Cambridge IGCSE™

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/12

Paper 1 Computer Systems February/March 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 f or
Teachers.

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

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes f or the February/March 2024 series f or most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

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This document consists of 13 printed pages.

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0478/12 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
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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 alon gside 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 assess ed 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

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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 fu ll 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 thre sholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

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Mark scheme abbreviations

/ separates alternative words / phrases within a marking point

// separates alternative answers within a marking point
underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants accepted)
max indicates the maximum number of marks that can be awarded
( ) the word / phrase in brackets is not required, but sets the context

Note: No marks are awarded for using brand names of software packages or hardware.

Question Answer Marks

1(a) B 1

1(b)(i) A 1

1(b)(ii) 01001110 1

1(b)(iii) • Unique binary/denary number given/stored for each character 2

• The code for R is stored, then the code for E then D in sequence

1(c)(i) Any two from: 2

• More bits allocated to each amplitude
• Amplitudes can be more precise
• A wider range of amplitudes can be recorded

1(c)(ii) Increase the sample rate 1

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Question Answer Marks

2(a) One mark for letter and One mark for matching correction. 4
• Statement B …
• …MAR stores addresses and not instructions

• Statement C …
• …Data is from bus not PC //
Data is from address in MAR not PC

2(b)(i) It can run 3.5 billion FE cycles each second // it can execute 3.5 billion instructions each second 1

2(b)(ii) Any two from: 2

• More cores increases/improves the performance
• More cores mean more FDE cycles/instructions are executed each second
• …because each core runs an FE cycle/instruction simultaneously

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

• More cache improves performance
• …because more cache means the processor can access more frequently used data/instructions faster
• …instead of having to access the data from the slower-access RAM

2(c)(i) Any two from: 2

• Volatile storage
• Stores data for the processor to access directly/quickly // directly accessed by the CPU
• Stores currently running data/instructions

2(c)(ii) Any one from: 1

e.g.
• BIOS // bootstrap/loader
• Firmware
• Parts of OS

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2(c)(iii) Any one from: 1

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• To run programs when there is insufficient RAM to run them

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• To allow RAM to store more data when required

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Question Answer Marks

3(a) One mark each: 3

Function name Description

Examples:
managing memory • allocates memory to processes
• prevents two processes accessing the same memory

platform for running

allows application software to run on the computer
applications

Examples:
• allocates data to buffers
managing peripherals
• transmits data to hardware
• receives data from hardware

3(b)(i) To indicate that something requires the attention of the processor/OS/CPU 1

3(b)(ii) One mark for input device and matching interrupt: 1

e.g.
• Keyboard
Key pressed
• Mouse
Mouse moved//button clicked

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Question Answer Marks

3(b)(iii) Any five from: 5

• Interrupt is given priority
• …and placed in interrupt queue
• Processor finishes current FE cycle for program
• Processor checks interrupt priority queue // processor checks for higher priority interrupt than program/process
• If lower priority processor runs next FDE cycle for program/process // if lower priority processor continues with
program/process
• (if higher priority) processor stores current process/registers on stack
• Checks source of interrupt
• … and calls the appropriate ISR
• ISR handles/resolves interrupt
• If there is another higher priority interrupt (than process) then repeat
• … (otherwise) processor retrieves content of stack/registers/previous process (to continue with process from program)

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Question Answer Marks

4 Any five marks for each part of diagram: 5

• URL from computer/browser to DNS
• DNS storing table/database of URL and IPs // DNS finding IP for URL
• DNS sending IP to computer / browser
• DNS sending to higher DNS if not found
• Web browser/computer sending request to IP of web server
• Web server processing request
• Web page data sent from server to computer / web browser

1. URL
DNS
Student's
computer 3. IP URLs IP
…..co.uk 250.256..
…..co.uk 058.51..

4. request to IP 2. Find IP for URL

6. HTML
web page

Web server

5. Process request

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Question Answer Marks

5 One mark for each term in correct place: 4

• physically
• blockchains
• time-stamp
• traced

A digital currency does not exist physically, it can only be accessed electronically.

Some digital currencies have digital ledgers called a blockchains. These are decentralised databases where each
transaction is stored as a new set of data with a time-stamp and is linked to the previous set of data. This means that
transactions cannot be altered, only new transactions added, which allows the location of the data to be traced.

Question Answer Marks

6(a) Any one from: 1

• It has electrical components // by example
• It is programmable

6(b)(i) Any five from: 5

• Sensor continuously sends the digitised value / reading / distance to the microprocessor
• Microprocessor compares the data / signal to the stored data of a person and distance of 3m
• If the data / signal is less than (or equal to) a person and within 3m
• …a signal is sent to actuator to make the tractor stop / apply the brakes
• If the data/signal is greater than 3m no action is taken
• If stopped and data/signal is not a person and/or more than 3m a signal is sent to actuator to make the tractor start
• The whole process repeats until turned off

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Question Answer Marks

6(b)(ii) One mark for sensor and One mark for matching use: 2
e.g.
• Accelerometer …
• …to adjust for uneven ground // to detect if the tractor crashes

• Proximity …
• …to detect if near the end of the field // to detect other obstacles

• Light …
• … to identify when to turn the headlights on

6(c) Any three from: 3

e.g.
• Set-up cost may be high
• Maintenance cost may be high
• … needs skilled workers/expert to fix
• Farmer may need reskilling in how to use it …
• ... which could be costly
• Leads to deskilling of farmers/workers
• Farmer may need fewer employees
• … leading to unemployment
• Can malfunction
• … and not recognise a person and fails to stop
• Changing function can be expensive

6(d) Any three from 3

• Knowledge base
• Rule base
• Inference engine
• Interface

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Question Answer Marks

6(e)(i) Any three from: 3

• The same data is transmitted back (from computer to tractor)
• Tractor compares both sets of data
• … if they are identical there is no error // reverse
• Tractor sends confirmation of accuracy if the same // Tractor resends the data if they are different // Tractor transmits
error if they are different

6(e)(ii) One mark for two correct 3

Two marks for five correct
Three marks for all eight correct

parity
bit 7 bit 6 bit 5 bit 4 bit 3 bit 2 bit 1
bit

byte 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

byte 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

byte 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

byte 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

byte 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

byte 6 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

byte 7 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1

parity
byte 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

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Question Answer Marks

7(a)(i) If the data is intercepted, it cannot be understood 1

7(a)(ii) Four from: 4

• Symmetric has a shared key…
• … to encrypt and decrypt
• Both the sender and receiver know the key

• Asymmetric has different keys // a public key and a private key

• …public to encrypt the data and private to decrypt
• …anyone can know the public key but only those intended know the private key

7(b)(i) Any two from: 2

e.g.
• Destination address/IP
• Sender address/IP
• Packet number

7(b)(ii) Any one from: 1

• Control the route the packet takes
• Send each packet towards its destination
• Choose more efficient route

Question Answer Marks

8(a)(i) EC 1

8(a)(ii) Any one from: 1

• Easier for humans to read/remember
• Shorter for humans to enter

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• Less likely for humans to make mistakes

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• Easier for humans to spot errors/debug

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• Takes up less space onscreen

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Question Answer Marks

8(b)(i) One mark for working, one mark for answer 2

• e.g. showing flip and add 1
10110111 = 01001001
• –73

8(b)(ii) 00101101 1

8(c) One mark each 2

• Divide
• ...by 16 / 24

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