Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

• D Toxic substances can leak into the soil (1)
• The only correct answer is D. The correct answer is toxic substances can leak into the soil.
• A is not correct because repairing and reusing devices is a way of extending their life, not an issue caused by landfill
• B is not correct because needing fewer raw materials is a benefit of recycling or reuse
• C is not correct because recovering materials is a benefit of recycling

• C It reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill (1)
• The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is It reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill.
• A is not correct because repairing and reusing old laptops is reuse, not recycling
• B is not correct because recycling an old laptop does not change the energy it uses when it is in use
• D is not correct because recycling an old laptop does not reduce the number of new laptops that are manufactured

• D Fossil fuels are burned to power factories (1)
• The only correct answer is D. The correct answer is fossil fuels are burned to power factories.
• A is not correct because burying devices in landfill is an issue with disposal
• B is not correct because leaving devices on standby is an issue with energy consumption during use
• C is not correct because replacing devices too often is an issue with the replacement cycle

• B Land contamination (1)
• The only correct answer is B. The correct answer is land contamination.
• A is not correct because e-waste in landfill is an impact of disposing of a device, not of mining raw materials
• C is not correct because planned obsolescence is designing products to fail, which is about product lifetime, not an impact of mining raw materials
• D is not correct because a replacement cycle is how often devices are replaced, not an environmental impact of mining raw materials

• D Set computers to standby when unused (1)
• The only correct answer is D. The correct answer is set computers to standby when unused.
• A is not correct because turning off power saving mode lets a computer use more energy when it is not being used
• B is not correct because a computer left switched on overnight still uses energy while it installs updates
• C is not correct because replacing computers every year shortens the replacement cycle, so more energy is used to manufacture the new devices

• D Replacement cycle (1)
• The only correct answer is D. The correct answer is replacement cycle.
• A is not correct because disposal is getting rid of devices at the end of their life
• B is not correct because energy consumption is the amount of energy devices use
• C is not correct because manufacture is making devices

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

• Landfill (1)
• Incineration (1)
• Recycling (1)
• Reuse, e.g. give the device to someone else/sell it/donate it to charity (1)
• Return the device to the manufacturer/retailer (1)

Allow burning at a waste incineration plant for incineration.

Allow selling the device and donating it to charity as reuse, but award only one mark if a candidate gives more than one of these.

Do not accept throw it away/put it in the bin, as no method is named.

Do not accept empty the recycle bin, as this deletes files on a computer and does not dispose of the device.

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

• New software/updates need more powerful hardware (1)
• Newer model has better features/performance (1)
• A component/battery has failed/stopped working (1)
• The device is damaged/broken/lost/stolen (1)
• The manufacturer no longer provides updates/support for the device (1)
• Planned obsolescence / the device is designed to fail after a set time (1)

Allow 'the device has become too slow' if it is linked to new software/apps or a hardware upgrade.

Do not accept 'it is too slow' on its own.

Do not accept 'it is old' / 'to get a newer one' on its own.

Do not accept 'to recycle it' / 'to dispose of it' (these happen after replacement, they are not reasons for it).

The two reasons must be different. Do not award a second mark for repeating a reason already given, e.g. 'the screen is cracked' and 'it is damaged'.

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

• Burning releases toxic gases/fumes/harmful chemicals (1) which pollute the air/can cause acid rain (1)
• Burning the plastic/insulation on cables releases harmful chemicals (1) which contaminate the ground/soil/water (1)
• Burning leaves ash/residue containing heavy metals (1) which contaminate the ground/soil/groundwater (1)

Allow 'harmful chemicals'/'pollutants'/'toxic fumes' for the point mark.

Responses must relate to burning e-waste.

Do not accept answers about harm to the health/safety of workers.

Do not accept answers that describe a benefit, such as recovering/reusing the metals or generating energy.

Do not accept answers about e-waste in landfill/leaching from landfill, or a generic statement such as 'it pollutes the environment' with no mechanism described.

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

• Making plastic releases carbon dioxide/CO2 into the atmosphere (1) because large amounts of energy/fossil fuels are used to make it (1)
• Making plastic uses up/depletes a finite/non-renewable resource such as oil (1) because plastic is made from oil (1)
• Making plastic can pollute land/water (1) because harmful waste/chemicals are produced/released during manufacture (1)
• Making plastic can damage habitats/land (1) because oil has to be extracted to make the plastic (1)

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

Allow the point and linked reason in either order.

Do not accept 'plastic is bad for the environment' or 'plastic causes pollution' on its own without saying how.

Do not accept 'making plastic uses energy' on its own; it must be linked to an environmental effect such as releasing CO2/contributing to global warming.

Do not accept 'plastic is non-renewable' as a point; it is the oil used to make plastic that is non-renewable.

Do not accept 'oil is non-renewable' without saying it is used up/depleted/will run out.

Do not accept answers about throwing away/disposing of the computer case or recycling it at the end of its life.