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IGCSE · Practice questions · The universal serial bus (USB)

Universal, serial, bus.

Six original Cambridge-style questions on the USB interface, with mark-point solutions.

Original questions All questions on this page are original work, written in the Cambridge IGCSE style. They are not from past papers. They test the same concepts and skills the syllabus rewards.
Keep these straight

Serial, standard, simple.

01
Recall
[1 marks]

State what the letters USB stand for.

  • Universal serial bus. ✓
02
Explain
[3 marks]

Describe how a USB connection is used to transmit data from a flash drive to a computer.

  • The computer automatically detects the flash drive when it is plugged in. ✓
  • The correct driver is loaded. ✓
  • Data is transmitted serially, one bit at a time. ✓
03
Explain
[3 marks]

Give three benefits of the USB interface.

  • It is an industry standard, so it works with most devices / computers. ✓
  • Devices are automatically detected and drivers loaded. ✓
  • It can supply power to the device / connectors can only fit one way / backward compatible (any one). ✓
04
Explain
[2 marks]

Give two drawbacks of the USB interface.

  • The maximum cable length is limited (a few metres). ✓
  • Older USB versions have slower transmission speeds / limited power for larger devices. ✓
05
Apply
[2 marks]

A shop wants to connect a barcode scanner to a till 2 metres away. Explain why USB is suitable.

  • 2 m is within the maximum USB cable length. ✓
  • The scanner is detected automatically and can be powered by the USB cable, so no extra power supply is needed. ✓
06
Analysis
[2 marks]

USB uses serial transmission. Explain why serial transmission is a good choice for a cable that may be up to a few metres long.

  • Bits are sent one at a time, so they arrive in order. ✓
  • There is no skew, so the data is less likely to be corrupted than with parallel; fewer wires also make the cable cheaper. ✓

Mark this once you have attempted all six and checked your working. It records a Practiced badge on the topic and adds a one-time bonus. Revealing the solutions alone does not count.