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IGCSE · Practice questions · Virtual memory and cloud storage

Borrowed space.

Six original Cambridge-style questions on virtual memory and cloud storage, with mark-scheme style 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

Pages and servers.

01
Explain
[4 marks]

Describe how virtual memory is created and used.

  • An area of secondary storage (HDD/SSD) is allocated as virtual memory. ✓
  • It is used when RAM is full. ✓
  • Pages of data that are not currently needed are transferred from RAM to virtual memory. ✓
  • When they are needed, pages are transferred back into RAM (so the CPU can access them). ✓
02
Explain
[2 marks]

Explain why a computer may need virtual memory.

  • RAM may become full when many/large programs are running. ✓
  • Virtual memory allows the programs to keep running (instead of crashing or being unable to open). ✓
03
Apply
[2 marks]

A user notices that her computer becomes very slow when she opens many programs. Explain why, and suggest how to improve it.

  • Pages are being transferred between RAM and virtual memory on slower secondary storage (possibly disk thrashing). ✓
  • Install more RAM, so fewer pages need to be transferred. ✓
04
Recall
[2 marks]

State what is meant by cloud storage.

  • Storing data on remote (physical) servers owned by a third party/provider. ✓
  • That are accessed over the internet. ✓
05
Explain
[4 marks]

A school is deciding whether to store students' work on the cloud instead of on its own local server. Give two advantages and two disadvantages of using cloud storage.

  • Advantage: students can access their work remotely, from any device with an internet connection. ✓
  • Advantage: the provider backs up the data / the school does not need to buy and maintain its own storage hardware. ✓
  • Disadvantage: work cannot be accessed without an internet connection. ✓
  • Disadvantage: security/privacy risk as data is held by a third party / ongoing subscription cost. ✓
06
Analysis
[2 marks]

A student writes: "Virtual memory is faster than RAM because it uses an SSD." Explain why this is wrong.

  • Secondary storage, including an SSD, is much slower to access than RAM. ✓
  • Virtual memory is used only because RAM is full; using it slows the computer down. ✓

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.