Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

• C Print queue (1)
• The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is print queue.
• A is not correct because a device driver controls a peripheral device
• B is not correct because a file manager organises files and folders
• D is not correct because a process manager allocates processor time to processes

• D Time slice (1)
• The only correct answer is D. The correct answer is time slice.
• A is not correct because a process is a program that is being run
• B is not correct because round robin is a scheduling method that takes turns, not the period of CPU time itself
• C is not correct because a scheduler decides which process runs next

• A Multitasking (1)
• The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is multitasking. Allow 'multi-tasking'.
• B is not correct because process management is the wider operating system function that controls processes, not the term for running more than one task at the same time
• C is not correct because a scheduler decides which process will run next on the CPU
• D is not correct because a time slice is a fixed period of CPU time allocated to a process by the scheduler

• A To store the parts of each file together (1)
• The only correct answer is A. The correct answer is to store the parts of each file together.
• B is not correct because reducing the amount of space a file uses is the purpose of data compression software
• C is not correct because keeping a copy of files in case the disk fails is the purpose of backup software
• D is not correct because recovering files that cannot be opened is the purpose of file repair software

Award one mark for:

• Copies/loads the program (and the data it uses) from secondary storage/the hard disk into main memory/RAM (1)

Allow 'the program is moved into RAM'.

Do not accept 'installs the program'.

Do not accept 'opens the program' or 'runs the program' on their own.

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

• Managing/controlling peripheral devices/(input and output devices) (1)
• (Sending and receiving) data to/from peripherals (1)
• (Handling the) transfer of data between the computer and its peripherals (1)
• Controlling the input and output of data between the computer and its peripherals (1)

Allow 'communicating with peripherals' / 'using device drivers to control the peripherals' for the managing/controlling point.

Do not award a second mark for a statement that only repeats the managing/controlling point, e.g. 'the operating system controls the peripherals using their device drivers' after 'the operating system controls the peripherals'.

Allow 'managing hardware' only where peripheral devices or input and output devices are named.

Do not accept managing files, processes or users.

Do not accept 'managing the computer's resources' on its own, as this is given in the stem.

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

• Keeps a record/index of where each file is stored on the disk (1) so the file can be found and opened later (1)
• Allocates space on the disk for each file (1) so files are stored without overwriting each other (1)
• Provides facilities to name file(s) and organise them into folder(s)/directories (1) so the user can find and manage their files (1)

Do not accept responses about process management, peripheral management or user management.

Do not accept bare statements of storing/saving, e.g. 'it stores files', 'it saves files' or 'it keeps files safe', with no development.

Do not award a mark for responses that repeat the question, e.g. 'it manages files', with no development.

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

• The operating system allocates a separate area of main memory to each program (1) so one program cannot overwrite another program's instructions/data (1)
• The operating system keeps each program in its own area of main memory (1) so a program cannot access/corrupt another program's data (1)
• The operating system keeps track of which areas of main memory are free/in use (1) so it can give memory to a program when it starts without overwriting another program (1)
• The operating system sets aside/allocates memory for a program when it is loaded (1) so that the program has space for its instructions and data (1)

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

Only one linked point is needed for both marks; a second explanation of the same idea gains no further credit.

Do not accept 'the operating system manages/shares out main memory' on its own, because this repeats the question and does not say how memory is managed.

Do not accept 'it decides which program runs next on the CPU' because this is process scheduling, not memory management.

Do not accept 'it stops programs using too much memory' or 'it makes the computer faster' without a linked reason saying how memory is managed.

Do not accept 'each program is given its own memory addresses' on its own; the point must say the program is kept in a separate area of memory.

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

• The operating system switches rapidly between processes (1) so each process runs for a short time slice before the next one starts (1)
• Each process is given a small amount of CPU time (1) so the CPU moves on to another process when that time is up (1)
• The operating system chooses which process to run next (1) so the CPU is shared between the programs (1)
• Processes take turns to use the CPU (1) because the CPU is so fast the user does not notice the switching (1)
• Only one process can run on the CPU at a time (1) so the operating system must swap processes in and out quickly (1)

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

Allow 'time slice' / 'time quantum'.

Do not accept 'the computer has more than one CPU' / 'each program runs on its own CPU'.

Do not accept 'the CPU does two things at once' without saying processes take turns/are switched.

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

• Files can be organised into folders/directories (1) so users can find/store files easily (1)
• Files can be located/opened/saved (1) because the operating system keeps track of where each file is stored (1)
• Access permissions can be set on files (1) so only allowed users can read/modify them (1)
• Files can be copied/moved/deleted (1) because the operating system controls where data is written/removed on a storage device (1)
• Free disk space can be monitored/managed (1) so storage does not run out / files are stored efficiently (1)

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

Do not accept 'manages files' or 'organises files' on its own as it repeats the question.

Allow 'makes it easier to find files' as the linked reason for organising files into folders.