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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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4 questions · 6 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).

2Short 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.

3Describe2 marksEmbedded Systems Swap Remove

A drone is controlled by an embedded system.

Describe the purpose of the embedded system in the drone.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • It controls the motors/rotors (1) so that the drone can take off, hover, turn and land (1)
  • It keeps the drone stable/level automatically (1) by taking readings from a sensor (accelerometer/gyroscope/GPS) (1)
  • It receives signals from the remote control (1) and changes the speed of the motors to steer the drone (1)
  • It monitors the battery level (1) and brings the drone back to the ground before the battery runs out (1)

The development must relate to the function given in the point.

Accept a named function that the embedded system controls, e.g. 'it keeps the drone level', as the first mark (1).

Award the second mark only when the development gives a specific outcome or detail of that function, e.g. 'so that the drone can take off, hover, turn and land' or 'by changing the motor speeds to keep it level'.

Do not award the second mark for a generic outcome such as 'so it works', 'so it can fly' or 'so the drone moves'.

A bare 'it controls the motors so it can fly' therefore earns the first mark only.

Allow any other specific function of a drone that is carried out by the embedded system.

Do not accept 'it flies the drone' / 'it is the drone's brain' / 'it makes the drone work' without a named function being controlled.

Do not accept answers that describe the user or the remote control flying the drone with no function carried out by the embedded system.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

It keeps the drone level while it is in the air by reading the accelerometer and changing the speed of the motors.

Why: Named function of the embedded system, keeping the drone level (1), developed with the sensor reading and motor speed changes that achieve it (1).

Some marks1/2

It controls the motors of the drone.

Why: First mark only (1) for naming a function the embedded system controls, with no linked outcome or detail to earn the second mark.

No marks0/2

It is the brain of the drone and makes the drone work.

Why: Vague phrase with no named function being controlled, which the mark scheme's 'Do not accept' line rules out.

4Describe2 marksSecondary Memory Swap Remove

A computer uses a magnetic hard disk.

Describe how data is stored on a magnetic hard disk.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • A read/write head moves over the surface of the disk (1) to read/write data by detecting or changing the magnetic alignment of areas of the surface (1)
  • The head magnetises areas of the disk surface in different directions (1) so each area represents a binary 1 or 0 (1)
  • Data is stored on concentric circles called tracks (1) which are divided into sectors (1)

Allow one mark for tracks/concentric circles on their own.

For the second mark in the first two bullets, the response must refer to the magnetic alignment/charge being detected or changed, not just that the head reads/writes data.

Do not award a mark for 'it is magnetic' or 'it stores data in binary' with no description of how the data is stored.

Do not accept descriptions of optical storage (e.g. a laser, pits and lands) or solid state storage (e.g. electric charges in chips).

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The read/write head moves over the magnetic surface and magnetises areas of the disk to store the 1s and 0s.

Why: Head moves over the surface (1) and magnetises areas to represent 1s and 0s (1).

Some marks1/2

The data is stored on tracks on the disk.

Why: Tracks/concentric circles (1), but no development such as tracks divided into sectors.

No marks0/2

It is magnetic and saves the data in 1s and 0s.

Why: Near-miss: 'magnetic' alone and 'data in binary/1s and 0s' with no description of how data is stored, which the mark scheme does not award.

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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