Cambridge O Level Computer Science ﴾2210﴿
Paper 12 – Computer Systems
Topic: Software – Exam Practice Questions
Total Marks: 60
1. Define system software. [1 mark]
2. State one example of utility software. [1 mark]
3. What is meant by open‐source software? [1 mark]
4. State two examples of application software. [2 marks]
5. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using proprietary software. [2 marks]
6. Explain the function of an operating system in managing hardware resources. [3 marks]
7. Describe the purpose of device drivers. [2 marks]
8. Give two examples of utility programs and explain their function. [3 marks]
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9. Explain the difference between general‐purpose and special‐purpose software. [2 marks]
9. Explain the difference between general‐purpose and special‐purpose software. [2 marks]
10. Discuss one benefit and one drawback of using custom‐written software. [3 marks]
11. What is the difference between firmware and application software? [2 marks]
12. Explain how multitasking is managed by an operating system. [3 marks]
13. State two features of graphical user interfaces (GUI). [2 marks]
14. Compare CLI and GUI interfaces in terms of ease of use, resource requirements, and typical users. [4 marks]
15. Explain the role of memory management by the operating system, including paging and segmentation. [4 marks]
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16. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using open‐source software compared to proprietary software. [4 marks]
16. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using open‐source software compared to proprietary software. [4 marks]
17. A school is choosing a new management system. Compare the suitability of off‐the‐shelf versus custom‐written solutions. [5 marks]
18. Explain how security features such as user authentication, access rights, and encryption are provided by system software. [4 marks]
19. Describe how compilers and interpreters differ in execution and error handling. Give one situation where each is more appropriate. [4 marks]
20. Discuss the importance of regular software updates, including bug fixes, patches, and security improvements. [5 marks]
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