Community resourceWorksheet

J277 1 Paper 1 independent mini-assessment

Part 4 of 7 · J277 Paper 1 · Exam transition

A forty-mark independent mini-assessment sampling all six OCR J277 Paper 1 areas.

Students will:

  • work independently without a calculator
  • show binary carries and calculation methods
  • give precise short answers in separate response cells
  • discuss ethical and environmental effects and justify a recommendation
  • use teacher feedback to target later repair

Inside: 7 text sections, 4 multiple-choice activities, 3 completion activities, 1 number activity, 12 written answers. 40 marks. Suggested time: 45–65 minutes.

Includes a teacher guide with sections, timings, misconceptions and repair routes. Objective marks and answers are held for teacher review.

Series: J277 Paper 1 · Exam transition, part 4 of 7.

Shared by Coding PathwayVerified teacher

  • 27 cells
  • About 50 minutes
  • CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Shared 17 Aug 2026
  • Updated 27 Oct 2026

Preview

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

Independent mini-assessment

40 marks · about 45 minutes

Answer all questions independently, without a calculator. Show working where asked. Your teacher will return your marks and feedback.

This assessment samples Units 1.1–1.6. Use the marks to judge the detail needed; the final discussion is worth eight marks.

Section A: systems architecture and memory

Multiple choice1 mark

Which register stores the address of the next instruction to be fetched?

  • AAccumulator
  • BProgram counter
  • CMemory data register
  • DMemory address register
Written answer3 marks

Explain how cache can improve CPU performance.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

State two characteristics that make a heating controller an embedded system.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer1 mark

State one difference between RAM and ROM.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

Explain one use of ROM in a heating controller.

Students type their answer here.

Section B: data representation and calculations

Number systems4 marks

Complete both eight-bit additions. Show every carry.

a)Add these 8-bit binary numbers: 00110000 + 00011011.

Carries
First number
00110000
Second number
00011011
Total

b)Add these 8-bit binary numbers: 01011100 + 00100101.

Carries
First number
01011100
Second number
00100101
Total
Written answer2 marks

An uncompressed greyscale image is 400 pixels wide and 300 pixels high, with 8 bits per pixel. Ignore headers and other extra data. Show your working to calculate its size in bytes. Enter the final quantity in the next box.

Students type their answer here.

Fill in the blanks1 mark
An uncompressed greyscale image is 400 pixels wide and 300 pixels high, with 8 bits per pixel. Ignore headers and other extra data. Final size: Answer 1 bytes.
Written answer1 mark

A set of sensor files uses 3,000 KB. Use 1 KB = 1,000 bytes. Show your working to convert this size to bytes. Enter the final quantity in the next box.

Students type their answer here.

Fill in the blanks1 mark
A set of sensor files uses 3,000 KB. Use 1 KB = 1,000 bytes. Final size: Answer 1 bytes.
Multiple choice1 mark

Why can Unicode represent a wider range of characters than ASCII?

  • AEvery Unicode character has the same code
  • BIt provides more possible character codes
  • CIt removes the need to store characters in binary
  • DIt compresses every character into fewer bits

Section C: networks and security

Written answer1 mark

State the function of a switch in a LAN.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer1 mark

State the function of a router.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer3 marks

A college adds many devices that transfer data at the same time. The network's available bandwidth stays the same. Explain one possible effect on users.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which address identifies a network interface for local network communication?

  • AURL
  • BMAC address
  • CDomain name
  • DFile path
Fill in the blanks1 mark
A fake email persuades a member of staff to reveal a password. Name the form of attack: Answer 1.
Written answer2 marks

A staff account can open private records that the staff member does not need. Explain how user access levels could limit the harm if that account's password were stolen.

Students type their answer here.

Section D: systems software

Written answer3 marks

A browser and drawing program are open at the same time. Explain how the operating system manages memory for these programs.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which utility brings separated parts of the same file together on a magnetic hard disk?

  • ADefragmentation
  • BEncryption
  • CData compression
  • DUser management

Section E: extended response

Read the proposal in the next question. Use its details to support your discussion.

Written answer8 marks

A regional bus company uses printed timetables and accepts cash payments. It proposes an app-only service for buying tickets and checking live bus information. Passengers would need a compatible phone and an internet connection. Some passengers cannot use the app.

Discuss the ethical and environmental impacts of this proposal. Consider benefits and drawbacks for passengers and the company, and give a justified recommendation.

Students type their answer here.

End of assessment

Check that you have answered each question and included working where asked. After feedback, use the relevant P1X05 clinic to repair a gap, then try a fresh question.