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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 · 7 marks

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1Short recall1 markCharacter Sets Swap Remove

ASCII uses 7 bits to store each character. A system has only 6 bits available to store each character.

State the number of different characters the system can represent.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • 64 (1)
  • 2^6 (1)
  • 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 (1)

Allow 64 characters / sixty-four.

Allow 2 to the power of 6 for 2^6.

Do not accept 128, which is the number of characters that can be represented using 7 bits.

Do not accept 63, the largest value that can be represented using 6 bits, rather than the number of different characters.

Do not accept 12 (2 × 6), ie the number of bits multiplied by 2.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

64

Why: Correct: 2^6 = 64 different characters (1).

No marks0/1

128

Why: Scores 0: 128 is the number of characters that 7 bits can represent, not the 6 bits the system has; the Do not accept line applies.

No marks0/1

63

Why: Scores 0: 63 is the largest value 6 bits can hold, not the number of different characters; the Do not accept line applies.

2Describe2 marksCharacter Sets Swap Remove

A school needs to store text in several different languages.

Describe one limitation of using 7-bit ASCII to store this text.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • 7-bit ASCII has only 128 different codes (1) so characters from languages such as Chinese cannot be stored (1)
  • 7 bits give 2^7 = 128 possible binary codes (1) so there are not enough codes to give every character in the world's languages its own code (1)
  • Only the 128 characters in the ASCII set can be stored (1) so a character outside the set, such as é or 中, cannot be represented (1)

The stated limit on its own (that ASCII can represent only 128 characters) earns 1 mark; the second mark is for linking it to characters from other languages not being storable.

Do not accept 'ASCII can only store English letters/characters' unless it refers to the 128 codes or the 7 bits.

Do not accept a statement that ASCII is 'limited' or 'old' with no link to the number of bits/codes.

Do not accept a recommendation to use Unicode instead, or that ASCII cannot store accented letters, without saying that the 7 bits/128 codes cause the limitation.

Do not accept responses that describe ASCII as a programming language.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

7-bit ASCII can only represent 128 characters, so it cannot store characters from languages such as Chinese.

Why: Only 128 characters/codes can be represented (1) and this is linked to characters from other languages not being storable (1).

Some marks1/2

ASCII only has 128 characters.

Why: States the limit set by the 7 bits, that only 128 characters can be represented (1), but does not link it to the text in several languages (0).

No marks0/2

ASCII can only store English letters, so the school should use Unicode to store accented letters like e with an accent.

Why: 'Only stores English letters' is not accepted without reference to the 128 codes/7 bits, and recommending Unicode is not a limitation caused by the number of available bits.

3Explain2 marksCharacter Sets Swap Remove

Characters typed on a keyboard are stored using ASCII.

Explain how the computer encodes the letter A using ASCII.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • The computer looks up the character in the ASCII character set/table (1) to find the code that represents it (1)
  • Each character has its own unique ASCII code (1) so the letter A is converted to and stored as a 7-bit binary pattern (1)
  • ASCII uses 7 bits for each character (1) so A is stored as its ASCII code 1000001 (binary) / 65 (denary) (1)

The second mark requires a linked expansion, so a point on its own (e.g. 'A has the code 65') can only earn one mark.

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

Accept an 8-bit pattern with a leading 0 (e.g. 01000001) as the binary code for A.

Do not accept 'the character is stored as text' without saying it is changed into a code/binary.

Do not accept a binary value on its own (e.g. 1000001) without saying that it is the ASCII code/that the character is converted to it.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

The computer finds the unique ASCII code for A, which is 65 in denary, and stores it as the 7-bit binary pattern 1000001.

Why: Linked point that A is given its unique ASCII code (1) and reason/expansion that it is converted to and stored as a 7-bit binary pattern (1).

Some marks1/2

The computer changes the letter A into a number.

Why: Gives the point that the character is given a code/number (1) but no linked expansion saying it is converted to binary or stored, so stays on one mark.

No marks0/2

The letter A is stored as the number 1 because it is the first letter of the alphabet.

Why: Wrong reason and no creditworthy point: it does not say that the character is given its ASCII code and converted to binary.

4Explain2 marksSound Swap Remove

The same sound is recorded twice using different sample intervals.

Explain the effect of using a longer sample interval on the digital recording.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • Fewer samples are taken every second (1) so less detail of the sound wave is captured (1)
  • Fewer samples are taken every second (1) so the file is smaller/uses less storage space (1)
  • The wave is measured less often (1) so parts/changes in the wave between samples are missed (1)

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

The 'fewer samples are taken/measured less often' point can only be credited once; the second mark is for a valid expansion linked to it.

Do not accept restating the question, e.g. 'the time between measurements is longer' or 'the sample interval is longer', as either the point or the expansion.

Do not accept 'the sample rate is lower' as the expansion, as this says the same thing as a longer sample interval.

Do not accept 'the sound is lower quality/less accurate' on its own without saying what is lost, e.g. less detail of the wave captured/parts of the wave missed.

Do not accept answers about using fewer bits per sample or about compression, as these do not follow from the sample interval.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

Fewer samples are taken every second, so less detail of the sound wave is captured and the recording is less accurate.

Why: Point (fewer samples each second) (1) with linked reason (less detail of the wave captured) (1).

Some marks1/2

Fewer samples are taken every second.

Why: Creditworthy point (1) but no linked effect on the detail or size of the recording, so only one mark.

No marks0/2

The samples are stored using fewer bits, so the sound is less accurate.

Why: Describes a smaller bit depth rather than a longer sample interval, so no mark is awarded.

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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