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Systems software: OCR A‑Level Computer Science questions

Every OCR A-Level Computer Science exam question on 1.2.1 Systems software, 2021–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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593 questions

  1. Q1(d)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 1(d)(i): State which type of operating system Charlie will need to install. [1]

  2. Q1(d)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    3 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 1(d)(ii): An operating system that Charlie is thinking about installing uses a multi-level feedback queue. Describe how a multi-level feedback queue works. [3]

  3. Q1(d)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 1(d)(iii): An operating system manages and installs device drivers. Explain why hardware devices require a device driver. [2]

  4. Q2(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    9 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 2(b): OCR Consultants is designing a computer for a large company. (b)* The employees of the large company work remotely from home and use large databases that store

  5. Q2

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    9 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 2: 2* OCR Accountants is a firm of 30 employees. Each employee handles financial matters for many local businesses. The organisation runs a single large server whi

  6. Q2(c)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 2(c)(i): Describe what the BIOS will do to start up the computer. [3]

  7. Q2(d)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    4 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 2(d)(i): Describe two other roles of an operating system. 1 2 [4]

  8. Q2(d)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    5 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 2(d)(ii): Draw a line to match each scheduling algorithm to the correct description. Scheduling Algorithm Description Splits processes into different priority queues base

  9. Q3(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 3(b): State one advantage of running the application software within the virtual machine. [1]

  10. Q3(a)(i)

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 3(a)(i): Describe one advantage of using virtual machines in this way. [2]

  11. Q3(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 3(a)(ii): Describe one disadvantage of using virtual machines in this way. [2]

  12. Q3(b)

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    6 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 3(b): Each virtual machine will run an operating system. One type of operating system is multi-user. Describe two other types of operating system and give an example

  13. Q1(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 1(b): Each computer the business uses has a BIOS. Tick (3) one box in each row to identify whether each statement in the table is true or false. Statement True False

  14. Q1(e)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 1(e)(i): State the type of operating system that should be used by this computer. [1]

  15. Q1(e)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    6 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 1(e)(ii): Give the name of three other types of operating system, and for each state its purpose. Type 1 Purpose 1 Type 2 Purpose 2 Type 3 Purpose 3 [6] When a device suc

  16. Q1(f)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 1(f): Explain how an operating system deals with an interrupt. [3]

  17. Q1(g)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    9 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 1(g): A small manufacturing business uses networked computers with closed source application software installed. (g)* Memory management is a key function of an operat

  18. Q1(d)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 1(d): The computer system will contain several input and output devices. Explain the role of device drivers when using input and output devices on a computer system.

  19. Q5(b)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 5(b): Explain what is meant by the term ‘virtual memory’ and why this may be needed when Amaya is editing her photographs. [2]

  20. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    2 marks1.2.1 Systems software
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 6(a)(i): Explain why the computer’s operating system uses a first come first served algorithm when sending documents to the printer. [2]
All 28 questions on Systems software, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(d)(i) (1 mark): State which type of operating system Charlie will need to install. [1]
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(d)(ii) (3 marks): An operating system that Charlie is thinking about installing uses a multi-level feedback queue. Describe how a multi-level feedback queue works. [3]
  3. June 2025, Paper 1, Q1(d)(iii) (2 marks): An operating system manages and installs device drivers. Explain why hardware devices require a device driver. [2]
  4. June 2025, Paper 1, Q2(b) (9 marks): OCR Consultants is designing a computer for a large company. (b)* The employees of the large company work remotely from home and use large databases that store
  5. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q2 (9 marks): 2* OCR Accountants is a firm of 30 employees. Each employee handles financial matters for many local businesses. The organisation runs a single large server whi
  6. June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(c)(i) (3 marks): Describe what the BIOS will do to start up the computer. [3]
  7. June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(d)(i) (4 marks): Describe two other roles of an operating system. 1 2 [4]
  8. June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(d)(ii) (5 marks): Draw a line to match each scheduling algorithm to the correct description. Scheduling Algorithm Description Splits processes into different priority queues base
  9. June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(b) (1 mark): State one advantage of running the application software within the virtual machine. [1]
  10. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe one advantage of using virtual machines in this way. [2]
  11. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe one disadvantage of using virtual machines in this way. [2]
  12. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q3(b) (6 marks): Each virtual machine will run an operating system. One type of operating system is multi-user. Describe two other types of operating system and give an example
  13. June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): Each computer the business uses has a BIOS. Tick (3) one box in each row to identify whether each statement in the table is true or false. Statement True False
  14. June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(e)(i) (1 mark): State the type of operating system that should be used by this computer. [1]
  15. June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(e)(ii) (6 marks): Give the name of three other types of operating system, and for each state its purpose. Type 1 Purpose 1 Type 2 Purpose 2 Type 3 Purpose 3 [6] When a device suc
  16. June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(f) (3 marks): Explain how an operating system deals with an interrupt. [3]
  17. June 2023, Paper 1, Q1(g) (9 marks): A small manufacturing business uses networked computers with closed source application software installed. (g)* Memory management is a key function of an operat
  18. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q1(d) (2 marks): The computer system will contain several input and output devices. Explain the role of device drivers when using input and output devices on a computer system.
  19. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q5(b) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by the term ‘virtual memory’ and why this may be needed when Amaya is editing her photographs. [2]
  20. June 2022, Paper 1, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the computer’s operating system uses a first come first served algorithm when sending documents to the printer. [2]
  21. June 2022, Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the computer’s operating system uses a round-robin algorithm for allocating processor time. [3]
  22. June 2022, Paper 1, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe one other scheduling algorithm. [2]
  23. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q1(a) (2 marks): Arnold has a PC which has a Basic Input Output System (BIOS). Describe what is meant by the term ‘BIOS’. [2]
  24. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): State the name of one other scheduling algorithm. [1]
  25. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why First Come First Served is a suitable scheduling algorithm for Arnold’s router. [2]
  26. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q1(c) (2 marks): One role of an operating system is to manage the computer’s memory. Two types of memory management are paging and segmentation. Describe one difference between
  27. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q1(e)(i) (1 mark): One example of an interrupt would be removing an external hard disk drive from a computer. State why this would need to interrupt the current fetch-decode-execu
  28. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q1(e)(ii) (2 marks): Interrupt Service Handlers make use of a stack data structure. Describe how a stack is used when handling interrupts. [2]

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