OCR A-Level Computer Science Computer systems (01), June 2025
Every question from OCR A-Level Computer Science Computer systems (01), June 2025 (H446): 8 questions, 140 marks, each with its mark scheme and topic.
- Question 1 23 marks
Identify computer system components for game design, including buses, I/O devices, secondary storage, CPU vs GPU characteristics, multi-tasking OS, multi-level feedback queues, device drivers, and utilities.
1.1 The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices · 1.2 Software and software development · 1.1.1 Structure and function of the processor · 1.1.2 Types of processor · 1.1.3 Input, output and storage · 1.2.1 Systems Software · 1.2.2 Applications Generation
- Question 2 21 marks
Compare processor architectures and evaluate thin-client versus thick-client approaches using virtual machines and virtual storage for remote database access.
1.1 The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices · 1.2 Software and software development · 1.3 Exchanging data · 1.1.1 Structure and function of the processor · 1.1.2 Types of processor · 1.1.3 Input, output and storage · 1.2.1 Systems Software · 1.3.3 Networks
- Question 3 14 marks
Perform conversions between binary, denary, and hexadecimal, explain the effect of a binary right shift, perform floating-point binary subtraction, and apply a bitwise AND mask.
1.4 Data types, data structures and algorithms · 1.4.1 Data Types
- Question 4 19 marks
Identify Little Man Computer (LMC) instructions, write an LMC program to output the larger of two inputs, and discuss the suitability of high-level versus low-level languages for various software projects.
1.2 Software and software development · 1.2.4 Types of Programming Language
- Question 5 14 marks
Complete a truth table and logic circuit for adders, differentiate between half and full adders, and simplify a Karnaugh map expression.
1.4 Data types, data structures and algorithms · 1.4.3 Boolean Algebra
- Question 6 20 marks
Explain the benefits of software libraries, identify compilation stages, contrast compilers and interpreters, and write SQL statements including an INSERT query and a nested SELECT query.
1.2 Software and software development · 1.3 Exchanging data · 1.2.2 Applications Generation · 1.3.2 Databases
- Question 7 13 marks
Discuss the legal and moral implications of training an AI image generator on scraped web photos, and decompress a run-length encoded image onto a grid.
1.3 Exchanging data · 1.5 Legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues · 1.3.1 Compression, Encryption and Hashing · 1.5.1 Computing related legislation · 1.5.2 Moral and ethical Issues
- Question 8 16 marks
Explain the limitations of flat file databases, complete an ER diagram for a relational database, state requirements for 2NF and 3NF, and complete a JavaScript function to process quiz answers.
1.3 Exchanging data · 2.2 Problem solving and programming · 1.3.2 Databases · 1.3.4 Web Technologies · 2.2.1 Programming techniques