EDX-IGE-COM-T04
EDEXEL - COMPUTER SCIENCE
Computers
Mark Scheme
www.stayahead.me
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
1(a)
• Address bus labelled correctly (1)
• Data bus labelled correctly (1)
• Control bus labelled correctly (1)
• Arrow from address bus to RAM (1)
• Bi-Directional arrows from control bus to
keyboard controller (1)
• Arrow points from display controller to
display (1)
6
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
1(b) Award two marks for a linked explanation
such as:
The cache stores frequently used
data/instructions (1) so the processor does
not have to wait because cache is checked
before main memory / because RAM is
further away from the processor (1).
It speeds up processing (1) because cache is a
faster type of memory (1). 2
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
1(c) The second row
expressions can
CPU1 CPU2 be in either
column
5 * 2 = 10 4 * 3 = 12 (1)
22 – 6 = 16
10 + 12 = 22 (1) 24 / 4 = 6 (1) May appear in
either CPU in
22 - 6 = 16 (1) the final row
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
1(d) Any four from:
• The OS checks whether sufficient space
is available on the storage (media) for
the file (1).
• The file is broken into blocks (1)
• The blocks are stored in spaces that are
large enough (1)
• OS looks for (fat/ntfs)/ reserves (linux)
(groups of) contiguous blocks (1)
• Blocks can reside anywhere on the
storage (1).
• The OS updates the file allocation table
(with the start location and sequence
number of each block) (1)
• OS sets hard links to files (1) ntfs
• OS updates journal/MFT (1) ntfs/linux
• Metadata about the file such as
read/write permissions, date created
and last accessed is separately stored
(1)
4
Question Answer Additional
Number Guidance
Mark
2(a) P Q R Q OR R P AND (Q OR Allow follow
through for
R)
incorrect
0 0 0 0 0 mark point
0 0 1 1 0 2.
0 1 0 1 0
0 1 1 1 0
1 0 0 0 0
1 0 1 1 1
1 1 0 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
Award one mark for each of:
• All possible combinations in columns P, Q and
R (1)
• Correct values in Q or R (1)
• Correct values in final column (1)
3
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
2(b) B AND S AND NOT L • Any order and
Award one mark for each of: ignore
NOT L or B AND S (1) brackets
Fully correct (1)
2
Question Answer Additional
Number Guidance
Mark
2(c) Any two of:
• Remove code vulnerabilities in programming
languages (1).
• Eliminate bad programming practices (1). 2
Question Answer Additional
Number Guidance
Mark
2(d) Award one mark each for any of:
• Copyright (1)
• Patent (1)
• Licensing (1)
• Trademark (1) 3
3(c) Indicative content:
Compiler
• One line of a compiled language maps to multiple
executable instructions
• Reads in a whole file and translates it at once
• Produces an executable file
• Executable file is portable between machines with the
same architecture and operating systems
• End-user cannot see the programming source code
• Does not need an additional environment/software to run
the code
Interpreter
• One line of a compiled language maps to multiple
executable instructions
• Reads, translates, and executes one line at a time
• A special environment is needed to be installed on the
user’s machine to run the code; this is machine specific
• Source code is portable to any machine with an
interpreter which can run on it
• End-user can see the programming source code
Similarities
• One line of a compiled language maps to multiple
executable instructions/one to many relationship to
machine code
• Both are used to interpret high level programming
languages
• Both produce machine code from human-readable
programming code
Differences
• Compiler reads in a whole file and translates it at once.
Interpreter reads, translates and executes one line at a
time
• Compiler produces an executable file, interpreter does
not
• Executable files produced by a compiler will only execute
on machines with the same architecture and operating
systems. Source code produced by an interpreter is
portable to any machine with an interpreter which can
run on it
• Compiled code does not require any additional software 6
to execute the code. An interpreter needs a special
environment to be installed on the user’s machine to run
the code; this is machine specific
General Marking Guidance
• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first
candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for what they
have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their perception
of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used
appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should
always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark
scheme. Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s
response is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by which
marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a
candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an
alternative response.
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
4a) Award two marks for an explanation that includes
hardware and software.
• The laptop is/contains the hardware (1) and the
software allows the user to interact with it (1)
• Hardware gives input and output devices (1)
/memory, storage, cpu, processing ability
• Software allows instructions to be passed to the
hardware (1) so that it can carry out tasks (1)
• Software is the set of instructions (1) that controls
the hardware (1) 2
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
4b)(i) Award two marks from:
• Lighter/thinner (1)
• Less heat generated (1)
• Faster access speed / faster booting of operating
system / faster data transfer/read/write speeds (1)
• Silent operation (1)
• Less power required / longer battery life (1)
• More robust (due to no moving parts) (1) 2
4(b)(ii) Award two marks for a linked explanation such as:
• Flash memory is non-volatile (1) whereas RAM is
volatile (1)
• Flash memory persists even when power is lost (1)
whereas RAM clears its data whenever power is
lost (1)
• Flash memory is used for storage (1) whereas
RAM is used in performing operations on data
taken from storage (1) 2
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
4c) Award two marks for a linked explanation such as:
• Cache memory stores active/commonly used
instructions / cache is a temporary storage (1)
and is used to speed up processing. (1) stop data
transfer bottlenecks between RAM and CPU (1)
2
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
4(d) Award one mark for two correct rows.
