GCSE (9-1) Computer Science
Mark Scheme
J277/01: Unit 1.6 Software Licences
Question Answer Marks Guidance
1
  • Source code is not made available / only compiled code is published (1).
  • Licence restricts the copying, modifying, or distribution of the software (1).
 2 Note: Stating it is "closed source" is not enough as it is just an alternative term.
2
  • The source code is distributed with the software (1).
  • The customer/user can modify and/or redistribute the source code (1).
 2
3
  1. Proprietary
  2. Open Source
  3. Proprietary
 3 0 marks for a row if more than one box is ticked.
4 Any two from:
  • Can earn money/profit by selling for a fee (1).
  • Protects/Copyrights the source code so it cannot be copied/modified (1).
  • More control over the intellectual property (1).
 2
5 Any two from:
  • Usually free of charge (1).
  • Can adapt/tailor the software to their specific needs (1).
  • Errors/Bugs can be fixed by anyone in the community (1).
 2
6 Stops competing companies from copying the software to produce a better product // Ensures compatibility by preventing user modifications. 1
7* Indicative Content:
Legal: Proprietary software must abide by strict licensing. Open source allows customisation but might require making changes public.
Ethical: Proprietary ensures professional support for sensitive data. Open source is ethical for low budgets.
Recommendation: Must be justified. (e.g., Proprietary for attendance for security; Open source for exams for board-specific customisation).

Marking Levels:
Level 3 (6-8): Thorough knowledge. Clear link to school scenario. Justified recommendation.
Level 2 (3-5): Reasonable knowledge. Unbalanced or underdeveloped.
Level 1 (1-2): Basic assertions. Unstructured. 		8
CRITICAL: Do not award marks for saying the difference is that Open Source is "free."
Recommendation must be justified.
OCR 2026