AQA GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE PAPER 2
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
SCRIPT FULL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
◉ computer system. Answer: consists of hardware and software that
work together to process data / complete tasks.
◉ hardware. Answer: physical components of a computer e.g. (cpu,
motherboard, monitor)
◉ software. Answer: programs that a computer system runs e.g.
(word processors, web browsers, email clients, games)
◉ embedded systems. Answer: computer systems built into other
devices
◉ what are embedded systems often used as?. Answer: they are
used as control systems. they monitor and control variables to
achieve a desired results.
,◉ embedded system properties. Answer: - easy to design - cheap to
produce - more efficient and doing their task than a general purpose
PC
◉ computer components. Answer: - power supply - case cooling fan
- cpu heat sink and cooling fan - cpu - optical drive - ram sticks -
motherboard - hard disk drive
◉ CPU. Answer: Central processing unit
◉ Arithmetic Logic Unit. Answer: - does all the calculations -
performs logical operations and binary shifts - results are stored in
registers
◉ cache. Answer: - very fast memory in the CPU - slower than
registers, but faster than RAM - stores regularly used data so CPU
can access it quicker next time - cache have a very low capacity and
are expensive
◉ clock. Answer: - sends out a signal between 1 and 0 at a constant
rate - signals are used to sync when instructions will be carried out
◉ clock speed. Answer: number of clock cycles per second
, ◉ buses. Answer: - collection of wires that are used to transmit data
between components of CPU to other parts in the system
◉ fetch instruction. Answer: - control unit reads the memory
address of the next CPU instructions - instruction in the address is
copied from memory to a register
◉ decode instruction. Answer: - instruction that was copied is
decoded by the control unit
◉ execute instruction. Answer: - instruction is performed by the ALU
◉ main feature of von neumann. Answer: - uses one memory for
both data and instructions
◉ volatile memory. Answer: - temporary memory - requires power
to retain data
◉ non-volatile memory. Answer: - permanent memory - keeps its
contents with no power
◉ CPU main parts. Answer: - Control Unit - Arithmetic Logic Unit -
Cache - Clock - Buses
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
SCRIPT FULL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
◉ computer system. Answer: consists of hardware and software that
work together to process data / complete tasks.
◉ hardware. Answer: physical components of a computer e.g. (cpu,
motherboard, monitor)
◉ software. Answer: programs that a computer system runs e.g.
(word processors, web browsers, email clients, games)
◉ embedded systems. Answer: computer systems built into other
devices
◉ what are embedded systems often used as?. Answer: they are
used as control systems. they monitor and control variables to
achieve a desired results.
,◉ embedded system properties. Answer: - easy to design - cheap to
produce - more efficient and doing their task than a general purpose
PC
◉ computer components. Answer: - power supply - case cooling fan
- cpu heat sink and cooling fan - cpu - optical drive - ram sticks -
motherboard - hard disk drive
◉ CPU. Answer: Central processing unit
◉ Arithmetic Logic Unit. Answer: - does all the calculations -
performs logical operations and binary shifts - results are stored in
registers
◉ cache. Answer: - very fast memory in the CPU - slower than
registers, but faster than RAM - stores regularly used data so CPU
can access it quicker next time - cache have a very low capacity and
are expensive
◉ clock. Answer: - sends out a signal between 1 and 0 at a constant
rate - signals are used to sync when instructions will be carried out
◉ clock speed. Answer: number of clock cycles per second
, ◉ buses. Answer: - collection of wires that are used to transmit data
between components of CPU to other parts in the system
◉ fetch instruction. Answer: - control unit reads the memory
address of the next CPU instructions - instruction in the address is
copied from memory to a register
◉ decode instruction. Answer: - instruction that was copied is
decoded by the control unit
◉ execute instruction. Answer: - instruction is performed by the ALU
◉ main feature of von neumann. Answer: - uses one memory for
both data and instructions
◉ volatile memory. Answer: - temporary memory - requires power
to retain data
◉ non-volatile memory. Answer: - permanent memory - keeps its
contents with no power
◉ CPU main parts. Answer: - Control Unit - Arithmetic Logic Unit -
Cache - Clock - Buses
