AQA GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE PAPER 2
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 2026
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ scheduling. Answer: "- OS uses scheduling to determine the most
efficient order to execute instructions - each process is allocated a
""priority"" by the OS - OS may interrupt the current process if a
higher priority process is free - for multitasking, the CPU switches
between different processes very rapidly"
◉ file and disk management. Answer: - computers store data as files
- OS manages this data (along with movement, editing and deletion)
◉ utility software. Answer: - OS organises and maintains the hard
disk with utility softwares like a defragmentation software
◉ system security. Answer: - user account controll - different
permissions for different users to store their own data and files - OS
has anti theft measures to prevent other users from accesing locked
devices
◉ utilities. Answer: utility software helpts to maintain a computer
,◉ disk health. Answer: - disk healthy utilities scan the drive for
problems and fix issues where possible
◉ system cleanup. Answer: - system cleanup utilities go through and
get rid of temporary files that take up space unnecessarily
◉ compression. Answer: - reduces the size of files so they take up
less disk space - it's used on the Internet to make files quicker to
download
◉ backup. Answer: - is a copy of a computer systems files and
settings stored externally that can be recovered in an event of data
loss
◉ data loss reasons. Answer: can happen for many reasons: - fire -
theft - flood - malware - hardware failure
◉ encryption. Answer: - scrambles data to stop third parties from
accessing it - data can be decrypted using a special key
◉ virus scanners. Answer: - these inspect each file on your computer
looking for viruses - they usually have a list of known viruses to
check for (need to be updated constantly so they don't miss
anything)
, ◉ LAN. Answer: local area network
◉ LAN properties. Answer: - covers an area locate on a single site -
LANs can be wired or wireless
◉ WAN properties. Answer: - wide area network- connects LANs in
different locations - more expensive to setup than LANs - connected
using telephone lines, satellite links or radio links - Internet is one
big WAN
◉ PAN. Answer: - personal area network - centred around a single
user - use Bluetooth to connect devices - short range but strong
signal - don't require any additional hardware, just the device itself
◉ fibre optic cables. Answer: - transmit data as light - high
performance - expensive cables - don't suffer interference - can
transmit over long distances at high bandwidth without losing signal
quality
◉ CAT 5e and CAT 6. Answer: - common type of Ethernet cable -
contain pairs of copper wires which are twisted to reduce internal
interference - cheaper than fibre optic cables - decent bandwidth -
commonly used in homes and LANs
WRITTEN ASSESSMENT 2026
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ scheduling. Answer: "- OS uses scheduling to determine the most
efficient order to execute instructions - each process is allocated a
""priority"" by the OS - OS may interrupt the current process if a
higher priority process is free - for multitasking, the CPU switches
between different processes very rapidly"
◉ file and disk management. Answer: - computers store data as files
- OS manages this data (along with movement, editing and deletion)
◉ utility software. Answer: - OS organises and maintains the hard
disk with utility softwares like a defragmentation software
◉ system security. Answer: - user account controll - different
permissions for different users to store their own data and files - OS
has anti theft measures to prevent other users from accesing locked
devices
◉ utilities. Answer: utility software helpts to maintain a computer
,◉ disk health. Answer: - disk healthy utilities scan the drive for
problems and fix issues where possible
◉ system cleanup. Answer: - system cleanup utilities go through and
get rid of temporary files that take up space unnecessarily
◉ compression. Answer: - reduces the size of files so they take up
less disk space - it's used on the Internet to make files quicker to
download
◉ backup. Answer: - is a copy of a computer systems files and
settings stored externally that can be recovered in an event of data
loss
◉ data loss reasons. Answer: can happen for many reasons: - fire -
theft - flood - malware - hardware failure
◉ encryption. Answer: - scrambles data to stop third parties from
accessing it - data can be decrypted using a special key
◉ virus scanners. Answer: - these inspect each file on your computer
looking for viruses - they usually have a list of known viruses to
check for (need to be updated constantly so they don't miss
anything)
, ◉ LAN. Answer: local area network
◉ LAN properties. Answer: - covers an area locate on a single site -
LANs can be wired or wireless
◉ WAN properties. Answer: - wide area network- connects LANs in
different locations - more expensive to setup than LANs - connected
using telephone lines, satellite links or radio links - Internet is one
big WAN
◉ PAN. Answer: - personal area network - centred around a single
user - use Bluetooth to connect devices - short range but strong
signal - don't require any additional hardware, just the device itself
◉ fibre optic cables. Answer: - transmit data as light - high
performance - expensive cables - don't suffer interference - can
transmit over long distances at high bandwidth without losing signal
quality
◉ CAT 5e and CAT 6. Answer: - common type of Ethernet cable -
contain pairs of copper wires which are twisted to reduce internal
interference - cheaper than fibre optic cables - decent bandwidth -
commonly used in homes and LANs
