OCR A Level Computer Science Computer
systems (H446/01 )
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Morning
A Level Computer Science
H446/01 Computer systems
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
You can use:
• a ruler (cm/mm)
• an HB pencil
Do not use:
• a calculator
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You can use an HB pencil, but only for graphs and diagrams.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined pages at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 140.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 32 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 3
1 Charlie is about to study a computer games design course at university. He needs to purchase a
computer to allow him to design and edit the graphics in his games, including video files.
(a) Charlie’s computer contains a data bus, an address bus and a control bus.
State the purpose of each of these three buses.
Data bus ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Address bus .....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Control bus .......................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[3]
(b) Charlie will need to use input and output devices when designing and editing his computer games.
(i) State one input device and one output device that Charlie could use and give an example use of
each.
Input device
Device name ....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Example use ....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Output device
Device name .....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Example use .....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
Turn over
, 4
(ii) Charlie will need to store a large collection of files containing high definition images and high
definition videos that he will use during his course.
State a type of secondary storage device that Charlie could use and give a reason why.
Type of storage .................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Reason..............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(c) In addition to the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Charlie will purchase a Graphical Processing
Unit (GPU) that will be used to process and display the graphics in his games.
(i) Tick (✓) one box on each row to indicate if each statement is referring to a CPU or a GPU.
Statement CPU GPU
Suited to performing simple operations in parallel on larger data sets
Suited to performing complex operations on smaller data sets
[2]
(ii) State two benefits of using a GPU to process and display the graphics in computer games.
Benefit 1 ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Benefit 2 ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(d) Charlie will require an operating system that will allow him to have several applications open at
the same time.
(i) State which type of operating system Charlie will need to install.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [1]
, 5
(ii) An operating system that Charlie is thinking about installing uses a multi-level feedback queue.
Describe how a multi-level feedback queue works.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(iii) An operating system manages and installs device drivers.
Explain why hardware devices require a device driver.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(e) Once Charlie has installed an operating system he will need to install utility software.
State two utilities that Charlie could install and state the purpose of each.
Utility 1 .............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Purpose ............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Utility 2 .............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Purpose ............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
systems (H446/01 )
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Morning
A Level Computer Science
H446/01 Computer systems
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
You can use:
• a ruler (cm/mm)
• an HB pencil
Do not use:
• a calculator
Please write clearly in black ink. Do not write in the barcodes.
Centre number Candidate number
First name(s)
Last name
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You can use an HB pencil, but only for graphs and diagrams.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined pages at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 140.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 32 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 3
1 Charlie is about to study a computer games design course at university. He needs to purchase a
computer to allow him to design and edit the graphics in his games, including video files.
(a) Charlie’s computer contains a data bus, an address bus and a control bus.
State the purpose of each of these three buses.
Data bus ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Address bus .....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Control bus .......................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[3]
(b) Charlie will need to use input and output devices when designing and editing his computer games.
(i) State one input device and one output device that Charlie could use and give an example use of
each.
Input device
Device name ....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Example use ....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Output device
Device name .....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Example use .....................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
Turn over
, 4
(ii) Charlie will need to store a large collection of files containing high definition images and high
definition videos that he will use during his course.
State a type of secondary storage device that Charlie could use and give a reason why.
Type of storage .................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Reason..............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(c) In addition to the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Charlie will purchase a Graphical Processing
Unit (GPU) that will be used to process and display the graphics in his games.
(i) Tick (✓) one box on each row to indicate if each statement is referring to a CPU or a GPU.
Statement CPU GPU
Suited to performing simple operations in parallel on larger data sets
Suited to performing complex operations on smaller data sets
[2]
(ii) State two benefits of using a GPU to process and display the graphics in computer games.
Benefit 1 ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Benefit 2 ...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[2]
(d) Charlie will require an operating system that will allow him to have several applications open at
the same time.
(i) State which type of operating system Charlie will need to install.
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [1]
, 5
(ii) An operating system that Charlie is thinking about installing uses a multi-level feedback queue.
Describe how a multi-level feedback queue works.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(iii) An operating system manages and installs device drivers.
Explain why hardware devices require a device driver.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(e) Once Charlie has installed an operating system he will need to install utility software.
State two utilities that Charlie could install and state the purpose of each.
Utility 1 .............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Purpose ............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Utility 2 .............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Purpose ............................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
