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1.2.1Primary storage (RAM, ROM, cache, virtual memory)

OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277) · Computer systems (Paper 1) › Memory and storage

Practise Primary storage (RAM, ROM, cache, virtual memory). 14 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.

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Put cache, RAM and the SSD in order of access speed, starting with the fastest.
cache, RAM, SSD

Sample questions

Written for this site in the style of OCR exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.

Question 1Easy3 marks
(a) State what is meant by volatile memory.[1]
(b) State the purpose of RAM.[1]
(c) State one item that is stored in ROM.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
  • memory that loses its contents when the power is turned off
(b)
  • to store the programs / data / operating system currently in use
(c)
  • the BIOS / the start-up (boot) instructions / bootstrap loader
Question 2Medium4 marks
(a) Explain why a computer needs primary storage as well as secondary storage.[2]
(b) Explain why a computer needs ROM.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
  • the CPU cannot work directly with secondary storage / secondary storage is too slow for the CPU
  • so programs and data are copied into RAM, where the CPU can access them quickly
(b)
  • ROM stores the instructions needed to start up (boot) the computer
  • it is non-volatile, so the instructions are there when the power is switched on (RAM is empty at start-up)
Question 3Hard4 marks
A smart TV contains an embedded computer with both RAM and ROM. It can stream films and run apps.
Explain why the smart TV needs both RAM and ROM.[4]
Show the answer and mark scheme
  • ROM stores the start-up instructions / firmware that load when the TV is switched on
  • ROM is non-volatile, so these instructions are kept when the TV is unplugged
  • RAM stores the apps and data currently in use, e.g. the part of the film being streamed / buffered
  • RAM can be written to and changed quickly as the user switches between apps
  • it does not matter that RAM is volatile because this data is only needed while the TV is on

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