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1CP2-P-6.3 Network performance bandwidth latency and range

Part 3 of 8 · 1CP2-P-6 · Networks

The performance worksheet, keeping bandwidth, latency and range as three separate properties with three separate units.

Students will:

  • choose the appropriate unit for each property
  • explain how low bandwidth affects several simultaneous streams
  • explain why latency matters even when bandwidth is sufficient
  • identify the property a scenario actually constrains
  • correct a claim that confuses range with bandwidth

Inside: 6 explanation cells, 4 multiple-choice questions, 1 fill-in-the-blanks cell and 4 written answers. 18 marks, about 45 minutes.

Series: 1CP2-P-6 · Networks, part 3 of 8.

Shared by Coding PathwayVerified teacher

  • 15 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.

Network performance: bandwidth, latency and range

Different measurements answer different questions about a connection. This worksheet separates bandwidth, latency and wireless range before you use them to judge suitability.

1. Measure the right property

Bandwidth, latency and rangeThree different measurementsbandwidthdata capacity per secondMbit/slatencydelay before responsemsrangeworkable wireless distancemetresA connection can have high bandwidth and still have noticeable latency.

Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted per second. Latency is the delay between sending data and a response beginning to arrive. Range is the greatest distance over which a wireless connection remains usable. Network transmission rate is measured in bits per second (bps).

Fill in the blanks3 marks
The data capacity of a connection is its gap 1. Delay before a response is gap 2. The workable distance from a wireless transmitter is its gap 3.
  • bandwidth
  • latency
  • range
  • storage
  • topology
Multiple choice1 mark

Which unit is most appropriate for the range of a classroom wireless access point?

  • Ametres
  • BMbit/s
  • Cmilliseconds
  • Dmegabytes

2. Link measurement to experience

Higher bandwidth allows more data to be transmitted in a given time, which can support several simultaneous video streams or faster large-file transfer. Lower latency makes interaction feel more immediate, which matters for video calls, remote control and online games.

High bandwidth does not guarantee low latency. A connection can carry a large amount per second but still have a noticeable delay before delivery begins.

Written answer2 marks

Explain how low bandwidth could affect a class streaming several high-resolution videos at the same time.

Link limited capacity to what students experience.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

Explain why latency matters during a live video call even when bandwidth is sufficient.

Focus on delay and interaction between people.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

A wireless signal works reliably up to 25 metres. Which property has been measured?

  • Abandwidth
  • Blatency
  • Crange
  • Dfile size

3. Evaluate in context

Performance can be affected by the transmission medium, distance, interference, obstacles, network traffic and the capabilities of network devices. Do not turn these into absolute claims. For example, a wired connection is often stable and high-performing, but its actual rate still depends on the cable and equipment used.

Written answer4 marks

A warehouse scanner needs to send tiny updates immediately while workers move around a large building. Identify two performance properties that matter and justify each.

Match each property to a stated need; not every task needs maximum bandwidth.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice, several answers2 marks

Select the two changes most likely to improve the experience of an interactive remote-control system.

  • AReduce latency.
  • BIncrease the file's storage size.
  • CProvide sufficient bandwidth for its data.
  • DMeasure range in Mbit/s.
Written answer2 marks

Correct this claim: 'A wireless network with a 50 metre bandwidth is faster than one with a 20 metre bandwidth.'

Correct both the quantity and what can be concluded.

Students type their answer here.

4. Prepare for calculations

Transmission rates commonly use decimal prefixes: 1 kbit/s = 1000 bit/s, 1 Mbit/s = 1000² bit/s, and 1 Gbit/s = 1000³ bit/s. File storage may instead be given in bytes and binary units. The next worksheet models those conversions explicitly.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which statement is accurate?

  • ALatency is measured in metres.
  • BBandwidth and latency describe different aspects of performance.
  • CRange describes data capacity per second.
  • DHigh bandwidth always removes every delay.

Route forward

You can select and explain appropriate performance measures. Next you will convert bits, bytes and prefixes and construct file-size, rate and time expressions.