GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE 9–1 FINAL PAPER
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FULL SOLUTION GRADED A+
◉ Graphical User Interface (GUI). Answer: uses icons and other
visual indicators to navigate and issue commands
◉ Utility Software. Answer: maintains a computer
◉ Defragmentation Software. Answer: reorganises data on the hard
drive to put fragmented files back together and moves files to collect
all the free space
◉ Backup Software. Answer: Full Backup - a copy is taken from from
every file on the system
Incremental Backup - only files created or edited since last backup
are copied
◉ Compression Software. Answer: reduces file size so they take up
less space on hard disk
◉ Encryption Software. Answer: scrambles data to stop others from
accessing it
,◉ Open Source Software. Answer: source code is made freely
available and users can modify it
ADV: free, ,made for greater good, can be adapted
DIS: small, buggy, security holes, no warranties, no customer
support
◉ Proprietary Software. Answer: only the compiled code is released
and the source code is kept a secret
ADV: warranties, well-tested, reliable, cheaper
DIS: expensive, software may not fit user needs
◉ Personal Area Network (PAN). Answer: within the range of an
individual person
◉ Local Area Network (LAN). Answer: a network that connects
devices close to each other e.g. school, house
◉ Wide Area Network (WAN). Answer: a network within a large
geographical area e.g. internet
◉ Bandwidth. Answer: amount of data that can be transferred in a
given time
, ◉ Network Interface Card (NIC). Answer: allow a device to connect
to a network
◉ Switch. Answer: connect devices on a LAN
◉ Router. Answer: responsible for transmitting data between
networks
◉ Ethernet. Answer: a set of standards for connecting computers
◉ Client-server Network. Answer: client has connection to server,
servers can backup and store centrally but can be expensive and
difficult to maintain
◉ Peer-to-peer Network. Answer: no central server, each computer
equal in responsibility, have to work as both server and a client.
◉ Star Topology. Answer: ADV: better performance, rest of network
not affected in one fails, simple to add more devices
DIS: wire needed for all devices, expensive
◉ Mesh Topology. Answer: ADV: faster
DIS: expensive
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FULL SOLUTION GRADED A+
◉ Graphical User Interface (GUI). Answer: uses icons and other
visual indicators to navigate and issue commands
◉ Utility Software. Answer: maintains a computer
◉ Defragmentation Software. Answer: reorganises data on the hard
drive to put fragmented files back together and moves files to collect
all the free space
◉ Backup Software. Answer: Full Backup - a copy is taken from from
every file on the system
Incremental Backup - only files created or edited since last backup
are copied
◉ Compression Software. Answer: reduces file size so they take up
less space on hard disk
◉ Encryption Software. Answer: scrambles data to stop others from
accessing it
,◉ Open Source Software. Answer: source code is made freely
available and users can modify it
ADV: free, ,made for greater good, can be adapted
DIS: small, buggy, security holes, no warranties, no customer
support
◉ Proprietary Software. Answer: only the compiled code is released
and the source code is kept a secret
ADV: warranties, well-tested, reliable, cheaper
DIS: expensive, software may not fit user needs
◉ Personal Area Network (PAN). Answer: within the range of an
individual person
◉ Local Area Network (LAN). Answer: a network that connects
devices close to each other e.g. school, house
◉ Wide Area Network (WAN). Answer: a network within a large
geographical area e.g. internet
◉ Bandwidth. Answer: amount of data that can be transferred in a
given time
, ◉ Network Interface Card (NIC). Answer: allow a device to connect
to a network
◉ Switch. Answer: connect devices on a LAN
◉ Router. Answer: responsible for transmitting data between
networks
◉ Ethernet. Answer: a set of standards for connecting computers
◉ Client-server Network. Answer: client has connection to server,
servers can backup and store centrally but can be expensive and
difficult to maintain
◉ Peer-to-peer Network. Answer: no central server, each computer
equal in responsibility, have to work as both server and a client.
◉ Star Topology. Answer: ADV: better performance, rest of network
not affected in one fails, simple to add more devices
DIS: wire needed for all devices, expensive
◉ Mesh Topology. Answer: ADV: faster
DIS: expensive
