Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

• C E-waste (1)
• The only correct answer is C. The correct answer is e-waste.
• A is not correct because a carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gases produced by an activity
• B is not correct because energy consumption is the amount of energy used
• D is not correct because a replacement cycle is the time between buying a device and buying its replacement

• 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

• 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

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

• The time/length of time between buying/purchasing a device (1)
• The buying/purchasing of its replacement (1)
• The point at which a device is replaced (1)
• How often a device is replaced (1)
• The time/length of time before a replacement device is bought/purchased (1)

Allow 'the period of use before a device is replaced' for both marks.

Allow 'the time between buying a new device' for one mark only: it gives the start of the cycle but does not state that the next device is a replacement.

Do not accept the time a device lasts / the lifetime of a device / the time until a device breaks or stops working on its own, as this does not refer to replacement.

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

• New software requires more memory/processing power (1) so an older device cannot run it well/becomes slow (1)
• Manufacturers use planned obsolescence (1) so devices are designed to stop working after a set time (1)
• New models are released/advertised often (1) so users upgrade to get the new features (1)
• Parts such as batteries wear out (1) so the device stops working/needs to be replaced (1)

Allow a description of devices being designed to fail after a set time, without the term planned obsolescence, for the first point (1).

Do not award a second mark for stating only that a part such as the battery wears out/stops holding charge, with no linked development.

Do not award credit for 'users want a new/nicer device' or 'devices are fashionable' on its own, with no linked development.

Do not accept 'software is updated' on its own, without saying that an older device cannot run it/becomes slow.

Do not accept responses about the environmental impact of replacing devices, such as more e-waste or more manufacturing.

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

• Fewer raw materials need to be mined/extracted (1) because the recycled metals can be used to make new devices (1)
• Non-renewable resources/metal ores are conserved (1) because recycling means they are not used up as quickly (1)
• Less energy is used (1) because getting metal from ore uses more energy than recycling it (1)
• Less damage is caused to the land (1) because mining causes erosion/contamination of the ground (1)
• Less e-waste is sent to landfill (1) because recycling recovers the metals so the devices are not thrown away (1)

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

A valid point followed by an economic (cost) reason rather than an environmental one can still earn the point mark (1) but not the second mark.

For the raw materials point, the raw materials must be linked to the recycled metals being reused to make new devices.

Do not accept 'saves resources' on its own without saying which resources are saved or how they are saved.

Do not accept 'less energy' on its own without saying that getting metal from ore uses more energy than recycling.

Do not accept 'it is better for the environment' / 'recycling helps the environment' without the environmental benefit being stated.

Do not accept answers about saving money/cost as the second mark, as these are economic benefits, not environmental ones.

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

• The whole phone has to be replaced when the battery stops working (1) so more raw materials are mined/extracted to manufacture the new phones (1)
• The whole phone has to be replaced when the battery stops working (1) so more energy/water is used to manufacture new phones (1)
• The whole phone is thrown away when the battery stops working (1) so more e-waste goes to landfill (1)
• The phone has a shorter replacement cycle (1) so more devices are manufactured, which uses more energy and raw materials (1)

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

A statement on its own, such as 'the phone has to be replaced sooner' or 'there will be more e-waste', earns (1) as the point; the second mark is for the linked environmental effect.

Do not accept 'the battery cannot be replaced' on its own, as this repeats the stem.

Do not accept 'the phone is bad for the environment' without saying how the environment is affected.

Do not accept answers about the phone using more electricity while it is being used; the issue is the replacement of the whole phone.

Indicative content

Materials

• Digital devices contain small amounts of valuable metals such as gold, copper and aluminium, which are non-renewable and are wasted if the device is buried in the bin.
• Devices contain plastics made from oil, which do not break down when they are buried.
• Devices contain hazardous substances, for example lead and mercury on circuit boards and lithium in batteries.

Landfill

• Burying devices means their materials cannot be recovered, so more raw materials have to be mined, which uses energy and damages habitats.
• Chemicals from the devices can leak into the soil and groundwater, contaminating water supplies and harming wildlife.
• Landfill sites fill up with devices that could have been repaired or recycled, using land that could be used for something else.
• Old batteries in landfill can catch fire and release harmful gases.

Effect on people and the environment

• When e-waste is burned to recover metals, toxic gases and smoke are released, polluting the air and causing breathing problems for people nearby.
• Dumped e-waste damages habitats, and the chemicals can enter the food chain.
• People who dismantle e-waste by hand can be exposed to harmful substances.
• Disposing of devices incorrectly wastes all the energy and materials that were used to make them.

Levels

• Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
• Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)

Level 3 responses must cover both the materials the devices contain and the effect of disposing of them incorrectly.

Indicative content

Raw materials

• Laptops contain metals such as gold, copper and aluminium, which are non-renewable, so they cannot be replaced once they have been extracted.
• Mining for these metals causes erosion and contaminates the land around the mine.
• Only a small amount of gold is found in each tonne of rock, so large amounts of rock must be mined to get enough for the laptops.
• The plastic case is made from oil, which is a non-renewable fossil fuel.

Energy and water

• Large amounts of energy from fossil fuels are used to power the factories that make the components, which releases carbon dioxide and adds to global warming.
• Making the processor chips uses large volumes of water, which can leave rivers and reservoirs short of water for homes and farms.
• The water used to make chips can be contaminated with chemicals and pollute rivers if it is not cleaned before it is released.
• Transporting the materials and the finished laptops by road, ship and air burns fuel and adds to emissions.

Local area

• Factories can release waste chemicals into the local area, which harms wildlife and people.
• Mining destroys habitats, and the dust and noise affect people living nearby.
• The metals used in a laptop are used up permanently, so manufacturing reduces the resources available for future generations.

Levels

• Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
• Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)

Level 3 responses must consider the raw materials, the energy and water, and the effect on the local area.

Do not accept 'renewable' as a description of plastic, oil or metals.

Indicative content

Short replacement cycle

• Replacing the computers every two years means the old ones are thrown away more often, which adds to the e-waste sent to landfill.
• Each new computer has to be manufactured, which uses metals that must be mined and uses energy and water.
• More frequent manufacture and transport of new machines releases more carbon dioxide.
• The chemicals in the discarded machines can leak into the soil and water at the landfill site.

Long replacement cycle

• Keeping the computers for longer means fewer new machines are manufactured, so fewer raw materials and less energy and water are used.
• Fewer computers are thrown away, so less e-waste goes to landfill and less pollution is released.
• Older computers may be too slow to run the latest software, so staff wait longer for tasks to finish and the machines may use more energy to do the same work.
• Older machines break down more often, which costs time to repair or replace parts.

Extending the life of the computers

• Buying computers that can be upgraded, such as adding more RAM or a larger hard drive, allows the company to improve them instead of replacing the whole machine.
• Repairing a faulty part, such as a failed power supply, keeps the rest of the computer in use and reduces waste.
• Passing working computers to another department or donating them keeps them in use for longer.
• Choosing machines that are not designed to fail after a set time avoids planned obsolescence.

Levels

• Level 0 (0 marks): No rewardable content.
• Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 2 (3–4 marks): Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1) The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context. (AO2)
• Level 3 (5–6 marks): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the discussion being presented. (AO1) The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)

Level 3 responses must consider both a short and a long replacement cycle, as well as how the life of the computers could be extended.

Do not accept the claim that a long replacement cycle produces more e-waste.