2 Magda has a mobile telephone. She uses the touch screen on her telephone to send emails to her customers. The touch screen breaks, stopping Magda from using it to type her emails. (a) Identify one other input device that would be built into the mobile telephone that Magda could use to send an email to her customers. … [1] (b) The touch screen operates by using the conductive properties of the object that is used to touch the screen. State whether the touch screen is a resistive, capacitive or infra-red touch screen. … [1] (c) Magda is listening to music on her mobile telephone when she receives a telephone call. A signal is sent within the telephone to stop the music and output that a call has been received. Give the name of this type of signal. … [1]

2(a) − Microphone 1 2(b) − capacitive 1 2(c) − interrupt 1 (a) To earn the mark, a student must identify 'Microphone' as an input device. (b) To earn the mark, a student must state that the touch screen is 'capacitive'. (c) To earn the mark, a student must name the signal as an 'interrupt'.

4 Frederick prints a document that he has typed. The printer begins to print the document, but then a message is displayed on Frederick’s computer to say that the paper has jammed. (a) Describe the role of an interrupt in generating a message on the computer that the paper has jammed. … … … … … … … … [4] (b) Give two other examples of when an interrupt signal could be generated. 1 … 2 … [2] (c) The type of data transmission between the computer and the printer is serial half-duplex data transmission. (i) Describe how data is transmitted using serial half-duplex data transmission. … … … … … … … … [4] (ii) Explain why the data transmission needs to be half-duplex rather than simplex. … … … … [2]

4(a) Any four from: − Printer generates interrupt − Interrupt is given a priority − Interrupt is queued − Interrupt stops CPU from processing current task − CPU will service interrupt // Interrupt handler services interrupt … − … generating an output message to state there is a paper jam 4 4(b) Any two from: − A suitable description of any error that might occur − A peripheral is connected/disconnected − A key on a keyboard is pressed − A mouse button click − A phone/video call is received − A buffer requires more data − A printer runs out of paper − A printer runs out of ink − Opening an application − When switching from one application to another NOTE: If two suitable different errors are described, this can be awarded two 2 4(c)(i) Four from: − Bits sent one at a time − … down a single wire − Data sent in both directions … − … but only one direction at a time 4 4(c)(ii) Any two from: − Simplex only sends data in one direction − … so, printer may not be able to tell computer an error has occurred, and computer may not be able to send printer the document to be printed NOTE: Award any valid contextual answer for MP2 2

5 Six statements are given about programming languages. Tick (3) to show whether each statement applies to high-level language, assembly language or machine code. Some statements may apply to more than one type of programming language. Statement High-level language (3) Assembly language (3) Machine code (3) it requires a translator to be processed by a computer it is an example of low-level language it uses mnemonics it uses English-like statements it can be used to directly manipulate hardware in the computer it is portable [6]

5 One mark per each correct row Statement High-level language () Assembly language () Machine code () It requires a translator to be processed by a computer   It is an example of low-level language   It uses mnemonics  It uses English-like statements  It can be used to directly manipulate hardware in the computer   It is portable  6

5 Tamaz stores confidential data on his computer. He uses the Internet regularly and is concerned about his data being viewed by unauthorised people. He currently has one software method to stop his data being viewed, which is a password. He wants to add other software methods to stop his data being viewed by unauthorised people. (a) State two other software methods that Tamaz could use to stop his data being viewed by unauthorised people. 1 … 2 … [2] (b) Tamaz’s computer has an operating system. Two functions of the operating system are file management and memory management. State two other functions of the operating system. 1 … 2 … [2]

5(a) Any two from: − Encryption − Biometric device − Firewall − Anti-spyware − Two-factor authentication // two-step verification 2 5(b) Any two from: − Interrupt / error-handling − Peripheral management − Providing user interface − Platform for running applications // installing / removing software − Manages security // access rights/levels // user account management − Managing time slicing // multitasking 2 (a) To earn the marks, a student must state two distinct software methods from the list provided, such as encryption, biometric device, firewall, anti-spyware, or two-factor authentication. (b) To earn the marks, a student must state two other functions of an operating system from the list provided, such as interrupt/error-handling, peripheral management, providing a user interface, platform for running applications, managing security, or managing time slicing/multitasking.

6 A programmer can use translators, such as an interpreter and a compiler, when developing a computer program. (a) Give one similarity between a compiler and an interpreter. … … [1] (b) Describe two differences between a compiler and an interpreter. Difference 1 … … … … Difference 2 … … … … [4] (c) Identify one other type of translator. … [1]

6(a) Any one from: − They both translate high-level language into machine code / low-level language − They both check for errors − They both report errors 1 6(b) Four from (Max 2 per translator): − An interpreter translates and executes the code line by line − … whereas a compiler translates and executes the whole code all in one go − An interpreter stops translating and reports an error as it finds one − … whereas a compiler produces an error report at the end of translation − An interpreter does not produce an executable file − … but a compiler does produce an executable file − An interpreter will execute the code until it finds an error − … whereas a compiler will not execute any code if there are errors present − An interpreter allows correction of errors in real-time − … whereas a compiler needs to retranslate the code each time after errors are found and corrected 4 6(c) − Assembler 1

Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science · 0478

IGCSE Computer Science (0478) Software past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Computer Science (0478) — Software with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

50 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.