Computers | Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2)
Computers
- 95 questions
- 6 subtopics
- Paper 1
- Paper 1
Computers is examined in Paper 1, Principles of Computer Science.
It covers von Neumann architecture and the fetch-decode-execute cycle, secondary storage: magnetic, optical and solid state, embedded systems, operating systems, utility software and robust software and low-level and high-level languages and translators.
Sample questions from Computers
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Von Neumann architecture and the fetch-decode-execute cycle
What are registers?
Show the answer
Registers are very small, very fast storage locations inside the CPU. Registers hold the instruction, address or data being worked on at that moment. -
Von Neumann architecture and the fetch-decode-execute cycle
What does the control bus carry?
Show the answer
The control bus carries control signals such as memory read, memory write and clock signals. The signals coordinate the CPU, memory and other components. -
Secondary storage: magnetic, optical and solid state
What are the advantages of magnetic hard disks?
Show the answer
Magnetic hard disks offer very large capacities at a low cost per gigabyte. Hard disks suit servers and backups that hold large amounts of data. -
Secondary storage: magnetic, optical and solid state
What are the disadvantages of solid state storage?
Show the answer
Solid state storage costs more per gigabyte than a magnetic hard disk. Each flash cell can only be rewritten a limited number of times. -
Embedded systems
Where is the program of an embedded system usually stored?
Show the answer
The program is usually stored in read-only memory or flash memory on the chip. The program is kept when power is lost and runs as soon as the device starts. -
Embedded systems
What are the advantages of embedded systems?
Show the answer
Embedded systems are cheap to mass-produce and reliable because they do one job. Embedded systems are small and use little power. -
Operating systems
What is process management?
Show the answer
Process management is the operating system sharing the CPU between the programs that are running. The operating system decides which process runs next and for how long. -
Operating systems
What does the operating system do when two programs send work to the printer at the same time?
Show the answer
The operating system places the print jobs in a queue. The jobs are sent to the printer one at a time.
The 6 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Von Neumann architecture and the fetch-decode-execute cycle | The stored program concept, main memory, the control unit, ALU, registers and clock, the address, data and control buses, and each stage of the fetch-decode-execute cycle. | 16 |
| Secondary storage: magnetic, optical and solid state | Why secondary storage is needed, how magnetic, optical and solid state devices store data, their advantages and disadvantages, and choosing storage for a given job. | 16 |
| Embedded systems | What embedded systems are and how they differ from general-purpose computers, firmware, examples from thermostats, brakes and traffic lights, and the risks of connected devices. | 15 |
| Operating systems | The purpose of an operating system, file, process, peripheral and user management, device drivers, file permissions, multitasking on one core, and the user interface. | 16 |
| Utility software and robust software | File repair, backup, compression, defragmentation and anti-malware utilities, robust software and why it matters, and finding vulnerabilities with audit trails and code reviews. | 16 |
| Low-level and high-level languages and translators | High-level and low-level languages, machine code and assembly language, portability, and how compilers and interpreters translate code and report errors. | 16 |
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
Edexcel GCSE Computer Science Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 680 questions with their answers.