Award two marks for four correct rows.
Device Input Output Both
Headset
Mouse
Printer
Touch screen
2
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
4(e) Award two marks from: Do not award
tradenames
• Antivirus (1)
• Anti-spyware (1)
• (Software) firewall (1) 2
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
5(a) Award one mark from:
• Predict/model outcomes (1)
• Investigate hypotheses (1)
• Run experiments that cannot be run / are
dangerous in real life (1)
• Simulations can be speeded up/slowed down (1) 1
Question Answer Additional
Number Guidance
Mark
5(b) Award two marks from:
• Simulations (may) use/collect large amounts of
data (1)
• Simulations (may) involve a large number of
calculations (1)
• Simulations may need more CPU cycles as the
amount of data grows (1)
• To be of value, the results must be calculated as
quickly as possible (1)
• Calculations may grow exponentially / become
more complex as the simulation runs/is modified
(1)
• Simulation may output complex graphics (e.g.
virtual world) (1) 2
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
5(c) Allow follow
NOT S R AND W (NOT S) OR through for
(R AND W) incorrect mark
1 0 1 point 1 and/or
1 0 1 mark point 2
0 0 0
0 0 0
1 0 1
1 1 1
0 0 0
0 1 1
Award one mark for each of:
• Correct values in NOT S column (1)
• Correct values in R AND W column (1)
• Correct values in final column (1)
3
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
5(d)(i) Award two marks for a linked description such as: Must include
storage and
• Instructions (and data) are stored in (main) execution for 2
memory (1) marks
• Instructions (and data) are fetched, decoded, and
executed (in a sequence by the CPU) (1) 2
5(d)(ii) Award two marks from:
• Program counter / PC (1)
• Current instruction (register) / CIR (1)
• Memory address (register) / MAR (1)
• Memory buffer/data (register) /MBR/MDR (1)
• Accumulator/ACC (1) 2
5(d)(iii) Award two marks for a linked description such as:
Address of instruction carried on address bus (to main
memory) (1) contents at that address carried back (to the
CPU) on the data bus (1) 2
5d)(iv) Award two marks from: Do not accept
increases
Change made Effect bandwidth
Increasing the width Increases the number of without further
of the data bus bits/data/ size of word that explanation
can be transferred at one
time / increases rate of
data transfer (1)
Increasing the width Increases the number of
of the address bus memory addresses /
increases the maximum
amount of memory that
can be addressed (1)
2
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
6(a) Award one mark for each correct component:
Component Letter
Control unit B
Output device G
Registers C
Main memory H
Cache F
Input device E
Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) D
Clock A
5
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
6(b)(i) Award one mark each to a maximum of two marks for:
• stores a memory address (for the next instruction) (1)
• memory address incremented/changed during the fetch process (1) 2
6b)(ii) The only correct answer is B
A is not correct because there is no such signal
C is not correct because as there is no such signal
D is not correct because as that does not take place during the fetch stage
1
6(b)(iii) Award one mark from:
• processes more instructions in the same amount of time (1)
• more cycles can be performed in the same amount of time (1)
• fetch-execute-decode cycle runs faster (1)
1
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
6(c)(i) Award one mark from:
• a system designed for one/a few specific functions/task(s) (1)
• has both hardware and software (1)
• has integrated memory (1)
• has no or minimal user interface (1)
• is power efficient/low power consumption (1)
• its functionality cannot be changed/upgraded by users (1)
• often use sensors and actuators to interact with the external environment (1)
• functions in real time (1)
2
6(c)(ii) Award up to two marks for a linked explanation such as:
• Performance / number of cores / power consumption needs to be adequate for
the task (1) because any more would waste money / power (1)
• Size of cache can be small or non-existent (1) because there is no need to store
frequently used instructions (1)
• The RAM can be limited/very small (1) because it is only holding a limited number
of instructions (1)
• Only needs a small bus width (1) because the output signals are serial binary (1)
2
Total 13
Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
7(a)(i) Award one mark from:
• faster translation/execution (1)
• allows her to directly address components / make efficient use of available
memory space (1)
• can dispense with the need for an OS to make the code run faster/free up
memory space (1) 1
7(a)(ii) Award one mark from:
• difficult to read/understand (1)
• easy to make mistakes (1)
• can be hard to find errors in the code (1)
• time consuming (to write) (1)
• not very portable / processor-specific (1)
• lack of built-in functions/procedures (1)
• few development/editorial tools available (1)
1
Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
7(b)(i) Award one mark from:
• virus detection/scanner (1)
• threat identification (1)
• real-time scanning (1)
• scan scheduling (1)
• quarantine files (1)
• carry out automatic updates (1)
