CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER SCIENCE AHMED THAKUR

OL COMPUTER SCIENCE – 2210/01

TOPICAL MARKING SCHEMES

1.3.6 OPERATING SYSTEMS

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AHMED THAKUR ahmed_thakur@hotmail.com, 0300-8268885
 CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER SCIENCE AHMED THAKUR

Q1 2015-SP, P1
9 (b) – interrupt [1]

Q2 2014-June, P11
2 (a) (i) Any one from:
– airline bookings need to be done in real time to stop double bookings
– batch processing only done at the end of the day/week so double booking is possible
[1]

(ii) Any one from:

– GUI uses pointing devices/icons/windows (mouse, trackerball, ……)
– keyboard used with command line interfaces [1]
Q3 2014-June, P12
2b batchprocessing
Any one from:

– all data (collected together before) processed in one go

– no human interaction required once processing started
– system not time sensitive

real time transaction processing

Any one from:

– requires immediate/quick response

– updates as data input/received [2]
Q4 2014-June, P11

2
(b) Any four functions from:
– file management/delete/copy/save/store/load files
– controls/manages software/hardware
– memory management
– I/O control
– error messages/handling
– security issues
– logging on/off
– accounting/user account management
– time slicing
– multi access
– multi tasking/task management
– JCL/job control/batch processing
– network management [4]

Q5 2013-June, P11

7
(ii) interrupt [1]

(iii) handshaking [1]

(iv) (printer) buffer, RAM [1]

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AHMED THAKUR ahmed_thakur@hotmail.com, 0300-8268885
 CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER SCIENCE AHMED THAKUR

Q6 2012-June, P11

13 (a) Any one from:

– buffer
– Ram [1]

(b) Interrupt [1]

(c) Any two from:

– hardware problem (e.g. head crash on disk drive)
– software “glitch”
– viruses
– disconnected printer cable
– automatic update in progress
– too many applications open [2]

(d) Any one from:

– backup the document
– enable automatic saving of work
– manually save document every 10 minutes
– save before printing [1]

Q7 2011-Nov, P13
3 (a) 1 mark for each description + 1 mark for each example of h/ware

CLI description
– user communicates by typing in commands (in response to a prompt)
– several commands are entered to carry out a task (such as loading software)

CLI h/ware
– keyboard
– keypad

GUI description
– user interacts with a computer using pictures and symbols (icons)/drop-down menu
– tasks are initiated by selecting the icon
– usually part of a windows/wimp environment

GUI h/ware
– pointing device (e.g. mouse)
– touch screen [4]

15 (i) interrupt

(ii) handshaking

(iii) buffer [3]

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AHMED THAKUR ahmed_thakur@hotmail.com, 0300-8268885
 CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER SCIENCE AHMED THAKUR

Q8 2010-Nov, P13

4 (a) Any two points from:

Real time transaction:
– individual transactions processed as it occurs
– fields/files updated immediately
Batch processing:
– all data collected together before processing started
– processed in one go
– processing often done at night during “quiet periods”
– no need to up date files immediately [2]

(b) Any one use of batch:

– processing of utility bills (gas, electricity, water, …)
– processing of cheques
– payroll – producing wages/salary slips
Any one use of RTT:
– on line booking of seats in a cinema, flights, …
– any application where double booking must be avoided [2]

Q9 2011-June, P12

3(a) Any one advantage of CLI from:

– direct communication with computer system
– not restricted to a number of pre-determined options
– simple interface using keyboard only
– faster response

Any one disadvantage of CLI from:

– need to learn a number of/long/complex commands
– need to type in the commands (possibility of errors)
– slow having to type in commands every time

Any one advantage of GUI from:

– only need to click on one simple picture
– so much easier for the novice
– several instructions are replaced by one icon
– no need to understand how computer systems work

Any one disadvantage of GUI from:

– wasteful of computer memory
– if user wants to communicate with computer system directly, GUI is effectively
more complex. [4]

(b) Any three from:

– handling interrupts
– input/output/peripheral/device control
– spooling
– multitasking/JCL/batch processing
– multiprogramming
– user interface
– load/run software
– processor management/task management

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AHMED THAKUR ahmed_thakur@hotmail.com, 0300-8268885
 CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER SCIENCE AHMED THAKUR

– file (copy/save/delete etc) management

– memory management
– user accounts
– utility tasks (defrag, format etc.)
– error handling
– security management
– power management [3]

Q10 2010-Nov, P12

5
(b) Any two points from:
– file management
– input/output control
– spooling
– memory management
– multiprogramming
– multitasking/JCL/batch processing
– handling interrupts
– error reporting/handling
– security (e.g. virus checking)
– user interface (e.g. WIMP)
– processor management
– loads/runs programs
– user accounts
– utilities [2]

Q11 2010-Nov, P11

5 (a) 2 marks (max) for RTTP points; 2 marks (max) for RTPC points

real time transactions real timeprocessing

– individual transaction processed as – physical quantities continuously

it occurs monitored
– inputs compared with pre-set values
– files/fields/records updated – processed fast enough to affect input
immediately
– uses sensors, ADC, DAC, etc.

