plumiNetworks and topologies: OCR GCSE Computer Science questions
Every OCR GCSE Computer Science exam question on 1.3.1 Networks and topologies, 2022–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(d)
The whole paper ↗Q4(e)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(e)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)
The whole paper ↗Q3(d)
The whole paper ↗Q7(c)
The whole paper ↗Q10(a)
The whole paper ↗Q10(b)
The whole paper ↗
All 21 questions on Networks and topologies, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(a) (2 marks): Identify two reasons why this network will be a LAN and not a Wide Area Network (WAN). 1 2 [2]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by a mesh topology. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): Describe one benefit and one drawback of the network using a mesh topology instead of a star topology. Benefit Drawback [4]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (4 marks): The decision to use wired and/or wireless connections can affect the performance of the network. Complete the table by explaining how each factor can affect the
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(d) (5 marks): The youth centre is going to store data about users and events using cloud storage. Describe the drawbacks to the youth centre of storing the data on the cloud.
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(e)(i) (1 mark): Identify one device that will be required to allow the LAN to connect to the internet. [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q4(e)(iii) (4 marks): When a user wants to access a website they enter the URL into the address bar of a web browser. Describe the steps that take place to convert the URL into the w
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(c)(i) (3 marks): Draw a diagram to show how the five computers, switch and two printers are connected in a star topology. [3]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Give one benefit and one drawback of the office using a star topology instead of a mesh topology. Benefit Drawback [2]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q2(c)(iii) (3 marks): Describe the role of the switch in the star topology. [3]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): One characteristic of a LAN is that they are set up over a small geographical area. Give one other characteristic of a LAN. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): Identify the computer that is acting as the client in this scenario and justify your choice. Client computer Justification [3]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(c)(ii) (3 marks): Identify the computer that is acting as the server in this scenario and justify your choice. Server computer Justification [3]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (3 marks): Explain why the number of devices using the network at the same time can affect the performance of the network. [3]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify one other factor that can affect the performance of the network. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q3(b) (7 marks): Users can access websites from the library computers. Complete the description of accessing websites using the given list of terms. Not all terms will be used.
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q3(d) (3 marks): The network has several routers. Identify three tasks carried out by a router. 1 2 3 [3]
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q7(c) (2 marks): Give two reasons why the bakery may use a star network topology for their LAN. 1 ..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q10(a) (1 mark): Define what is meant by a Wide Area Network. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………...… [1]
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q10(b) (4 marks): Explain two advantages to the law company of storing their data in the Cloud. 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q10(c) (4 marks): Explain two disadvantages to the law company of storing their data in the Cloud. 1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………
Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © OCR, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Full past papers.
Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.