• on-demand file scanning (1)
• kill switch (1)
2
7(b)(ii) Award one mark from:
• anti-spyware (1)
• anti-adware (1)
1
7(c) A AND O AND (W OR D)
Award one mark each to a maximum of four marks for:
• A AND O (1)
• W OR D (1)
• Brackets around W OR D (1)
• AND between A AND O (W OR D) (1)
4
Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
8(a)(i) Award one mark from: Allow examples
• An action/task that is carried out (by the
CPU) (1)
• An operation/code that is/will be executed
(by the CPU) (1)
• Something that tells the
CPU/processor/device what to do (1)
1
8 (a)(ii) Award one mark from:
• A pointer/reference to/identification of a
location in memory (1)
• A pointer/reference to/location where data
will be accessed from/stored (to )(1)
1
Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
8(b) The only correct answer is D
A is not correct because the address bus carries
the address of the memory location
B is not correct because the data bus carries but
does not store data
C is not correct because the control unit sends
signals but does not handle the data
1
Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
8(c)(i) Award one mark from:
• More instructions can be carried out per
second (1)
• Processes run faster (1)
• Programs executed faster (1)
• Can run more complex programs (1)
1
8(c)(ii) Award one mark from:
• The CPU/computer could overheat (1)
• More cooling required (1)
• Needs more power (1)
• CPU could become unstable/crash / its
lifespan could be shortened (1) 1
Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
8(d) The only correct answer is D
A is not correct because it describes a method
of accessing data from a secondary storage
device
B is not correct because it describes the multi-
agent computational model
C is not correct because it describes the
parallel computational model
1
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
8(e)(i) Award one mark from:
• When fast execution of the program is
essential/gives faster execution (1)
• When writing code to control a device /
directly access the hardware (1)
• To make efficient use of a device’s limited
storage/memory/power (1)
• When writing code for a particular
architecture/hardware/embedded system (1)
1
8(e)(ii) Award one mark for:
• To translate/convert assembly language into
machine/object code (1)
1
8(e)(iii) Award one mark for any two correct rows (1) Row can only be
Award two marks for any four correct rows (2) correct if there is
Award three marks for all five correct rows (3) only one tick.
Description Compiler Interpreter
Translates the
program each time it
is executed
Produces permanent
object code
Translates line by
line
Translates the whole
program before it is
run
Generates a list of
errors once the
complete program
has been translated
3
Question Answer Additional Mark
Number Guidance
9(b)(i) Award one mark from:
• Transfer time would be longer (1)
• Larger file size / less compression (1)
• Takes up more storage space (1)
• Uses more of her data allocation (1)
1
9(b)(ii) Award up to two marks for a linked explanation Do not award a
such as: mark for cheaper
without
• Storage capacity can be scaled up and down expansion.
(1) so no need to buy more secondary
storage / only pay for what is used/needed
(1)
• Will have the files all in one place (1) rather
than scattered across many secondary
storage devices (1)
• Files can be uploaded/downloaded
anytime/anywhere/on any device (1) so long
as there is an internet connection (1)
• Can be set up to automatically backup /
synchronise with mobile devices (1)
therefore if any files/devices are lost/stolen
her files will be available on the server (1)
2
9(b)(iii) Award one mark from:
• Storage host could be targeted by hackers (1)
• Alyssa has less control over her files (1)
• An untrustworthy employee (of the cloud
storage provider) could steal her files (1)
• Reliant on the storage provider for security /
safekeeping (1)
• Files could be intercepted/corrupted during
upload/download (1)
1
9(b)(iv) Award one mark for each of:
URL component Description
https Protocol / scheme (1)
Domain (name) / host
www.cloudisfab.com
/ name of website (1)
Folder/directory (on
re12 the website) / path /
part of path(1) 4
Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
10(d)(i) Award up to two marks for a linked explanation
such as:
• Robust/less likely to break it if dropped /
quieter than a mechanical hard drive (1)
because it doesn’t have any
moving/mechanical parts (1)
• Smaller/thinner/lighter than a device with
HDD (1) so easier to carry/more portable
/ laptops have less room in them for
drives/componants(1)
• SSD uses less power (1) so battery will last
longer (1)
• SSD is faster (1) so can access
data/records more quickly (1) 2
10(d)(ii) Any two from:
• Flash memory chips are used (1)
• Chips have (floating gate)
transistors/electron pools/charge traps
(1)
• Gates/electron pools/charge traps hold
an electrical charge (1)
• Charge remains even when no power (1)
• No charge/empty pool/trap represents
data/1 (1)
• A charge/full pool/trap represents no
data/0 (1)
• Data is stored in blocks and pages (1) 2
10(d)(iii) Award one mark for each of:
Description RAM ROM
Stores the boot up
sequence
The contents are lost when
the laptop is shut down
