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Official OCR Computer Science A451/01 Exam Thread

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Original post by s4b3rt00th
I completed the exam within 40 minutes and I had to sit there for another 50 minutes. That's how easy I found the paper.


wth
how
I found the questions pretty easy and even did some q's with bullet points and I finished in about 1 hour 10 mins. I'm very fast with my handwriting too.
So.. how?
Original post by Throwaway740
Hello. Was the exam tiered? Didn't see a tier on the front.


It wasn't tiered - everyone does 2 pieces of coursework (choice within a set of 3) and the same paper
Original post by DD2508
Trust
Where was logic gates, binary addition, RAM and ROM and all of that?


tbh you could refer to RAM when it asked you why you needed secondary storage
Original post by zainrazaa
wth
how
I found the questions pretty easy and even did some q's with bullet points and I finished in about 1 hour 10 mins. I'm very fast with my handwriting too.
So.. how?


Some of the questions were repeated in the previous papers; many of the questions relied heavily on common sense.
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by zainrazaa
tbh you could refer to RAM when it asked you why you needed secondary storage


RAM is primary memory
Original post by Bearmail
RAM is primary memory


You could still refer to it by saying that RAM (sat nav itself has RAM) is volatile, therefore you would need a secondary storage to store data so that it can be used later after the power is switched off.
okay but seriously, what did you guys put for the disabled sat nav question?
Original post by hanaxogrunge
okay but seriously, what did you guys put for the disabled sat nav question?


If a disabled person is incapable of touching the screen to enter in data, then a voice detection system would allow them to use their voice to enter in data such as destination, postcode...
Original post by s4b3rt00th
If a disabled person is incapable of touching the screen to enter in data, then a voice detection system would allow them to use their voice to enter in data such as destination, postcode...


i put speech to text, that's the same thing right?
Original post by hanaxogrunge
i put speech to text, that's the same thing right?


It would be.
QUESTION 1
1a) What is a computer system?
Hardware and software working together to form a coded solution
1b) Why is an input device needed?
To input the data needed for processing and outputting
1c) Example of input device for satnav and explanation
Microphone: For users who are disabled in their hands (Other suitable explanation)
1d) Why does a satnav need secondary storage?
Because when the satnav is turned off the RAM is also turned off, RAM is volatile and the satnav needs somewhere to store that memory e.g. Favourite locations,recent destinations
1e) Why is solid state suitable for a satnav?
Solid state is used because there are no moving parts which is efficient in a car as a car is moving so the data doesn't get damaged/corrupt
1f) What is ONE purpose of a CPU?
To fetch data from memory/ execute instructions/ decode data fetched from memory
I believe there was another part to question 1, I hope this is okay :biggrin:

QUESTION 2
2a) What else would be included in the HTML file except text?
Hexadecimal numbers to code for a specific colour? (Was unsure of this)
2b) Describe the benefit of using HTML as a standard?
Most (if not all) web browsers can read and display HTML (Again, not sure)
2c) Hexadecimal numbers
3A and 9C

I'll post the rest of my answers later, I have a technology paper to revise for :frown:
Way better than previous years, but still pretty hard, I was hoping for logic gates, binary stuff, operating systems, RAM/ROM etc.

On the plus side, there were a lot of logical answers, but yeah, grade boundaries will be low
Original post by Bearmail
I found it really easy but only because I revised over 40 hours on it. I think the paper itself was very difficult and wordy, especially the 3 in a row 6 markers at the end. I think the grade boundaries will be very low.

You bloody *******, choota phenchode, making the grade boundaries higher
Reply 33
Original post by Great_khan
You bloody *******, choota phenchode, making the grade boundaries higher

Very Well Said
Original post by ksjdgld
I found it was the easiest paper that they done in the past few years. Most of it was just common sense. I don't know how anyone could find it particularly challenging.


Choota phenchode, how does my lula taste, it's pretty much commons sense innit
Reply 35
Original post by Great_khan
Choota phenchode, how does my lula taste, it's pretty much commons sense innit


Lol your common sense is amazing
my worst exam
ive totally messed up... fml
praying the grade boundries are low
These are rough approximations of the questions, not word for word
Question 1: Sat nav I/O
What is a computer system?
-A system containing electronic devices that have software and hardware working together
-It is an electronic data processing machine that can take inputs and output results
Why does a computer system need input devices?
-To have data to process
Give an example of an input device for the sat nav for a disabled person and explain how it is useful.
-Keyboard? Mic?
Why does the satnav need a secondary storage device?
-store maps, previous locations etc.
Why solid state storage?
-Portable-small, light
-withstand movement, no moving parts
Why are the commands stored as binary?
-1 and 0 can easily be represented via on and off siganls. It allows easy simple logic gates. It allows less error as there are only two values
Name a task carried out by the CPU:
-To fetch/execute commands from memory
-To decode commands
-To carry out the fetch, decode, execute cycle
-Perform Logic operations

Question 2: HTML and internet
What else might be in an HTML file other than text for the webpage?
-image references
-cascading style sheets, CSS
-video references
One reason why is it good for HTML to be a standard?
-All webpages are the same (pretty much) so browsers only have to support html
-People can have gaurenteed support for their webpage
-Other languages can be implemented effectively such as php, javascript and xml
Hexadecimal
- 58 = 3A, 156 = 9C
Another question ??
How does the DNS connect the user to a webpage from the URL?
The DNS has access to a database and associates the URL with a specific IP address. This can access the files and connect the user to the IP which also allows the DNS to contact the correct website.

