MskProdComputing
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The mark scheme starts on a new page, so you can print pages one and two for a student and keep the last page yourself. Everything prints in black on white whichever theme you are using.

Key Stage 3 · Y7.1

Using Computers

Section A: 10 multiple choice questions, 10 marks. Section B: 5 written questions, 16 marks. Total 26 marks.

Name

Class

Date

Mark  / 26

Section A

Circle the letter of the correct answer. One mark each.

  1. 1Which of these is hardware?1
    1. AA web browser
    2. BAn operating system
    3. CA keyboard
    4. DA Python program
  2. 2Which is an example of system software?1
    1. AA game
    2. BThe operating system
    3. CA web browser
    4. DA photo editor
  3. 3A microphone is which kind of device?1
    1. AStorage
    2. BOutput
    3. CProcessing
    4. DInput
  4. 4What does the file extension .py tell you?1
    1. AIt is a presentation
    2. BIt is a spreadsheet
    3. CIt is a Python program
    4. DIt is a picture
  5. 5Why should you save your work regularly?1
    1. ASaving makes the computer faster
    2. BFiles get smaller each time you save
    3. CIt stops other people opening your file
    4. DWork in memory is lost if the power goes off
  6. 6Which of these is the strongest password?1
    1. Acopper-badger-lantern
    2. Bqwerty
    3. Cpassword123
    4. DSam2011
  7. 7A touchscreen is:1
    1. ABoth an input and an output device
    2. BA storage device
    3. COnly an output device
    4. DOnly an input device
  8. 8What is the correct order of the four stages of a computer system?1
    1. AStorage, output, input, process
    2. BInput, process, output, with storage available throughout
    3. CProcess, input, storage, output
    4. DOutput, process, input, storage
  9. 9What does Save As do that Save does not?1
    1. AIt prints the file
    2. BIt creates a new copy with a new name
    3. CIt makes the file smaller
    4. DIt closes the program
  10. 10Why should you always log off a school computer?1
    1. AIt speeds up the network
    2. BIt saves electricity
    3. CIt deletes your files
    4. DAnything done while logged in as you appears to have been done by you

Section B

Answer in the space provided. The number of marks tells you how many separate points to make.

  1. 1StateState one difference between hardware and software.2
  2. 2NameName two input devices and two output devices, and state what each is used for.4
  3. 3ExplainExplain why a computer needs storage as well as memory.3
  4. 4DescribeA student has saved all their work in one folder with names like doc1, doc2 and doc3. Describe two problems this causes and suggest how they should organise their files instead.4
  5. 5ExplainExplain what makes a password strong, and give an example of a strong password.3

Mark scheme

Section A

1C2B3D4C5D6A7A8B9B10D

Section B

1 State one difference between hardware and software. 2

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 2.

  • Hardware is the physical parts you can touch
  • Software is the programs or instructions that tell the hardware what to do

Model answer. Hardware is the physical parts of a computer system that you can actually touch, such as the keyboard, monitor and processor. Software is the set of programs and instructions that tell the hardware what to do, and it cannot be touched because it is stored as data.

2 Name two input devices and two output devices, and state what each is used for. 4

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 4.

  • First input device named with a use
  • Second input device named with a use
  • First output device named with a use
  • Second output device named with a use

Model answer. Two input devices are a keyboard, which is used to type text and numbers into the computer, and a microphone, which is used to record sound. Two output devices are a monitor, which displays images and text so the user can see the results, and a printer, which produces a paper copy of a document.

3 Explain why a computer needs storage as well as memory. 3

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 3.

  • Memory is wiped when the power is switched off
  • Storage keeps data permanently
  • Without storage all work would be lost every time the computer was turned off

Model answer. A computer needs memory to hold the programs and data it is working with right now, but memory is wiped as soon as the power is switched off. Storage keeps data permanently, so it is still there the next time the computer is turned on. Without storage, every document, photo and program would be lost every time the computer was shut down and everything would have to be created again from scratch.

4 A student has saved all their work in one folder with names like doc1, doc2 and doc3. Describe two problems this causes and suggest how they should organise their files instead. 4

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 4.

  • It is hard to find a particular file
  • The names do not say what the files contain
  • Suggests using meaningful file names
  • Suggests using folders for different subjects or topics

Model answer. The first problem is that the student cannot tell what any file contains without opening it, because names like doc1 give no information at all. The second problem is that with everything in one folder, finding a particular piece of work means scrolling through a long list, and this gets worse every week as more files are added. Instead the student should give each file a meaningful name that describes it, such as year7-computing-networks-homework, and create a folder structure with a folder for each subject and subfolders inside for each topic, so that related work is grouped together and easy to find.

5 Explain what makes a password strong, and give an example of a strong password. 3

One mark for each of the following, to a maximum of 3.

  • It should be long
  • It should not be guessable from personal information
  • Gives a suitable example

Model answer. A strong password is long, because every extra character makes it far harder for a computer to guess by trying every combination. It should also not contain anything someone could find out about you, such as your name, your date of birth or the name of your pet, because those are the first things an attacker would try. A good method is to join three unrelated words together, for example copper-badger-lantern, which is long and very difficult to guess but still easy for you to remember.