plumiExternal hardware devices: AQA A‑Level Computer Science questions
Every AQA A-Level Computer Science exam question on 4.7.4 External hardware devices, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q03.1
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Q03.2
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2, question 03.2: State two reasons why most modern computers do not have an optical disk drive. [2 marks] Reason 1 Reason 2](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/75172-jun25-03-2-qp.webp?v=3)
Q11.1
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Q11.2
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 11.2: The digital pictures are transferred to a solid-state disk (SSD). Explain how solid-state disks store binary data. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/75162-jun25-11-2-qp.webp?v=3)
Q05.1
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Q05.2
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Q09.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 09.1: RFID tags can be read by an RFID reader. Describe how data is read from an RFID tag. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/75162-jun24-09-1-qp.webp?v=3)
Q09.2
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Q13.2
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 Paper 2, question 13.2: Explain why desktop computers usually have secondary storage devices. [2 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/75172-jun22-13-2-qp.webp?v=3)
Q13.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 Paper 2, question 13.3: A computer is fitted with a solid-state disk (SSD). Describe the principles of operation of an SSD. [4 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/75172-jun22-13-3-qp.webp?v=3)
Q07.1
The whole paper ↗![November 2021 Paper 2, question 07.1: Explain why a laser printer with a built-in wireless network adapter is likely to be a suitable choice of printer for a small office. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/75172-nov21-07-1-qp.webp?v=3)
Q07.2
The whole paper ↗![November 2021 Paper 2, question 07.2: Describe the principles of operation of a laser printer. [6 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/75172-nov21-07-2-qp.webp?v=3)
Q08.1
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Q08.2
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Q08.3
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Q08.2
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All 17 questions on External hardware devices, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q03.1 (6 marks): Describe the principles of operation of an optical disk. In your response, you should cover how data is represented on a disk and how the data would be read. [6
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q03.2 (2 marks): State two reasons why most modern computers do not have an optical disk drive. [2 marks] Reason 1 Reason 2
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q11.1 (3 marks): A photographer uses a digital camera to take pictures. To take a picture, the shutter opens allowing light to enter. The light is then focused on an array of li
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q11.2 (3 marks): The digital pictures are transferred to a solid-state disk (SSD). Explain how solid-state disks store binary data. [3 marks]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q05.1 (12 marks): A company uses a file server that stores files on magnetic hard disk drives. These files can be accessed by other computers through a network. Describe: • how t
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q05.2 (2 marks): The company needs to purchase a second file server. It is considering whether to purchase a file server with magnetic hard disk drives installed or a file serve
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q09.1 (3 marks): RFID tags can be read by an RFID reader. Describe how data is read from an RFID tag. [3 marks]
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q09.2 (2 marks): An RFID tag can be active or passive. A passive tag must be moved within a few centimetres of an RFID reader to be read. An active tag will have its own power s
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q14 (3 marks): A company needs to keep a file server in a secure room. The file server will need to be accessible for routine maintenance and in emergencies. All company staff
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q13.2 (2 marks): Explain why desktop computers usually have secondary storage devices. [2 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q13.3 (4 marks): A computer is fitted with a solid-state disk (SSD). Describe the principles of operation of an SSD. [4 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q07.1 (3 marks): Explain why a laser printer with a built-in wireless network adapter is likely to be a suitable choice of printer for a small office. [3 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q07.2 (6 marks): Describe the principles of operation of a laser printer. [6 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q08.1 (2 marks): Explain why the warehouse owners might prefer the individual products to be identified using RFID tags. [2 m
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q08.2 (2 marks): Explain why the product manufacturers or supermarket owners might prefer the individual products to be ident
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q08.3 (6 marks): Describe how an RFID reader would read the ProductID and ItemID values from RFID tags as pallets are deliver
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q08.2 (4 marks): The life-blogging device contains a solid-state disk (SSD). It stores its data on this in addition to uploading the data to a server. Explain two reasons why an
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