– e.g. online booking of seats – e.g. temperature control in air con [4]

Q12 2009-Nov

1 Generally, one mark per valid point. Two examples can gain two marks.
(a) interrupt
signal sent from a device....
temporary break ……
…. in (CPU normal) execution of instructions
to allow it to handle request from a device/peripheral/program
caused by external event
can be hardware or software generated
e.g. printer out of paper, key pressed, error in program [2]

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AHMED THAKUR ahmed_thakur@hotmail.com, 0300-8268885
 CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER SCIENCE AHMED THAKUR

(b) icon picture/small symbol/graphic on the screen used as a short cut to click on/launch an
application window reduced in size for later use (toolbar) [2]

Q13 2009-June

3 (a) Any three features from:

file management/delete/copy/save/load files
memory management
I/O control
error messages/handling
interrupt handling
user interface
security issues
logging on/off
accounting/user account management
time slicing
multi access
multi-tasking
JCL/job control
network management [3]

(b) (i) any typical device such as a microwave oven [1]

(ii) any one reason from:

has only one set of tasks to perform

simple input expected (e.g. keypad on front of device)
simple, never-changing hardware
would increase development and manufacturing costs [1]

4 (b) any one from e.g.:

by a key stroke (e.g. BREAK key)
by a printer (e.g. out of paper error) fault in program when running (e.g. try to divide by zero)
end of an operation (e.g. end of time slice) [1]

Q14 2008-June

2 Any two from:

file management
input/output control
memory management
multitasking
multiprogramming
handling interrupts
error reporting/handling
security/checks passwords and id codes interfaces with user
loads/runs programs
scheduling
job control/JCL/batch processing
controls hardware/software [2]

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AHMED THAKUR ahmed_thakur@hotmail.com, 0300-8268885
 CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER SCIENCE AHMED THAKUR

Q15 2007-Nov

2
(b) Any two points from:
file management
input/output control
spooling
memory management
multiprogramming
multitasking/JCL/batch processing
handling interrupts
error reporting/handling
security (e.g. virus checking)
user interface (e.g. WIMP)
processor management
loads/runs programs
user accounts
utilities [2]

Q16 2006-June

4 Any three effects from:

loss of jobs
traditional shops/banks close
city/town centres become deserted as shops/banks close
gap between rich and poor grows (rich get access to savings by shopping online)
less interaction between people
increase in small businesses
less pollution/less need to travel
security fears
people will need credit cards/bank accounts/computer systems [3]

Q17 2005-June

5 Any three points from

e.g. novice can use the system right away
user-friendly/easy to select
click on icons/picture to select
easier to input/words are replaced with icons
no need to know
command language to use the system/remember
command language
selecting item using mouse is faster than entering commands
avoids typing errors no need to type
no need to remember commands no need know the different commands for the different
software
multitasking (several programs open at the same time therefore easier /faster to switch
easier/faster switching between files, folders etc. [3]

Q18 2003-June

6 Award one mark per point:

disk drive sends an interrupt/signal (to the processor)
when ready to receive more data/when transfer is complete
disk fault/disk not in drive/faulty disk/check sum error/disk full/disk not formatted [2]

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AHMED THAKUR ahmed_thakur@hotmail.com, 0300-8268885
 CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER SCIENCE AHMED THAKUR

Q19 2002-Nov
6c correct conditions are constantly maintained/works 24 hrs a day
no need to worry about items in museum deteriorating
no need to employ anybody [1]

8
(a) Generally well answered with most candidates correctly identifying a root directory and a subdirectory.

(b) Several candidates indicated that formatting caused any data on the disk to be lost but did not actually
understand what else formatting did e.g. writes tracks and sectors, sets up root directory, puts index/title
on the disk, etc.

(c) This question was well answered by the stronger candidates who gave responses such as memory management,
multi-programming, error reporting, file management, etc. The weaker candidates tended to give trivial
answers such as “looks after the computer”, “allows user to use the computer”, etc. - none of which were
sufficiently specific to gain any marks

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AHMED THAKUR ahmed_thakur@hotmail.com, 0300-8268885