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Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

Build a practice paper from 514 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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10 questions · 20 marks

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1Convert1 markDenary to Hexadecimal Conversion Swap Remove

Computer systems manipulate bit patterns.

Convert the hexadecimal number D5 to denary.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • 213 (1)
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

213

Why: 13 × 16 + 5 = 213 (1).

No marks0/1

93

Why: Takes the right-hand digit as the 16s, so the value is wrong.

No marks0/1

18

Why: Adds the two digits instead of multiplying the first by 16.

2Convert2 marksBinary to Hexadecimal Conversion Swap Remove

Binary, denary and hexadecimal patterns represent numbers.

Convert the binary pattern 1100 1010 to hexadecimal.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each correct digit in the correct position:

  • C (1)
  • A (1)

Answer: CA

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

CA

Why: Each nibble is one hexadecimal digit: 1100 = C, 1010 = A: both digits are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

C10

Why: One digit is correct (1), but the second is written as 10 in denary instead of A.

No marks0/2

AC

Why: The digits are the wrong way round, so neither is in the correct position.

3Convert2 marksBinary to Hexadecimal Conversion Swap Remove

Computer systems manipulate bit patterns.

Convert the binary pattern 1000 1010 to hexadecimal.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each correct digit in the correct position:

  • 8 (1)
  • A (1)

Answer: 8A

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

8A

Why: Each nibble is one hexadecimal digit: 1000 = 8, 1010 = A: both digits are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

810

Why: One digit is correct (1), but a digit over 9 is written in denary instead of as a letter.

No marks0/2

A8

Why: The digits are the wrong way round, so neither is in the correct position.

4Convert2 marksBinary to Hexadecimal Conversion Swap Remove

Binary patterns can represent numbers.

Convert the binary pattern 1110 0100 to hexadecimal.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each correct digit in the correct position:

  • E (1)
  • 4 (1)

Answer: E4

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

E4

Why: Each nibble is one hexadecimal digit: 1110 = E, 0100 = 4: both digits are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

144

Why: One digit is correct (1), but a digit over 9 is written in denary instead of as a letter.

No marks0/2

4E

Why: The digits are the wrong way round, so neither is in the correct position.

5Convert2 marksDenary to Hexadecimal Conversion Swap Remove

Computers manipulate binary patterns.

Convert the denary number 161 to hexadecimal.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for each correct digit in the correct position:

  • A (1)
  • 1 (1)

Answer: A1

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

A1

Why: 161 ÷ 16 = 10 remainder 1, so the digits are A and 1: both digits are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

101

Why: One digit is correct (1), but a digit over 9 is written in denary instead of as a letter.

No marks0/2

1A

Why: The digits are the wrong way round, so neither is in the correct position.

6Convert2 marksDenary to Negative Binary Conversion Swap Remove

Computer systems manipulate bit patterns.

Convert the denary number -75 to 8-bit binary using two's complement.

[2 marks]
Mark scheme

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

  • 1011 (1)
  • 0101 (1)

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

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

1011 0101

Why: 75 is 01001011; flip the bits (10110100) and add 1: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

1011 0100

Why: Flips the bits of 75 but doesn't add 1. The first nibble is correct (1); the second is not.

No marks0/2

1100 1011

Why: Uses sign and magnitude (a 1 in front of 75) instead of two's complement. Neither nibble is correct.

7Calculate2 marksAdding Binary Numbers Swap Remove

Computers manipulate binary patterns.

Complete the table to show the result of the 8-bit binary addition.

[2 marks]
1286432168421
10010101
01001111
Mark scheme

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

  • 1110 (1)
  • 0100 (1)

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

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

1110 0100

Why: 149 + 79 = 228, carrying where a column adds to 2: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

1110 0101

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

No marks0/2

1101 1111

Why: Writes 1 in every column with a 1 and never carries. Neither nibble is correct.

8Calculate2 marksAdding Binary Numbers Swap Remove

Binary patterns can represent numbers.

Complete the table to show the result of the 8-bit binary addition.

[2 marks]
1286432168421
10010110
01011100
Mark scheme

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

  • 1111 (1)
  • 0010 (1)

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

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

1111 0010

Why: 150 + 92 = 242, carrying where a column adds to 2: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

1111 0011

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

No marks0/2

1101 1110

Why: Writes 1 in every column with a 1 and never carries. Neither nibble is correct.

9Calculate2 marksAdding Binary Numbers Swap Remove

Computer systems manipulate bit patterns.

Complete the table to show the result of the 8-bit binary addition.

[2 marks]
1286432168421
10111000
00011111
Mark scheme

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

  • 1101 (1)
  • 0111 (1)

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

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

1101 0111

Why: 184 + 31 = 215, carrying where a column adds to 2: both nibbles are correct (2).

Some marks1/2

1010 0111

Why: Writes 0 for 1 + 1 but forgets to carry the 1. The second nibble is correct (1); the first is not.

No marks0/2

1011 1111

Why: Writes 1 in every column with a 1 and never carries. Neither nibble is correct.

10Calculate3 marksAdding Binary Numbers Swap Remove

Computers manipulate binary patterns.

(a)

Complete the table to show the 8-bit result of the binary addition.

[2 marks]
1286432168421
11000001
01100011
Mark scheme

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

  • 0010 (1)
  • 0100 (1)

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

Ignore a carry shown beyond the eighth bit.

Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks2/2

0010 0100

Why: 193 + 99 = 292, which needs 9 bits; the 8 bits that are kept are both correct (2).

Some marks1/2

0010 0101

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

No marks0/2

1110 0011

Why: Never carries. Neither nibble is correct.

(b)

State the name of the error that occurs when this addition is carried out.

[1 mark]
Mark scheme

Award one mark for:

  • overflow (error) (1)
Example answers and how they were marked
Full marks1/1

Overflow

Why: The result needs more bits than are available (1).

No marks0/1

Underflow

Why: A near miss: the result is too big for 8 bits, not too small.

No marks0/1

A syntax error

Why: A syntax error is a mistake in a program's code, not in arithmetic.

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