GCSE (9-1) Computer Science
Mark Scheme
J277/01: Unit 1.5.2 User & File Management
Question Answer Marks Guidance
1a
  • Setting a password: User Management
  • Moving a spreadsheet: File Management
  • Changing permissions: User Management
  • Sorting a list: File Management
 4
1 mark per correct row. If both boxes ticked, award 0.
Examiner Note: For this level, User Management is the preferred answer for permissions/access rights.
1b Any two from:
  • Password / PIN (1)
  • Biometric (Fingerprint / Face ID / Retina scan) (1)
  • Pattern swipe (1)
 2
Max 2 marks.
2a
  • The OS allows the administrator to assign Access Rights (or permissions) to different groups of users (1).
  • The "Teachers" group is given Write/Delete access to the files (1).
  • The "Students" group is given Read-Only access (so they cannot delete/edit) (1).
 3
Must link the concept of permissions to the specific groups (Teachers vs Students).
Reject: "The OS stops students deleting it" (insufficient).
2b
  • It ensures that each user's data and settings (e.g., desktop background, browser history) are kept separate (1).
  • It provides security/privacy so one student cannot access another student's saved work (1).
 2
3a
  • Organisation: It allows related files to be grouped together in folders (e.g., by subject) (1).
  • Efficiency: It makes it faster/easier to find specific files compared to a flat structure (1).
 2
Max 2 marks.
3b
  • These characters are reserved by the Operating System (1).
  • They are used to indicate directory separators / file paths / drive letters (e.g., C:\) (1).
 2
Reject: "The computer can't read those characters."
3c
  • To identify the file type (1).
  • To tell the Operating System which application software should be used to open the file (e.g., Word opens .docx) (1).
 2
4a Allows the user to restore files that were deleted accidentally (1). 1
4b
  • The actual binary data remains on the disk (1).
  • Only the reference (or index entry) to the file is removed/deleted from the directory (1).
  • The data remains until it is overwritten by new files (1).
 2
This tests the concept that "delete" implies removing the pointer to the file, not the data itself.
5
  1. Authentication
  2. Administrator
  3. Access Rights
  4. Directory
  5. Extension
  6. Search
  7. Path
  8. Hidden
 8
1 mark for each correct word in the correct gap.
OCR 2026