical charges' on its own, with no reference to memory chips/cells or to how the charge is held, earns a maximum of one mark (1).

A response that only describes electrons being trapped, with no link to how the value/data is represented, earns one mark (1). The second mark needs a link such as trapped and not trapped charge representing 1s and 0s, or the trapped charge being kept so the data is not lost.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A current is used to force electrons through a barrier so that they become trapped, and a cell with a trapped charge or a cell with no trapped charge represents a 1 or a 0.

Why: Linked description: a current forces electrons through a barrier (1) and trapped/not trapped charge represents 1s and 0s (1).

Some marks1/2

The data is stored in flash memory chips.

Why: Gives the creditworthy point that data is stored on flash memory chips (1) but does not develop it, e.g. by saying the data is held as electrical charges or by describing trapped electrons.

No marks0/2

The data is stored as magnetised areas on a spinning platter.

Why: This describes magnetic storage, which the mark scheme says not to accept for a solid state drive.

3Explain2 marksSecondary Memory Swap Remove

A Blu-ray disc and a CD are the same physical size.

Explain why a Blu-ray disc can store more data than a CD.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The pits and lands on a Blu-ray disc are smaller/closer together (1) because the blue laser has a shorter wavelength than the infrared laser used by a CD (1)
  • More pits and lands can be stored in the same length of track (1) because the blue laser has a shorter wavelength, so it can focus on a smaller area/read smaller details (1)
  • A blue laser can focus on a smaller area (1) so smaller pits and lands can be used, allowing more data to be stored on the disc (1)

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

Do not accept 'a Blu-ray is newer/better' or 'a Blu-ray has more space/bigger storage' without a linked reason about the laser/pits and lands.

Do not accept answers about read/write speed, for example 'a Blu-ray spins faster', because the question asks about the amount of data stored, not how quickly it is read.

Do not award 'a Blu-ray disc can have more layers' on its own as the reason; it must be linked to the smaller pits and lands/shorter wavelength of the laser.

Do not accept 'red laser' for a CD; a CD uses an infrared laser (red is used by DVD).

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A Blu-ray is read with a blue laser which has a shorter wavelength so the pits and lands on the disc can be smaller and more of them fit on the disc.

Why: Linked point (1) shorter wavelength of the blue laser with reason (1) smaller pits and lands so more data fits on the same disc.

Some marks1/2

The pits and lands on a Blu-ray are smaller than the ones on a CD so it can store more data.

Why: Point (1) that the pits and lands are smaller, but the second part repeats the question and does not give the linked reason (shorter wavelength of the blue laser/infrared CD laser), so only one mark.

No marks0/2

A Blu-ray spins faster than a CD so more data can be read from it in the same time.

Why: Do not accept answers about read/write speed; the question asks about the amount of data stored, not how quickly it is read.

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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