Question Simulator

IGCSE ICT (0417)

Storage devices and media

7 questions · about 4% of the marks we indexed · examined in 6 of 9 sessions.

Questions by year

2025

  • 2025 Oct/Nov · Paper 12 · Q44 marksBacking storage vs internal memory
  • 2025 Oct/Nov · Paper 12 · Q10 (a)4 marksMagnetic, optical and solid-state storage

2024

  • 2024 Oct/Nov · Paper 12 · Q5 (b)4 marksBacking storage vs internal memory
  • 2024 May/June · Paper 12 · Q143 marksMagnetic, optical and solid-state storage

2023

  • 2023 Oct/Nov · Paper 12 · Q8 (a, c, d)3 marksMagnetic, optical and solid-state storage
  • 2023 May/June · Paper 12 · Q12 (a, b(i), b(ii))8 marksBacking storage vs internal memory · Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage

2022

  • 2022 May/June · Paper 12 · Q62 marksMagnetic, optical and solid-state storage

References only, not question text. Open Official paper ↗ where Cambridge publishes the paper, or see the official Cambridge past-papers page; for other papers, ask your school. “Paper 42” means Paper 4, variant 2.

Practice questions

Original questions written by HomiLabs in the style of the exam, with answers and mark schemes. They are not Cambridge past paper questions and have not been reviewed by Cambridge. Try each one before opening the answer.

Q1Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Core · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) Write down the most suitable storage medium for each use.(i) Backing up all the data on a bank's servers every night and keeping the copies for ten years.(ii) Selling a high-definition feature film in shops.(iii) Carrying homework files between home and school.(iv) Storing the operating system in a thin, light laptop. [4]
Show answer
  1. (a) (i) Magnetic tape(ii) Blu-ray disc(iii) USB flash drive / pen drive (accept memory card)(iv) Solid-state drive (SSD)
    1 mark each. Do not accept brand names.
Q2Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Core · Paper 1 style · 3 marks
  1. (a) Describe how data is stored on a magnetic hard disk drive. [3]
Show answer
  1. (a) The disk has platters coated in a magnetic material; the platters spin at high speed; a read/write head moves across the surface on an arm; the head magnetises tiny areas in one of two directions to represent 1s and 0s; data is stored in concentric tracks/sectors.
    1 mark per point, max 3.
Q3Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Core · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) State what is meant by direct access to data. [1]
  2. (b) State what is meant by serial access to data. [1]
  3. (c) Give one example of a storage medium that uses each type of access. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) Data can be read straight from where it is stored without reading through all the data before it.
    1 mark.
  2. (b) Data is read in the order it was stored, starting from the beginning, until the required item is found.
    1 mark.
  3. (c) Direct: hard disk/SSD/DVD/Blu-ray/flash drive. Serial: magnetic tape.
    1 mark each.
Q4Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Core · Paper 1 style · 3 marks
  1. (a) Give two advantages to students of using USB flash drives to store their school work. [2]
  2. (b) Give one disadvantage of using USB flash drives. [1]
Show answer
  1. (a) Any two, e.g. small/portable; robust (no moving parts); plugs into any computer with a USB port without extra software; large capacity for the size; fast to transfer files.
    1 mark each.
  2. (b) Easily lost or stolen (data may be seen by others); can transfer viruses between computers; can be damaged if removed while writing; limited number of write cycles.
    1 mark.
Q5Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Core · Paper 1 style · 3 marks
  1. (a) Name two devices that use memory cards for storage. [2]
  2. (b) State whether a memory card is magnetic, optical or solid-state storage. [1]
Show answer
  1. (a) Any two, e.g. digital camera; smartphone/tablet; drone; dashboard camera; handheld games console.
    1 mark each.
  2. (b) Solid-state.
    1 mark.
Q6Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Core · Paper 1 style · 3 marks
  1. (a) State whether each storage medium is magnetic, optical or solid-state.(i) Blu-ray disc(ii) Hard disk drive(iii) Magnetic tape(iv) SD card(v) DVD-RW(vi) USB pen drive [3]
Show answer
  1. (a) (i) Optical(ii) Magnetic(iii) Magnetic(iv) Solid-state(v) Optical(vi) Solid-state
    All six correct: 3 marks; four or five: 2 marks; two or three: 1 mark.
Q7Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Standard · Paper 1 style · 6 marks
  1. (a) Bilal is a university student who carries his laptop to lectures every day. He is choosing between a laptop with a magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) and one with a solid-state drive (SSD) of the same capacity. Compare HDDs and SSDs for Bilal's laptop. [6]
Show answer
  1. (a) Both are non-volatile backing storage that store the OS and files with direct access. An SSD has no moving parts whereas an HDD has spinning platters and a moving head, so the SSD is less likely to be damaged if the laptop is dropped while carried; an SSD reads and writes data faster so the laptop starts up and loads files quicker; an SSD uses less power so the battery lasts longer; an SSD is lighter and thinner; an SSD is silent and runs cooler; an HDD is cheaper per gigabyte, so more storage for the same price; an HDD can be rewritten more times/has a longer lifespan for frequent writes.
    1 mark per comparison point, max 6. At least one similarity for full marks. Points must be linked to both devices.
Q8Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Standard · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) Describe how data is read from an optical disc such as a DVD. [3]
  2. (b) State which colour of laser is used to read a DVD. [1]
Show answer
  1. (a) The disc spins; a laser beam is shone onto the surface; the surface has pits and lands (in a spiral track); light reflects differently from pits and lands (or at the change between them); a sensor/light detector reads the reflections and converts them into 1s and 0s.
    1 mark per point, max 3.
  2. (b) Red laser.
    1 mark.
Q9Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Standard · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) A large insurance company in Karachi backs up its database onto magnetic tape every night. Explain two reasons why magnetic tape is used for this. [2]
  2. (b) Explain why magnetic tape is not suitable for looking up one customer's record while the customer waits on the telephone. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) Any two explained, e.g. very large capacity so the whole database fits on one/few tapes; low cost per gigabyte; tapes are robust and can be stored off-site for many years; fast to write large amounts of data in one continuous stream.
    1 mark each for an explained reason.
  2. (b) Tape uses serial access; the tape must be wound through from the start until the record is reached, so finding one record is very slow.
    1 mark for serial access, 1 mark for consequence.
Q10Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Standard · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) Describe how a solid-state drive stores data. [2]
  2. (b) Explain two reasons why smartphones use solid-state storage. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) It uses flash memory chips (NAND) made of transistors; electrons are trapped in each cell (in the floating gate) to represent 1 or 0; data stays when power is off; there are no moving parts.
    1 mark per point, max 2.
  2. (b) Any two explained, e.g. very small and light so fits in a thin phone; no moving parts so not damaged when dropped; low power use so longer battery life; fast access so apps open quickly.
    1 mark each.
Q11Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Standard · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) Explain the difference between a DVD-ROM, a DVD-R and a DVD-RW. [3]
  2. (b) Suggest a suitable use for a DVD-RW. [1]
Show answer
  1. (a) DVD-ROM: data is written when the disc is made and can only be read, not changed. DVD-R: can be written (recorded) once by the user, then only read. DVD-RW: can be written, erased and re-written many times.
    1 mark for each correct description.
  2. (b) Any suitable use where data changes, e.g. regular backups that are overwritten; recording TV programmes to watch and then record over; moving files between computers.
    1 mark.
Q12Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Standard · Paper 1 style · 4 marks

