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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.

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4 questions · 7 marks

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1Multiple choice1 markStored Program Computers Swap Remove

Identify the bus that carries addresses in one direction only, from the CPU to main memory.

[1 mark]
  • AAddress bus
  • BControl bus
  • CData bus
  • DSystem bus
Mark scheme
  • A Address bus (1)
  • The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is address bus. Do not accept 'address' on its own.
  • B is not correct because the control bus carries control signals in both directions between the CPU and other components
  • C is not correct because the data bus carries data in both directions between the CPU and main memory
  • D is not correct because the system bus is the collection of all three buses
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

A Address bus

Why: Correct option: the address bus carries addresses in one direction only, from the CPU to main memory (1).

No marks0/1

C Data bus

Why: The data bus carries data in both directions, so it is not the bus that carries addresses in one direction only from the CPU to main memory; no creditworthy point.

No marks0/1

B Control bus

Why: The control bus carries control signals in both directions, not addresses in one direction only; this is the common control/address bus confusion, so no mark.

2Short recall2 marksPrimary Memory Swap Remove

An application's instructions and data are copied from secondary storage into RAM before it runs.

Give two reasons why the instructions and data are copied into RAM rather than being read directly from secondary storage.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for any of the following up to a maximum of two marks:

  • RAM can be accessed/read (much) faster than secondary storage / secondary storage is (much) slower than RAM (1)
  • The CPU would have to wait/idle if instructions and data were read directly from secondary storage (1)
  • The CPU can access RAM directly / RAM is directly accessible to the CPU (1)

Allow hard disk / hard drive / SSD for secondary storage.

Do not accept RAM is volatile / so that instructions and data are not lost when the power is switched off.

Do not accept the computer runs faster / has more storage (without reference to the CPU accessing instructions and data).

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

RAM can be accessed much faster than secondary storage, so the CPU would have to wait for its instructions if they were read from the hard disk.

Why: Creditworthy point that RAM is accessed/read faster than secondary storage (1) and the linked point that the CPU would wait/idle without this (1).

Some marks1/2

RAM can be read faster than the hard disk.

Why: Gives one creditworthy reason, that RAM is accessed/read faster than secondary storage (1), but does not say why this matters to the CPU, so the second mark is not earned.

No marks0/2

So that the data is not lost when the computer is switched off.

Why: RAM is volatile, so keeping data when the power is off is not a reason for using RAM; this is the misconception in the Do not accept line and scores nothing.

3Describe2 marksLow and High Level Languages Swap Remove

A device driver is software that allows the operating system to control a piece of hardware. Device drivers are often written in a low-level programming language.

Describe one reason why a low-level programming language is suitable for writing a device driver.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Instructions can manipulate/control the hardware/memory/registers directly (1) so the driver can control the specific device it is written for (1)
  • The code is written for one specific processor/architecture (1) so it works with the exact hardware it will control (1)
  • The programmer controls exactly how memory/registers are used (1) so the code is efficient and needs little memory, which suits a device that has limited memory (1)
  • Each instruction maps to one machine code instruction (1) so the driver code is small enough to fit in the memory of the device (1)

Extra detail, such as naming the device the driver controls, is not needed to earn the marks.

Do not accept 'it is closer to machine code' on its own: it must be developed to show how this helps the driver, e.g. it can control the hardware directly.

Do not accept 'it is faster/quicker' with no link to the hardware/device, e.g. the device responds quickly.

Do not accept 'it is easier to learn', 'it is easier to debug' or 'it takes less time to write'.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Low-level instructions can manipulate the hardware and memory directly (1) so the driver can control the specific device it was written for, such as a sound card (1).

Why: Point about direct control of hardware/memory (1) linked to controlling the specific device (1). The named device is extra detail and is not needed.

Some marks1/2

Low-level instructions can manipulate the hardware directly.

Why: Correct point (1) but no linked development saying how this helps the device driver.

No marks0/2

It is closer to machine code so it runs faster than a high-level language.

Why: 'Closer to machine code' is not developed into how this helps the driver, and 'runs faster' is not linked to the hardware/device, so no mark.

4Calculate2 marksBinary Shifts Swap Remove

Computers manipulate binary patterns.

Complete the table with the result of applying the shift to the binary pattern.

[2 marks]
Binary patternShift8-bit binary result
1000 0001Logical shift right by 1
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each correct nibble in the correct order:

  • 0100 (1)
  • 0000 (1)

0 marks if the response is not 8-bit binary.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

0100 0000

Why: Every bit moves 1 place right, with 0s in from the left: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

0100 0001

Why: A slip in the last bit. The first nibble is correct (1); the second is not.

No marks0/2

0000 0010

Why: Shifts the bits the wrong way. Neither nibble is correct.

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 14 questions Impact of AI 4 questions

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