Paper 1 Strategies: Tackling Short, Medium, and Extended Questions

OCR J277 Paper 1 (Computer Systems) tests your knowledge of how computers work, from hardware to networks to ethics. This lesson provides specific strategies for tackling each type of question you will encounter.

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Paper 1 Topic Breakdown

Topic	Typical marks in paper	Key revision areas
Systems Architecture (1.1)	10-15	CPU components, FDE cycle, Von Neumann, embedded systems
Memory and Storage (1.2)	10-15	RAM vs ROM, virtual memory, SSD vs HDD, optical, capacity
Networks (1.3)	15-20	LAN vs WAN, topologies, protocols, TCP/IP layers, Wi-Fi vs Ethernet
Network Security (1.4)	8-12	Malware types, social engineering, prevention methods
Systems Software (1.5)	8-12	OS functions, utility software
Ethics and Law (1.6)	8-12	Data Protection Act, Computer Misuse Act, e-waste, privacy

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Strategy for Short-Answer Questions (1-2 marks)

Short-answer questions test recall. They usually start with "State", "Name", "Give", or "Identify".

Strategy:

1. Read the question carefully
2. Give a direct, precise answer
3. Do not write more than needed — save time for longer questions
4. If the question asks for "two" reasons, give exactly two (not one, not three)

Example: "State the purpose of the MAR (Memory Address Register)." (1 mark)

Answer: The MAR holds the address of the memory location to be read from or written to.

OCR Exam Tip: For 1-mark questions, one clear sentence is sufficient. Do not write a paragraph — you cannot get more than 1 mark, so additional writing wastes time.

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Strategy for Medium-Answer Questions (2-4 marks)

Medium questions require more detail. They often use "Describe" or "Explain".

Strategy:

1. Check the mark allocation — aim for one distinct point per mark
2. Use technical vocabulary
3. For "explain" questions, link cause to effect using "because" or "therefore"
4. Show your working for calculations

Example: "Explain two advantages of using a solid-state drive over a hard disk drive." (4 marks)

Answer:

• An SSD has no moving parts, so it is more durable and less likely to be damaged if the device is dropped (1 mark for point, 1 mark for explanation)
• An SSD can access data much faster because it uses electronic circuits rather than a physical read/write head, which reduces boot-up and loading times (1 mark for point, 1 mark for explanation)

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Strategy for Calculation Questions (2-4 marks)

Calculation questions appear frequently in Paper 1, especially for file sizes and data units.

Strategy:

1. Write the formula first — this can earn a method mark
2. Substitute the values clearly
3. Show every step of your working
4. State the units in your final answer
5. Double-check by estimating whether your answer is reasonable

Example: "A digital image has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with 24-bit colour depth. Calculate the file size in megabytes." (3 marks)