Issues and Impact | Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2)
Issues and Impact
- 88 questions
- 6 subtopics
- Paper 1
- Paper 1
Issues and Impact is examined in Paper 1, Principles of Computer Science.
It covers environmental impact of digital devices, personal data: privacy, ownership and consent, artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics, intellectual property: copyright, patents, trademarks and licences, malware, hacking and social engineering and protecting digital systems and data.
Sample questions from Issues and Impact
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Environmental impact of digital devices
How does manufacturing digital devices harm the environment?
Show the answer
Metals such as cobalt, lithium and gold must be mined, which damages land and uses large amounts of water and energy. Factories also release carbon dioxide and other pollution. -
Environmental impact of digital devices
What problems does the disposal of digital devices cause?
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Discarded devices contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium. Devices sent to landfill can leak these into soil and water. -
Personal data: privacy, ownership and consent
What is misuse of personal data?
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Misuse is using personal data in a way the person did not agree to or would not expect. Selling data without permission is one example. -
Personal data: privacy, ownership and consent
State three principles of UK data protection law.
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Personal data must be used fairly, lawfully and transparently. Personal data must be collected only for a stated purpose. Personal data must be kept secure. -
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics
Give an example of harm caused by algorithmic bias.
Show the answer
A recruitment system trained on past hiring decisions could favour the kinds of people hired before. Qualified applicants from other groups would then be rejected unfairly. -
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics
Who could be legally liable when a self-driving car crashes?
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The manufacturer, the software developer, the owner or the person in the driving seat could be liable. Laws such as the UK's Automated Vehicles Act 2024 aim to settle this question. -
Intellectual property: copyright, patents, trademarks and licences
What is a patent?
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A patent is legal protection for a new invention, such as a new device or technical process. The owner must apply for a patent, which lasts up to 20 years in the UK. -
Intellectual property: copyright, patents, trademarks and licences
What are the benefits of open source software for a user?
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Open source software is usually free and can be adapted to fit a user's needs. Anyone can inspect the code for errors or security flaws.
The 6 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental impact of digital devices | Energy use by devices and data centres, the manufacture of devices and rare earth elements, replacement cycles, disposal and recycling, and ways technology can help. | 14 |
| Personal data: privacy, ownership and consent | Personal data, privacy, ownership, consent and misuse, the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, people's rights over their data, and collecting only what is needed. | 15 |
| Artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics | AI, machine learning and robotics, algorithmic bias and its causes, accountability, safety, legal liability for self-driving cars, and the effect on jobs. | 15 |
| Intellectual property: copyright, patents, trademarks and licences | Intellectual property, copyright, patents and trademarks, software licences, open source against proprietary software, software piracy, and protecting a new game. | 14 |
| Malware, hacking and social engineering | Viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware and key loggers, technical vulnerabilities such as unpatched software, and social engineering through phishing and pretexting. | 16 |
| Protecting digital systems and data | Anti-malware software, encryption, plaintext and ciphertext, acceptable use policies, full and incremental backups, off-site storage and recovery procedures. | 14 |
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.