Hardware and communication: Eduqas A‑Level Computer Science questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Computer Science exam question on 2.1 Hardware and communication, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 76 questions on Hardware and communication, as a list

June 2025, Component 2, Q1(a) (6 marks): Explain, using suitable examples, the relationship between word size and clock speed. [6]
June 2025, Component 2, Q1(b) (4 marks): A computer specification will also refer to memory. Describe the different functions carried out by Random Access Memory (RAM) and Cache memory. [4]
June 2025, Component 2, Q4(a) (4 marks): Memory location 1D holds the number 0111 10012 and memory location 1E holds the number 0100 01102. Dry run this code to show the contents of the registers and a
June 2025, Component 2, Q4(b) (6 marks): The triangular number sequence can be used to produce equilateral triangles of increasing size. The sequence is 3,6,10… and is calculated as 1 + 2 = 3 + 3 = 6 +
June 2025, AS Component 1, Q2 (9 marks): Describe the components and mechanisms of hard disk drives (HDDs). Discuss the key factors that could contribute to slowing access speeds in HDDs. Propose a met
June 2025, AS Component 1, Q3(a) (1 mark): State the purpose of a network protocol. [1]
June 2025, AS Component 1, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Uploading or downloading files to and from a remote server. [1]
June 2025, AS Component 1, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Streaming real-time applications, like video and online gaming, and providing fast data transmission by sacrificing some reliability. [1]
June 2025, AS Component 1, Q3(b)(iii) (1 mark): Viewing and managing messages stored on a mail server, and maintaining synchronisation between the server and a local device. [1]
June 2025, AS Component 1, Q3(c) (1 mark): State the role of handshaking. [1]
June 2024, Component 2, Q1(a) (2 marks): Describe the function of the Program Counter in the Von Neumann fetch-execute cycle. [2]
June 2024, Component 2, Q1(b) (6 marks): Describe the role of three other special CPU registers in the fetch-execute cycle. [6]
June 2024, Component 2, Q3 (4 marks): TCP and UDP are protocols that enable data transmission on a network. Explain why internet banking applications use TCP, whereas online games use UDP. [4]
June 2024, Component 2, Q9 (6 marks): An assembly language application processes the results of an online platform game. A series of positive numbers is entered which represent the time (minutes) ta
June 2024, Component 2, Q11(a) (2 marks): If the linear fraction of the process = 20% calculate the run time of the model using 5 processors and using 20 processors. [2]
June 2024, Component 2, Q11(b) (2 marks): Describe the limitations of parallel processing that are demonstrated by the calculations. [2]
June 2024, AS Component 1, Q1 (6 marks): Explain parallel processing, giving a suitable example. Your answer should include any potential limitations. [6]
June 2023, Component 2, Q1(a) (3 marks): Identify three advantages offered by QR codes over traditional barcodes. [3]
June 2023, Component 2, Q1(b) (4 marks): A QR code can be used to input a URL, which when scanned could be used by the device’s browser to open a webpage. Describe two other uses of QR codes. [4]
June 2023, Component 2, Q4 (6 marks): In a typical holiday apartment, the air conditioning system is set to regulate the temperature at 21°C. If the temperature rises above the required temperature,
June 2023, Component 2, Q10(a) (2 marks): Describe the importance and use of TCP/IP protocols. [2]
June 2023, Component 2, Q10(b) (4 marks): When an email is sent using TCP, a connection is established, a 3-way handshake is made, and the email is transmitted. Describe this communication process. [4]
June 2023, AS Component 1, Q2(a) (4 marks): State each step showing how a dual-core processor would process the following calculation. [4] Y = (6 × 5) + (3 × 4) + (5 × 9) + (2 × 7)
June 2023, AS Component 1, Q2(b) (2 marks): State, giving an example, why this calculation cannot be processed in fewer steps. [2]
June 2023, AS Component 1, Q3 (4 marks): Explain data fragmentation and why the functional characteristics of a solid state drive (SSD) mean that its performance is not affected by fragmented data. [4]
June 2022, Component 2, Q7 (6 marks): An assembly language program processes a set of examination marks. A mark is compared with a pre-set pass mark and a ‘1’ is output if a student has passed the e
June 2022, Component 2, Q10(a) (3 marks): Explain, giving an example, the importance of networking standards. [3]
June 2022, Component 2, Q11 (6 marks): An engineering firm has decided to replace the 32-bit computer system it uses for Computer Aided Design (CAD) work with a new 64-bit system, with multi-core pro
June 2022, AS Component 1, Q1 (4 marks): Describe the use of two input and two output devices in an application of your choice. [4]
June 2022, AS Component 1, Q4(a) (6 marks): Complete the following table showing how data changes when read from RAM into registers for three fetch-decode-execute cycles. [6] The first cycle has been comp
June 2022, AS Component 1, Q4(b) (2 marks): State the role of the Arithmetic Logic Unit in question 4(a) and the denary value that resulted from this. [2]
June 2022, AS Component 1, Q4(c) (1 mark): State the change to the data stored in RAM at the end of the three cycles. [1]
Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q3(a) (6 marks): Describe the role of three registers used in the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle. [6]
Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q3(b) (4 marks): In a certain computer the following assembly language instruction set is available. Command Description Input a numeric value which will be stored in the INP ac
Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q3(c) (2 marks): Identify the changes to the program that would be required to ensure that the input value was greater than or equal to 50 [2]
Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q7(a) (2 marks): Calculate the missing values to complete this table. [2] N P = 0.5 P = 0.9 10 1.82 5.26 1000 9.91 100000 1.99
