Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) exam questions

Build a practice paper from 604 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.

Practice paper

4 questions · 17 marks

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1Short 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.

2Describe2 marksUtility Software Swap Remove

A student has a large number of photographs stored on a computer.

Describe the purpose of data compression software.

[2 marks]

Mark scheme

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

Makes a file/files smaller (1) so less storage space is needed on the disk (1)
Reduces the size of the data (1) so it takes less time to upload/download/transfer the file (1)
Compresses files/folders into a single file (1) so an attachment is under the size limit for email (1)
Reduces the size of the files (1) so more of them fit onto a storage device/backup media (1)

Do not accept 'it compresses the files' on its own, as this repeats the question.

Do not accept responses about protecting files from malware/viruses or about deleting files.

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks2/2

It makes the files smaller (1) so that they use less storage space on the computer and more of them fit on the disk (1).

Why: The point (1) and a linked development giving the benefit (1).

Some marks1/2

It makes files smaller.

Why: This is the point (1) but there is no development of what the smaller size leads to, so only one mark.

No marks0/2

It protects the files from viruses so that they cannot be damaged.

Why: This describes anti-malware software, which the mark scheme does not accept; no creditworthy point is made.

3Discuss6 marksSoftware Basics Swap Remove

A dental practice has a network of computers used by receptionists, dentists and managers. Patient records are stored in shared folders and staff have different levels of access.

Discuss how the operating system's file management and user management support the dental practice.

Your answer should consider:

file management
user management

[6 marks]

Mark scheme

Indicative content

File management

The operating system organises the practice's patient records into folders, so staff can find a patient's record quickly during an appointment.
It carries out file operations such as saving, moving, renaming and deleting, so a dentist can save updated notes to the correct record.
It sets permissions on shared folders and files, so that only authorised staff, such as dentists, can open a patient's clinical records; this reduces the risk of confidential records being seen by the wrong staff.
It can give read-only access to some files, so receptionists can view appointment details but cannot change clinical notes.
It shows the size of files and the free space on the practice's shared storage, so managers can see when more storage is needed for records.

User management

The operating system creates a user account for each member of staff, with a username and password, so that each person has their own access to the system.
It allocates access rights to each account, so receptionists, dentists and managers each see only the folders and files their role needs.
It allows accounts to be grouped by role, so a new dentist can be given the same permissions as the existing dentists quickly instead of setting each one by hand.
It can require strong passwords, which makes it harder for one member of staff to log on using another person's account and open patient records.
It can disable or delete an account when a member of staff leaves, so that they can no longer open patient records.

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)

Level 3 responses must cover both file management and user management and develop how each supports the practice, for example linking permissions to who can open patient records. Answers that only state basic, undeveloped points such as 'the operating system puts files in folders' or 'users have a username and password', with little reference to the practice, are limited to Level 1 (maximum 2 marks).

Do not accept backup, disk defragmentation or anti-malware software as operating system file management, or encryption, as these are outside the operating system's file management; they are utility software or security measures.

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks6/6

The operating system's file management lets the practice keep each patient's records in folders, and it carries out the saving, moving and deleting of those files, so a dentist can add notes to the right record after an appointment. File management also sets permissions on the shared folders, so receptionists can be given read-only access to appointment details but cannot change clinical notes, while dentists have write access. This reduces the risk of confidential patient records being seen or changed by the wrong staff. User management supports this because the operating system gives every member of staff their own account with a username and password, so anything done to a record can be traced to the person who did it. Accounts can be grouped by role, so when the practice takes on a new dentist the account can be given the same rights as the other dentists quickly rather than setting each permission by hand. When a member of staff leaves, their account can be disabled so they can no longer open patient records. Together this means the practice can share records across reception, dentists and managers while each person only reaches what their role needs.

Why: Level 3: both file management (folders, saving, permissions, read-only access) and user management (accounts, grouping by role, disabling accounts) are covered and developed, with sustained reasoning linking them to the practice's shared records and staff access.

Some marks2/6

File management puts the patient records into folders so they can be found. User management gives each member of staff a username and password so they can log on to the computer.

