MskProdComputing
Back to the topic

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.

AQA GCSE CS · 3.4.1 and 3.4.3

Hardware, Software and the Operating System

Section A: 10 multiple choice questions, 10 marks. Section B: 4 written questions, 12 marks. Total 22 marks.

Name

Class

Date

Mark  / 22

Section A

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

  1. 1Which of these is system software?1
    1. AA spreadsheet
    2. BA device driver
    3. CA photo editor
    4. DA web browser
  2. 2What is the purpose of memory management in an operating system?1
    1. ATo store files permanently
    2. BTo increase the amount of physical RAM installed
    3. CTo defragment the hard drive
    4. DTo allocate memory to each program and stop one program writing into another's
  3. 3Why does an operating system use device drivers?1
    1. ATo encrypt data sent to a device
    2. BTo store the device's data
    3. CSo an application can use a device without knowing the details of that specific model
    4. DTo make devices run faster
  4. 4Which utility rearranges the parts of files so each file is stored together?1
    1. ABackup
    2. BEncryption
    3. CCompression
    4. DDefragmentation
  5. 5Why is defragmenting a solid state drive not worthwhile?1
    1. AIt has no moving parts, so location does not affect access time, and the extra writes shorten its life
    2. BSolid state drives never become fragmented
    3. CIt would delete the files
    4. DSolid state drives defragment themselves every hour
  6. 6What distinguishes application software from system software?1
    1. AApplication software runs without an operating system
    2. BApplication software is always larger
    3. CSystem software cannot be installed by the user
    4. DApplication software helps the user carry out a task, system software manages the computer
  7. 7Which operating system function decides which process uses the processor next?1
    1. AUser management
    2. BProcessor management
    3. CPeripheral management
    4. DMemory management
  8. 8What does user management in an operating system provide?1
    1. AAccounts, logins and permissions so different users have different rights
    2. BExtra memory for the current user
    3. CAutomatic backups of user files
    4. DFaster processing for the main user
  9. 9Which utility would most directly help a school recover from a ransomware attack?1
    1. ADefragmentation software
    2. BCompression software
    3. CBackup software
    4. DA device driver
  10. 10Why can the same hardware run a game one minute and a word processor the next?1
    1. ABecause the operating system rebuilds the hardware
    2. BBecause games and word processors use different processors
    3. CBecause software is only a pattern of stored instructions, so it can be replaced without changing the hardware
    4. DBecause the processor physically reconfigures itself

Section B

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

  1. 1StateState one difference between system software and application software.2
  2. 2DescribeDescribe two functions of an operating system.4
  3. 3ExplainA technician suggests defragmenting the solid state drive in a laptop to make it faster. Explain why this is not a good idea.3
  4. 4ExplainExplain why an operating system uses device drivers rather than communicating with hardware directly.3

Mark scheme

Section A

1B2D3C4D5A6D7B8A9C10C

Section B

1 State one difference between system software and application software. 2

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

  • System software manages or maintains the computer itself
  • Application software allows the user to carry out a particular task

Model answer. System software manages and maintains the computer itself, the operating system and utilities being the main examples. Application software is installed so that the user can carry out a particular task, such as writing a document or browsing the web.

2 Describe two functions of an operating system. 4

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

  • Memory management, allocating memory to running programs
  • Explains a consequence, such as preventing one program writing into another's memory
  • Processor management, scheduling which process runs and for how long
  • Explains a consequence, such as several programs appearing to run at the same time

Model answer. The first function is memory management. The operating system allocates an area of memory to each running program and keeps track of what is in use, which prevents one program from writing into memory belonging to another and crashing it. When physical memory is exhausted it moves less recently used pages to virtual memory on the drive so that programs can continue. The second is processor management. The operating system schedules which process gets the processor and for how long, switching between them fast enough that they appear to the user to be running at the same time, which is what makes multitasking possible on a single core.

3 A technician suggests defragmenting the solid state drive in a laptop to make it faster. Explain why this is not a good idea. 3

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

  • Defragmentation moves file parts together to reduce read head movement
  • A solid state drive has no moving parts, so access time is the same wherever data is stored
  • The extra writes use up the drive's limited write endurance and shorten its life

Model answer. Defragmentation exists to reduce how far the read head of a mechanical hard drive has to travel, by gathering the scattered parts of each file into one place. A solid state drive has no moving parts at all, and every location on it is reached in the same time, so bringing the parts of a file together gains nothing whatsoever. Worse, defragmentation involves rewriting a very large amount of data, and the memory cells in a solid state drive can only be written a finite number of times, so the operation actively shortens the life of the drive in exchange for no benefit.

4 Explain why an operating system uses device drivers rather than communicating with hardware directly. 3

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

  • Each hardware device has its own specific set of commands
  • The driver translates general instructions into the commands that device understands
  • So software can be written once and work with any device of that type

Model answer. Every piece of hardware has its own particular set of commands and its own way of being addressed, and those differ between manufacturers and even between models from the same manufacturer. A device driver is software supplied for one specific device that translates the general instructions the operating system issues into the exact commands that device understands. That means an application can simply ask the operating system to print a page without knowing anything about the printer attached, and a new printer can be supported by installing a new driver rather than by rewriting every program.