Autumn 2021, Component 2, Q7(b) (4 marks): Discuss the performance of the systems indicated by the results shown in the table. [4]
Autumn 2020, Component 2, Q3 (6 marks): The temperature of a tank of liquid in a factory should not exceed 65 °C. A microprocessor receives readings from an electronic thermometer in the tank and acti
Autumn 2020, Component 2, Q8(b) (2 marks): To produce the computer generated image for each frame of the film takes 20 minutes on a single processor computer. The film company decides to produce the imag
Autumn 2020, AS Component 1, Q2(a) (4 marks): Describe how cache memory is used in a Central Processing Unit (CPU). [4]
Autumn 2020, AS Component 1, Q2(b) (5 marks): Describe parallel processing and its limiting factors. [5]
Autumn 2020, AS Component 1, Q13 (12 marks): Describe networks and explain how they communicate. [12]
June 2019, Component 2, Q1(a) (2 marks): Fetch the next program instruction. [2]
June 2019, Component 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): Execute the instruction, which requires that the numerical value in register R is stored at main memory address 02B6. [3]
June 2019, Component 2, Q5 (6 marks): A store room in a factory has an electronic door lock which is opened by entering a code number, e.g. 8696, on a keypad. A copy of the correct door entry code i
June 2019, AS Component 1, Q2 (8 marks): Describe the function of four of the main components in a contemporary CPU architecture. [8]
June 2018, Component 2, Q5(a) (2 marks): Both IMAP and SMTP are used in the e-mail system. Explain the different tasks carried out by these protocols. [2]
June 2018, Component 2, Q5(b) (3 marks): Explain whether a FTP application should make use of TCP or UDP protocol to upload a web page to an Internet server. [3]
June 2018, Component 2, Q5(c) (3 marks): Explain whether a video streaming application should make use of TCP or UDP protocol. [3]
June 2018, Component 2, Q5(d) (3 marks): Explain the role of DHCP protocol in relation to IP addresses. [3]
June 2018, Component 2, Q6(a) (1 mark): State why a single processor computer is inadequate for this weather forecasting system. [1]
June 2018, Component 2, Q6(b) (3 marks): Parallel processing is to be used instead. The forecast region is divided into 12 areas, with a separate processor handling calculations for each area. 80% of t
June 2018, Component 2, Q7 (8 marks): The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers where each is found by adding up the two numbers before it. Starting with 0 and 1, the sequence is: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3,
June 2018, Component 2, Q11(a) (6 marks): Many contemporary desktop computers use a hybrid storage combination of Solid State Drive (SSD) and Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Explain the advantages of this approa
June 2018, Component 2, Q11(b) (6 marks): Explain the purpose of random access main memory and cache memory. Comment on the advantages of installing a large amount of main memory and cache memory. [6]
June 2018, Component 2, Q11(c) (4 marks): Compare the operation of USB and Bluetooth as methods of connecting peripheral devices. [4]
June 2018, AS Component 1, Q1(a) (4 marks): Explain the importance of networking standards. [4]
June 2018, AS Component 1, Q1(b) (2 marks): Describe the difference between the SMTP and IMAP protocols. [2]
June 2018, AS Component 1, Q2 (8 marks): Compare the functional characteristics of a Solid State Drive (SSD) and Blu-ray Optical Drive (BD). Give a typical use and storage capacity for each. [8]
June 2018, AS Component 1, Q5 (6 marks): The following two files are stored on an external hard disk drive (HDD). File A File B Compare the difference in disk access speeds when loading File A and File
June 2017, Component 2, Q2 (6 marks): A certain computer has an 8 bit accumulator with the following data stored in memory. • Memory location 1A holds the character “*” • Memory location 1B holds th
June 2017, Component 2, Q3(a) (3 marks): Draw a diagram to identify the hardware and communication elements of a Von Neumann computer system and how they are connected. [3]
June 2017, Component 2, Q3(b) (4 marks): Describe the characteristics and use of cache memory used by the central processing unit. [4]
June 2017, Component 2, Q5(a) (4 marks): Describe the importance and use of the TCP/IP and FTP protocols. [4]
June 2017, Component 2, Q5(b) (4 marks): Describe the process of handshaking between two devices. [4]
June 2017, Component 2, Q8(a) (4 marks): Explain how file fragmentation can occur on a secondary storage device and describe what occurs during defragmentation. [4]
June 2017, AS Component 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Broadcasting data where there is no need to guarantee delivery, ordering or duplicate protection. [1]
June 2017, AS Component 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Transferring multimedia web pages over the Internet. [1]
June 2017, AS Component 1, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Adding devices to a network without the need for manually assigning them a unique IP address. [1]
June 2017, AS Component 1, Q1(b)(iv) (1 mark): Downloading email from a mail server. [1]
June 2017, AS Component 1, Q2 (4 marks): Describe the fetch-execute cycle, including how data is read from RAM into registers. [4]
June 2017, AS Component 1, Q3 (4 marks): Explain the term parallel processing. Your answer should include the principles on which it operates and its associated drawbacks. [4]
June 2016, AS Component 1, Q2 (5 marks): Describe cache memory in a Central Processing Unit (CPU), giving advantages of using cache memory. [5]
June 2016, AS Component 1, Q3 (6 marks): Discuss the benefits of solid-state drives compared with magnetic hard disc drives. [6]
June 2016, AS Component 1, Q4(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term handshaking. [1]
June 2016, AS Component 1, Q4(b) (3 marks): Name a standard networking protocol, describing its function and importance. [3]

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