PMT

Paper 1 mark scheme

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
1(a) A bit (1)

B is not correct because a bit is smaller than a byte

C is not correct because a bit is smaller than a kibibyte

D is not correct because a bit is smaller than a nibble

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
1(b) D 32 (1)

A is not correct because 5 bits can represent 32 values

B is not correct because 5 bits can represent 32 values

C is not correct because 5 bits can represent 32 values

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
1(c)(i) C Unsigned integers store more positive values (1)

A is not correct because unsigned integers are not more accurate

B is not correct because overflow errors can still occur with unsigned integers

D is not correct because the use of a parity bit is not relevant to the scenario
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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1(c)(ii) 6 x 10244 Equivalent expressions are (3)
awarded.
Award 1 mark for sight of 1024

Award 1 mark for sight of 4

(applied only to 1024)

Award 1 mark for sight of x6

Award all marks if the result of the calculation is given: 6,597,069,766,656 (bytes).
N.B. This is not needed or expected.

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
1(d) A 1001+1000 (1)

B is not correct because it will result in 1100

C is not correct because it will result in 1110

D is not correct because it will result in 1111

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
1(e) 0101 0010 Award 1 mark for each (2)
nibble in the correct
location.
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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1(f)(i) 3D Award 1 mark for each (2)
nibble in the correct
location.

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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1(f)(ii) Award 1 mark for the identification of the reason (1) with a linked Do not accept answers (2)
justification/exemplification (1), up to a maximum of 2 marks. suggesting that fewer
digits save
Hexadecimal is used as shorthand for binary / uses fewer digits/characters (1), storage/memory.
so humans make fewer mistakes / find it easier to
read/understand/remember/manipulate (1).
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
1(g) X axis correctly labelled (1) Accept a unit of time for (3)
Y axis correctly labelled (1) the X axis.

Sample interval indicated (1) Accept signal strength

Do not award marks if wavelength is labelled rather than sample interval. for the Y axis.
Accept for sample interval if two points given that are shorter than the wavelength.
Amplitude

Time

Sample interval
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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1(h) Award 1 mark for: Accept any other equivalent (4)
Sight of: 64 × 48 x 12 mathematical expression.

Award 1 mark for:

Sight of: 1024 x 8

Award 1 mark for:

Sight of: (1024) × (1024) OR (1024)2

Award 1 mark for correct numerator/denominator orientation.

Examples of expressions that gains full marks:

64 × 48 × 12
1024 × 1024 × 8
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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2(a) WAN/Wide Area Network (1)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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2(b) (2)

Laptop

Server

Smartphone
Printer

• 1 mark for at least two connections to each device.

• 2 marks for three connections to each device.

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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2(c) Any two items from: (2)

• Destination address (1)

• Source address (1)
• Error checking field / check sum (1)
• Time stamp (1)
• Sequence number (1).

Accept any other appropriate response.

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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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2(d) A linked description that makes reference to the following points: (2)

Each packet has a sequence number (added at the sending end) (1)
The packets are put back into (sequence) order (at the destination) (1).

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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2(e) Total number of bits to transfer: Any equivalent expression to (4)
1 mark for 20 × 10242 be awarded.
1 mark for × 8

Speed in bits per second:

1 mark for 2 × 1000000

Numerator/denominator:
1 mark for
𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟
𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑
e.g.:
20 × 1024 × 1024 × 8
2 × 1000000
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
3(a) Any two issues from: (2)

• Waste materials end in landfill (1)

• Dangerous toxins are released into the ground/water (1)
• Waste is transported overseas (carbon emissions) (1).

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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3(b)(i) Ransomware (1)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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3(b)(ii) Award 1 mark for the identification of a way (1) with a linked (2)
justification/exemplification (1), up to a maximum of 2 marks.

• Software may contain security bugs (1) because it is unpatched (1).

• Anti-malware may not identify an attack (1) because the virus definitions are out
of date (1).

Accept any other appropriate response.

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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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3(c) Award 1 mark for the identification of an ethical concern (1) with a linked (2)
justification/exemplification (1), up to a maximum of 2 marks.

• The data may no longer be private (1) because companies may share it (1).
• People may not realise their data is analysed (1) because it is unclear who owns
the data (1).
• People are willing to sacrifice (some) privacy (1) in return for access to services
(1).

Accept any other appropriate response.

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
3(d) Award 1 mark for the identification of a way (1) with a linked (2)
justification/exemplification (1), up to a maximum of 2 marks.

• Students are deterred from unsafe practices (1) because consequences are
clarified (1).
• People follow safe/good practices (1) because permitted activities are defined/set
out (1).

Accept any other appropriate response.

