Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

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

• Microwave (oven) (1)
• Washing machine (1)
• Dishwasher (1)
• Digital camera (1)
• Satellite navigation/satnav system (1)
• Traffic light(s) (1)
• Central heating controller/thermostat (1)
• Digital watch/fitness tracker (1)
• Vending machine (1)
• Car (as it contains embedded systems) (1)

Allow any other device that contains an embedded system.

Do not accept general purpose devices such as a laptop, desktop computer, tablet or smartphone (these can run many different programs).

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

• Updates/changes the location/path stored for the file (1) so the file can be found in its new folder/location (1)
• Removes the file's entry/reference from the old folder (1) so the file no longer appears/is listed there (1)
• Adds/creates an entry/reference for the file in the new folder (1) so the file appears/is listed in its new location (1)
• Updates the folder/directory listing/structure (1) to show the file's new location/path (1)

Do not accept descriptions of copying the file or leaving a duplicate in the old folder.

Do not accept deleting and recreating the file, or moving the file's data to a different physical location on the disk; the marks are for updating the folder/directory structure.

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

• A compiler produces object code/machine code/an executable (file) (1) whereas an interpreter produces no object code/translated file (1)
• A compiler produces a machine code file (1) that can be run on its own/without the compiler/translator being present (1)
• An interpreter produces no object code/file (1) because it translates and executes each line instead of saving translated code (1)
• The compiler's output can be saved/stored (1) and run again later, while interpreted code has to be translated again each time it is run (1)

Allow binary for machine code.

Allow executable/an executable for object code.

Do not accept responses about translating the whole program, reporting errors or the speed of execution.

Do not accept 'the interpreter translates/executes one line at a time' on its own: this is how it translates, not what it produces. It earns the development only when linked to no object code/translated file being produced.

Do not accept the interpreter producing object code/an executable.

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

• Devices (can) understand/interpret the data they receive (1) because they follow the same set of rules for communication (1)
• Data is sent in an agreed format/structure (1) so the receiving device can interpret/understand it correctly (1)
• Devices (can) connect/communicate successfully (1) because they agree how the data is transmitted, such as the type of signal used (1)
• Errors (can) be detected/handled (1) because both devices follow the same rules for checking the data (1)

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

Do not accept 'so devices can talk/communicate with each other' or 'so they can understand each other' without saying they follow the same rules/agreed format.

Do not accept an answer that only states protocols are a set of rules, without saying what this allows (e.g. the data can be understood/interpreted).

Do not accept a faster connection/speed as a reason why protocols are needed.

Do not accept naming a protocol (e.g. TCP/IP, HTTP, Wi-Fi) without an explanation of why it is needed.

Do not accept a description of what a protocol does (e.g. 'TCP splits data into packets') without saying why this is needed.