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Hardware and Software

FoundationHigherAQA

Practise Hardware and Software for GCSE Computer Science with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525). Hardware is the physical parts of a computer; software is the programs that run on it.

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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

Foundation

WorksheetFoundation · PDFMark SchemeFoundation · PDF

Higher

WorksheetHigher · PDFMark SchemeHigher · PDF

Topic overview

A computer system is made of hardware and software working together, and neither is useful without the other.

Hardware is the physical components you can touch — the processor, memory, keyboard, monitor and storage devices. Software is the programs and data that tell the hardware what to do, and it has no physical form.

Software divides into two categories. System software manages the computer itself and includes the operating system, utility programs and translators. Application software performs tasks for the user, such as word processors, browsers and games. The distinction is examined regularly, and the test is simple: does it serve the machine or the user?

Revision notes

Hardware and software

Hardware: the physical components — processor, memory, keyboard, monitor, storage.

Software: the programs and data instructing the hardware. Software has no physical form; it is stored as data on hardware.

System software

Manages the computer itself rather than performing tasks for the user.

Includes the operating system, utility programs and translators such as compilers. Without it the hardware could not be used at all.

Application software

Performs specific tasks for the user: word processors, spreadsheets, browsers, games.

The test for classifying software is whether it serves the machine or the user. A disk defragmenter serves the machine; a photo editor serves the user.

Key points

  • Hardware is the physical components.
  • Software is the programs and data.
  • System software manages the computer.
  • The operating system is system software.
  • Application software performs user tasks.
  • Ask whether it serves the machine or the user.

Worked examples

Example 1

State whether a disk defragmenter is system or application software and explain. [2 marks]

Working

System softwareclassify the software
because it manages the computer's storage rather than performing a task for the usergive the reason

Example 2

Give one example of hardware and one of software. [2 marks]

Working

Hardware: the processor, which is a physical componentgive a hardware example
Software: a web browser, which is a program with no physical formgive a software example

Example 3

Explain why a computer needs both hardware and software. [2 marks]

Working

Hardware provides the physical components that carry out the processingstate hardware's role
but without software there are no instructions telling the hardware what to dostate software's role

Common mistakes

  • Calling the operating system application software.

    It manages the computer, so it is system software.

  • Saying software is physical.

    It has no physical form; it is stored as data.

  • Classifying software without justifying it.

    Say whether it serves the machine or the user.

  • Forgetting translators are system software.

    Compilers, interpreters and assemblers all manage the machine.

Exam tips

  • Use the machine-or-user test to classify software.
  • Always justify a classification.
  • Remember translators count as system software.
  • Give specific examples rather than categories.

Key terms

Hardware
The physical components of a computer system.
Software
Programs and data instructing the hardware.
System software
Software managing the computer itself.
Application software
Software performing tasks for the user.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.