3: Algorithm (I think)
Fill in the gaps
-'count' and 'Total / Quantity)
What is a constant and give an example?
-A value stored in a specific memory location represented by a name. The value cannot be changed while the program is running
E.g. Quantity
What data type is the Mean?
-Real as it could be a decimal.
What other two types of iteration are there other than For?
-while
-repeat/do until ?
It gives an example of a validation algorithm, Give an example of a boundary value and an invalid value.
-100 or 0 are boundaries
-anything not between 0 and 100 inclusive are invalid values

4: Databases
Why is a database a persistent organised store of data?
-It is a structured object that contains data. It is stored in tables. (Not sure about this one)
What is a suitable data type for the ID?
-Text, as it has leading zeros
How many records are there
-four
Which field is the primary key?
-The first field, it is unique and follows the same format. It is a short number.
Name a validation method for TeacherID and Date, they must be different.
-TeacherID, follow format Letter,Letter,ID, or must be length three etc
-Date, follow format DD/MM/YYYY or it must be less than or equal to the current date
Name two features of a DBMS that allow you to make customizable applications.
-Query, ask for records with certain attributes easily, e.g this lets the admin create a query for all outstanding repairs
-Form, create a GUI to make it easier to make a query, e.g. admin enters teachers ID into search box to get their repairs.

Question 5: Cars
Describe the ethical and legal issues surrounding the development of automatic technology such as driverless cars.
-Cars follow the law always and may not cope in an emergency situation and therefore ccause harm.
-Cars and automatic devices collect data perhaps unethically or illegally
-Automation increases unemployment, not right for robots to 'take over'
-Security required and so could break the data protection Act
-Hackability, could break the computers misuse act
Question 6: OCR accounts
Two advantages of a network in the office over standalone PCs:
-Share expensive peripherals. All users can use the peripherals plugged in to any PC. This saves money as only one peripheral is needed and all the computers have access saving time.
-Share data/resources/programs. This allows quicker sharing of data and ideas over methods such as email. It is cheaper as users do not have to use physical storage devices to transfer data. Saves time as users do not have to take so long copying files as they are in a shared folder.
Name a piece of hardware to get an internet connection. Usually OCR accepts:
-Router, modem (modulator-demodulator) or ADSL adapter
Name two other pieces of hardware for a network and explain:
-Router/modem/ADSL, internet connection
-Hub, connect the devices for sharing
-NIC, allows connection via Ethernet or wireless
-Server, dedicated machine to supply data to clients etc.
-switches, like a hub but faster
Network policies:
-Acceptable Use: User priviliges, malware protection etc
-Backup
-Failover
-Disaster Recovery
-Archive

Pseudocode:
the criteria were
Use iteration
Have a previously stored number to guess
allow ten guesses
say to guess higher or lower
ask the user to guess
say congratulations and end the game if they guess it

I guess that it is one mark per criteria

approximately
Const Value = random number
count = 0
Ouput 'Guess the number'
Repeat
Output 'enter a number'
Guess = Input
If Guess = Value Then
Output 'Congratulations'
END
If Guess > Value THEN
Output 'guess higher'
if guess < Value then
Output 'Guess lower'
count = count + 1
Repeat until count = 10
output 'Sorry you did not guess the number. It was' + value
END


If anyone else has question answers contribute to help update the full markscheme
Original post by BenKennedy55
QUESTION 1
1a) What is a computer system?
Hardware and software working together to form a coded solution
1b) Why is an input device needed?
To input the data needed for processing and outputting
1c) Example of input device for satnav and explanation
Microphone: For users who are disabled in their hands (Other suitable explanation)
1d) Why does a satnav need secondary storage?
Because when the satnav is turned off the RAM is also turned off, RAM is volatile and the satnav needs somewhere to store that memory e.g. Favourite locations,recent destinations
1e) Why is solid state suitable for a satnav?
Solid state is used because there are no moving parts which is efficient in a car as a car is moving so the data doesn't get damaged/corrupt
1f) What is ONE purpose of a CPU?
To fetch data from memory/ execute instructions/ decode data fetched from memory
I believe there was another part to question 1, I hope this is okay :biggrin:

QUESTION 2
2a) What else would be included in the HTML file except text?
Hexadecimal numbers to code for a specific colour? (Was unsure of this)
2b) Describe the benefit of using HTML as a standard?
Most (if not all) web browsers can read and display HTML (Again, not sure)
2c) Hexadecimal numbers
3A and 9C

I'll post the rest of my answers later, I have a technology paper to revise for :frown:

Here is an almost full markscheme, I think:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4764212

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