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1CP2-P-4.1 Operating systems and file management

Part 1 of 7 · 1CP2-P-4 · Operating systems and utilities

The opening systems software worksheet, naming the operating system's responsibilities and then working through file management in detail.

Students will:

  • describe the purpose of an operating system accurately
  • explain how files are organised, stored and retrieved
  • calculate blocks and allocated space for a given file size
  • tell file management apart from process management
  • correct the claim that an application decides where a file is stored

Inside: 5 explanation cells, 3 multiple-choice questions, 2 fill-in-the-blanks cells and 3 written answers. 15 marks, about 45 minutes.

Series: 1CP2-P-4 · Operating systems and utilities, part 1 of 7.

Shared by Coding PathwayVerified teacher

  • 13 cells
  • About 45 minutes
  • CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Shared 17 Aug 2026

Preview

The whole resource, exactly as a class sees it. Answers and marking are held back.

Operating systems and file management

An operating system (OS) is system software that controls a computer's hardware and software resources and provides services for users and applications. It is not an application such as a word processor.

1. One manager, four responsibilities

The operating system manages shared resourcesusers and applicationsrequest servicesoperating systemcontrols hardware and software resourcesfile managementprocess managementperipheral managementuser management

Pearson groups OS functionality into file, process, peripheral and user management. The OS coordinates finite resources so applications do not each need to control hardware directly.

Fill in the blanks3 marks
An operating system manages gap 1, processes, gap 2 and users. Its overall purpose is to control hardware and gap 3 resources.
  • files
  • peripherals
  • software
  • utilities
Multiple choice1 mark

Which statement best describes the purpose of an operating system?

  • AIt is a single application used to create documents.
  • BIt controls hardware/software resources and provides common services.
  • CIt permanently stores every user file inside the CPU.
  • DIt only scans files for malware.

2. Organise, store and retrieve files

File management organises files into directories, folders and subfolders. The OS maintains names and locations and provides operations such as save, open, rename and delete.

A hierarchy gives a path from a parent folder to a child item. Moving a file changes its recorded location; renaming changes its identifier.

Fill in the blanks3 marks
The operation gap 1 retrieves an existing file, gap 2 changes its identifier, and gap 3 removes it from the file system.
  • delete
  • open
  • rename
  • save
Written answer2 marks

Explain one benefit of organising school files into subject folders and topic subfolders.

Link the hierarchy to storing or retrieving a file.

Students type their answer here.

3. Allocate whole storage blocks

A file system may allocate fixed-size blocks. A partly used final block is still allocated as a whole block. For a 10 KiB file with 4 KiB blocks: 10 ÷ 4 = 2.5, so 3 blocks are required and 12 KiB is allocated.

This is allocation, not compression: the file's content size has not become 12 KiB.

Written answer2 marks

A 17 KiB file is stored using 4 KiB blocks. Calculate the number of blocks required and total allocated space.

Round the block count up because a partial block still occupies a block.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which task is file management rather than process management?

  • AAllocating CPU timeslots
  • BPlacing an unfinished process back in a queue
  • CRenaming a saved report
  • DMoving a memory page to virtual memory
Written answer2 marks

A student says, 'The word processor decides where every document is stored on the disk.' Correct this statement using the roles of the application and operating system.

Distinguish requesting a save from managing the file system.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which is system software?

  • AA presentation file
  • BA spreadsheet application
  • CAn operating system
  • DA saved photograph

Route forward

You understand the overall OS purpose and file-management role. Next you will examine how the OS shares CPU time and memory among active processes.