Why: Level 1: two basic, independent points, one on each area, with little development and little application to how they support the practice, so it is capped by the Level 1 guidance at 2 marks.

Some marks1/6

File management is when the operating system backs up all the files every night. User management is when the computer has a username so it stops viruses.

Why: Level 1 (1 mark): backup is not accepted as operating system file management, but the basic point that a user account has a username is creditworthy; the claim that it stops viruses is not creditworthy.

4Discuss6 marksTranslators Swap Remove

A company writes a photo editing program in a high-level language. The company will sell the finished program to customers. Each customer will install the program on their own computer and run it many times.

Discuss whether the company should use a compiler or an interpreter to translate the program before it is sold.

Your answer should include:

the output of each type of translator
whether the program has to be translated each time it is run
what the customer needs on their computer to run the program.

[6 marks]

Mark scheme

Indicative content

The output of each type of translator

A compiler translates the whole program in one go and produces object code.
The object code is saved as an executable file, which is already in machine code so the processor can run it directly.
An interpreter does not produce object code, so no translated file exists for the company to save and sell.
An interpreter translates one line at a time and executes it immediately, but that translation is not kept.

Whether the program has to be translated each time it is run

Compiled code is translated once, so the executable can be run as many times as the customer likes without being translated again.
If the source code is edited, the whole program has to be compiled again to produce a new executable.
An interpreted program is translated again every time it is run, so a customer who runs the program often waits for translation at every run.
An executable runs faster than interpreted code because it is already in machine code.

What the customer needs on their computer to run the program

A customer who installs the executable needs no compiler on their computer, so the program will run straight away.
If the company supplied the source code instead, the customer would need an interpreter installed, and it would have to be an interpreter for their type of computer.
A customer given only the executable does not have the source code, so cannot change the program.

Conclusion

A compiler is the better choice for this company, because the executable can be sold and the customer runs it without it being translated again and without being given the source code.
Using an interpreter would mean supplying the source code to customers and translating the program on every run.

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)

Level 3 responses must cover all three bullets for this company's program, including translating once rather than on every run, and reach a conclusion.

Do not accept 'a compiler fixes errors' (a compiler reports syntax errors at the end of translation, it does not fix them) or 'a compiler is easier to use' with no link to output, translation or the customer. Do not accept answers about translating to assembly language.

Example answers and how they were marked

Full marks6/6

The company should use a compiler. A compiler translates the whole program in one go and produces object code, which is saved as an executable file. This executable is already in machine code, so the customer's processor can run it directly. The program is translated only once, so a customer who runs the program many times does not wait for it to be translated again, and it runs faster than interpreted code would. An interpreter produces no object code, so the company would have nothing to sell as an executable. The customer would have to be given the source code and would need an interpreter installed on their computer, and the program would be translated again every time it was run.

Why: Level 3. Covers the output of both translators (executable from the compiler, no object code from the interpreter), the effect of translating once rather than on every run, and what the customer needs on their computer, all applied to the company selling the program, with a clear conclusion.

Some marks3/6

A compiler produces an executable file, which the company can save and sell to its customers. An interpreter does not produce an executable file, so the customer would need the source code and an interpreter installed on their computer to run the program. This means a compiler is better for the company, because customers can just run the file they are given.

Why: Level 2. Gives the output of both translators and links this to what the customer needs, with a conclusion, but never says the compiled program is translated once while an interpreted one is translated on every run, so the reasoning is not developed enough for Level 3.

No marks0/6

The company should use a compiler because it is easier to write programs with a compiler and it fixes the errors in the program before the customers get it.

Why: Level 0. No creditworthy point: 'easier to write programs' is not linked to the output, the translation each run or the customer, and 'fixes the errors' is a misconception, as the mark scheme's guidance says a compiler only reports errors at the end of translation.

Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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Questions by topic

2.1 Binary

2.2 Data representation

2.3 Data storage and compression

3.1 Hardware

3.2 Software

3.3 Programming languages

4.1 Networks

4.2 Network security

5.1 Environmental

5.2 Ethical and legal

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