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Data storage and compression past paper questions

O Level Computer Science 2210 · Data representation. 1 Understand how data storage is measured 2 Calculate the file size of an image file and a sound file, using information given 3 Understand the purpose of and need for data compression Including: – bit – nibble – byte – kibibyte (KiB) – mebibyte (MiB) – gibibyte (GiB) – tebibyte (TiB) – pebibyte (PiB) – exbibyte (EiB) The amount of the previous denomination present in the data storage size, e.g.: – 8 bits in a byte – 1024 mebibytes in a gibibyte Answers must be given in the units specified in the question. Calculations must use the measurement of 1024 and not 1000 Information given may include: – image resolution and colour depth – sound sample rate, resolution and length of track Compression exists to reduce the size of the file What the impact of this is, e.g.: – less bandwidth required – less storage space required – shorter transmission time 4 Understand how files are compressed usin

It came up in 16 of 34 papers, for about 5 marks a paper when it does. It last came up in October/November 2025.

Often set with Text, sound and images, Input and output devices, Types and methods of data transmission, Number systems.

20 questions, newest first

1. 2210/13/O/N/25 Question 5 parts (b) (c) · 2 marks
2. 2210/11/M/J/25 Question 1 · 4 marks
3. 2210/12/M/J/25 Question 2 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) (d) · 5 marks
4. 2210/12/O/N/24 Question 2 · 7 marks
5. 2210/13/O/N/24 Question 1 part (a) · 1 mark
6. 2210/13/O/N/24 Question 2 parts (a) (b) (c) · 6 marks
7. 2210/11/M/J/24 Question 3 part (d) · 1 mark
8. 2210/12/M/J/24 Question 1 · 6 marks
9. 2210/12/O/N/23 Question 5 part (d) · 1 mark
10. 2210/13/O/N/23 Question 1 parts (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 2 marks
11. 2210/13/O/N/23 Question 7 parts (d) (e) · 3 marks
12. 2210/11/M/J/23 Question 2 part (b) · 1 mark
13. 2210/12/M/J/23 Question 3 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iii)) · 7 marks
14. 2210/13/O/N/22 Question 3 · 4 marks
15. 2210/13/O/N/22 Question 6 part (c) · 2 marks
16. 2210/11/M/J/22 Question 1 part (a(ii)) · 1 mark
17. 2210/11/M/J/22 Question 5 · 3 marks
18. 2210/12/O/N/21 Question 5 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 7 marks
19. 2210/11/M/J/21 Question 7 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) (a(iv)) · 8 marks
20. 2210/11/M/J/20 Question 3 part (c) · 4 marks

More in Data representation: Number systems, Text, sound and images.

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