Cambridge IGCSE™

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/12

Paper 1 Computer Systems October/November 2024
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 75

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2024 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 11 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

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GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) Instructions/program that is used to operate a computer/hardware 1

1(b) B 1

1(c) Operating system // system software 1

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Question Answer Marks

2(a) bit 1

2(b) 4 1

2(c) Any two from: 3

• 22 016  8 then divided 8

• 22 016  10
• 220 160 / 1024

One mark for:

215 KiB

2(d)(i) Reducing the size of a file 1

2(d)(ii) It will take up/use less storage space 1

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Question Answer Marks

3(a)(i) They are both number systems 1

3(a)(ii) • Binary is base-2 whereas hexadecimal is base-16 2

• Binary only uses numbers whereas hexadecimal also uses letters // Binary only uses 0 and 1 whereas hexadecimal
uses 0 to 9/A to F

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Question Answer Marks

3(b) • (0000)1111 3
• 10110100
• 11101011

3(c) • E 3
• 64
• FA

3(d)(i) Any two from: 2

• Each/All/Every value/digit/bit in the binary number is shifted/moved to the left

• The left most/most significant bit is lost
• A 0 is added as the right most/least significant bit

3(d)(ii) The binary integer is multiplied by 2 1

3(e) Two’s complement 1

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Question Answer Marks

4(a) Any two from: 2

• Touchscreen
• Microphone
• Button
• (Digital) camera
• Sensor // by example

4(b) Any one from: 1

• Screen
• Speaker
• LED
• Actuator

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Question Answer Marks

4(c) Any two from: 2

• To store the BIOS

• To store the bootstrap
• To help start-up the smart watch // to store start-up instructions
• To store the firmware
• For non-volatile storage // to store data permanently
• To store data/instructions that should not change (unless needed)

4(d)(i) Any two from: 2

• A collection of servers
• Allows access to data remotely // Stores data in a remote location
• Hardware can be owned/managed by a third party
• Data storage that is stored/accessed using the internet

4(d)(ii) Any four from: 4

• No need to maintain the hardware

• … the third party is responsible for maintaining the hardware / security of the data

• Resources can be increased / decreased (on demand) // Can have unlimited storage capacity
• … no need to worry about running out of storage space
• … can save cost of purchase of hardware

• Need less/no (secondary) storage space on the watch

• … watch can remain/is small in size
• … costs of watch can be kept lower

• Can access the data from other/any devices

• … if the watch breaks/is lost data is still available

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Question Answer Marks

4(e) Any two from: 2

• The watch can only perform a dedicated/limited functions/tasks

• … and a general purpose computer performs many/multiple functions
• … (this means that) it is an embedded system
• You cannot plug in peripherals
• You cannot reprogram the smartwatch // Cannot install other software/apps
• It would only have a microprocessor // It would not have a CPU

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Question Answer Marks

5(a) Any four from: 4

• A check digit is calculated from/using the barcode data

• … using an algorithm // by example e.g. Modulo 11
• … and added to the barcode
• When/after the barcode is scanned the check digit is recalculated …
• … using the same algorithm
• If the check digits do not match an error has occurred when scanning the barcode // If the check digits match no error
has occurred when scanning the barcode

5(b)(i) • Bits are sent one at a time 3

• Bits are sent down a single wire
• Data is sent in one direction only

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Question Answer Marks

5(b)(ii) Any three from: 3

• The stock control system may be a long distance away

• … parallel should not be used in long distance transmission // Serial is more reliable for long distance transmission
• The data does not need to be sent quickly
• … the increased speed of parallel is not needed
• … as only small amounts of data need to be sent
• The bits are sent/arrived in order
• … the data will not be skewed // the data could be skewed if parallel was used
• … there will be no data collisions

• There will be less interference/crosstalk (due to single wire)

• … there will be fewer errors in the data

• No need for a reply/response from stock control system

• … half-duplex/full-duplex is not necessary as only one way transmission needed

5(b)(iii) Any two from: 2

• (Odd/even) Parity check // Parity byte check // parity block check

• Checksum
• Echo check
• (Positive/negative) ARQ // Automatic repeat query // Automatic repeat request

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Question Answer Marks

6 One mark for each correct term or definition in the correct place: 6

Components
• Control unit // CU
• Memory address register // MAR
• Data bus
• Current instruction register // CIR

Descriptions
• (Program counter) Stores the address of the next instruction to be fetched
• (Accumulator) Stores the interim result for a calculation

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Question Answer Marks

7(a) A text-based address for a website/web page 1

7(b) Any two from: 2

• Protocol
• Domain name
• File name

7(c) Web browser 1

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Question Answer Marks

7(d) One mark for each correct part of the diagram. 5

The diagram shows:

• URL sent from web browser to the DNS

• DNS finding matching IP address
• If it cannot find the URL, it is sent to the next DNS (until found)
• IP address returned to web browser
• Request sent from web browser to web server (for web page)
• Web page/HTML files sent from web server to web browser
• Web browser rendering HTML

For example:
Searches for
matching IP
address

URL sent to DNS

Web browser DNS

IP address returned
Sent to next
Request Web pages DNS if URL
sent sent not found

DNS
Web server

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Question Answer Marks

7(e) One mark for each correct term in the correct order: 5

• Web browser
• Web server
• Web server
• Web browser
• Encrypted

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Question Answer Marks

8(a) A 1

8(b) • Knowledge base 3

• Rule base
• Inference engine

8(c) Any three from: 3

For example:

• It could gather data during vacuuming

• … and adapt its own processes
• … such as where obstacles are placed in the room
• … such as where dirtier areas are
• … such as a path through a room
• … such as the shape of a room
• … such as the most efficient route to vacuum a room
• … so, it knows areas to avoid/concentrate on/use different cleaning tools

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