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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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4(a) Any two functions from: (2)

• Repairing files (1)

• Compression (1)
• Defragmentation (1)
• Back-up (1)
• Firewall (1)
• Managing application updates (1)
• Formatting disks/drives (1)
• System analysis tools (1).

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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4(b) Any one way from: Do not accept ‘Checking (1)
for errors’ if not qualified
• By identifying bad programming practices (1) with ‘not picked up in
• By identifying vulnerabilities in the code (1) testing’.
• By checking for efficiency of code (1).

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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4(c) A linked description that makes reference to the four following points: (4)

• The address of memory (holding instruction) is placed on the address bus (1).
• The control unit sends a signal (1) on the control bus (to start a read operation)
(1).
• The instruction is/the contents of the memory are placed on the data bus (1).
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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4(d) A linked description that makes reference to any four of the following points: (4)

• All processes are held in a queue (1)

• Processes are prioritised (1)
• Processes are allocated time slices (1)
• Length of time slice depends on priority (1)
• (and) processes are switched (at the end of their time slice) (1)
• Unfinished processes are put to the back of the queue (1)
• During the time slice the process has exclusive use of the processor (1).
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Question Indicative content Mark

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4(e) Advantages of high-level languages: (6)
• High-level languages come with libraries of ready-made graphical user interface components (buttons, icons and
menus), which the team can use to reduce the amount of code they have to write from scratch.
• High-level languages have a range of integrated development tools, editors and syntax checkers, which will enable
the team to develop the interface code more efficiently.
• Portability is a real consideration: should the company decide to use a different chipset in the future, programs
written in a high-level language won’t need to be rewritten. They can be recompiled to run on new architecture
relatively quickly.
• High-level languages use keywords, which will enable team members to read and understand the code for the user
interface more easily.
• There are lots of people who can program in a high-level language, making it relatively easy to recruit experienced
programmers to the user interface team.
• As high-level language translators exist for a range of operating systems, each member of the user interface team
can develop code in their preferred environment.

Advantages of low-level languages:

• Code written in assembly language normally executes more quickly and takes up less memory than code written in
a high-level language. This may be crucial to enable the control unit for the alarm system to function effectively.
• There may be no high-level language for the microprocessor chip inside the control unit, so an assembly language
would have to be used for it.
• Code written in assembly language allows the programmer to directly control system hardware.
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Level Mark Descriptor

0 No rewardable content.
Level 1 1–2 Basic, independent points are made, showing elements of understanding of key concepts/principles of computer
science. (AO1)

The discussion will contain basic information with little linkage between points made or application to the context.
(AO2)
Level 2 3–4 Demonstrates adequate understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science. (AO1)

The discussion shows some linkages and lines of reasoning with some structure and application to the context.
(AO2)
Level 3 5–6 Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of key concepts/principles of computer science to support the
discussion being presented. (AO1)

The discussion is well developed, with sustained lines of reasoning that are coherent and logically structured, and
which clearly apply to the context. (AO2)
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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5(a) Logic (1)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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5(b) Award 1 mark for each correct cell. (3)

First f

Second c

Third a

Fourth b
.

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

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5(c) Award 1 mark for the identification of a reason (1) with a linked (2)
justification/exemplification (1), up to a maximum of 2 marks.

• Constants (shown in all capitals) are less likely to be changed by accident or

error (1), so algorithms that use them should be more robust (1).
• If the value of a constant does have to be altered (1), only one change is
required (on the line where it is created and set) (1).
• Constants allow values to be replaced with a name/identifier (1), so code is
easier to read/maintain (1).
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
5(d) 1 mark for initialising all variables and 1 mark for each correct pass through the • Award alternative versions (6)
loop. of the trace table if correct.
For example, copying of
values that do not change.
num x y Display Marks • Passes are incorrect if
display is indicated.
0 999 0 (1) • Display must be after the
final pass (on a separate
line in the table).
355 355 355 (1)

554 554 (1)

199 199 (1)

409 (1)

199 554 (1)

.
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
5(e) • Correct message in output box acting as a prompt for the user (1). • Symbol and contents are (6)
• Correct diamond symbol for decision (1). awarded independently.
• Correct test ‘Choice == cookies?’ for decision (1). • Award ‘End’, ‘Stop’, ‘Start’
• Correct label ‘Yes’ on right arrow AND Correct label ‘No’ on bottom arrow (1). and ‘Begin’ as text for
• Correct output symbol with suitable message (1). terminator symbols.
• Correct ellipse symbol and ‘stop’ for terminator (1). • Award ‘==’ and ‘=’ used for
equivalence inside decision
symbol, but not in process
symbol.
• Accept ‘Input choice’ as an
alternative response in the
top process symbol