Computer Networks | AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525)
Computer Networks
- 76 questions
- 5 subtopics
- Paper 2
- Paper 2
Computer Networks is examined in Paper 2, Computing concepts.
It covers network types and topologies, wired and wireless networks, network protocols, the TCP/IP model and its layers and network security methods.
Sample questions from Computer Networks
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Network types and topologies
What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?
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A LAN connects devices across a small geographical area such as a school, office or home. A LAN is usually owned and managed by one person or organisation. -
Network types and topologies
What are the advantages of a star topology?
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A fault in one cable only affects the device on that cable. Performance stays good under heavy traffic because each device has its own link. -
Wired and wireless networks
When would fibre optic cable be the appropriate choice?
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Fibre suits long links, such as between buildings or across a country. Fibre also suits backbone cables carrying heavy traffic and places with electrical interference. -
Wired and wireless networks
Why would a video editing computer be connected by cable rather than wirelessly?
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A cable gives a faster and more stable connection. Large video files transfer quickly without dropouts. -
Network protocols
What does UDP (User Datagram Protocol) do?
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UDP sends packets without setting up a connection or checking they arrive. UDP is faster than TCP but less reliable. -
Network protocols
When should a website use HTTPS rather than HTTP?
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A website should use HTTPS whenever users enter personal details, passwords or payment information. Most websites now use HTTPS on every page. -
The TCP/IP model and its layers
Which protocols operate at the transport layer?
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TCP and UDP operate at the transport layer. -
The TCP/IP model and its layers
What is a network interface card (NIC)?
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A NIC is the hardware that connects a device to a network. Each NIC has a unique MAC address built in.
The 5 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Network types and topologies | The benefits and drawbacks of networks, PANs, LANs and WANs, star and bus topologies and their strengths and weaknesses, and which suits a given organisation. | 16 |
| Wired and wireless networks | Copper and fibre optic cable, the advantages and disadvantages of wireless networks, why Wi-Fi is less secure, and when a wired connection is the better choice. | 14 |
| Network protocols | What a protocol is, Ethernet and Wi-Fi, TCP, UDP and IP, HTTP and HTTPS, FTP, and how SMTP and IMAP share the job of sending and reading email. | 16 |
| The TCP/IP model and its layers | The application, transport, internet and link layers, the protocols at each, the network interface card, and how data moves down and up the layers between two computers. | 15 |
| Network security methods | Authentication, encryption, firewalls and MAC address filtering, what each protects against, example firewall rules, and why the four methods are used together. | 15 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA GCSE Computer Science Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 664 questions with their answers.