A photography club in Lahore wants to back up 60 GB of photos onto single-layer DVD-R discs. Each disc holds 4.7 GB.

  1. (a) Calculate the smallest number of discs needed. [2]
  2. (b) Explain why a portable hard disk drive would be a better choice for this backup. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) 13 discs
    60 ÷ 4.7 = 12.77… (M1); round up to 13 discs because 12 discs only hold 56.4 GB (A1).
  2. (b) One portable HDD holds all 60 GB so there is no need to split files across 13 discs; it can be overwritten for each new backup whereas DVD-R can only be written once; it is quicker to copy to and to restore from.
    1 mark each for any two explained points.
Q13Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Standard · Paper 1 style · 3 marks

A news reporter in Dhaka records video on a camera with a 32 GB memory card. One minute of video uses 120 MB. Use 1 GB = 1024 MB.

  1. (a) Calculate the largest number of whole minutes of video that can be stored on the card. [2]
  2. (b) The reporter copies the video to her laptop at the end of each day. Give one reason why she should also keep a second copy on a different storage device. [1]
Show answer
  1. (a) 273 minutes
    32 × 1024 = 32 768 MB (M1); 32 768 ÷ 120 = 273.06…, so 273 whole minutes (A1).
  2. (b) If the laptop is lost/stolen/fails the video is not lost (backup).
    1 mark.
Q14Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Standard · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) The Khan family want to back up 400 GB of photos and videos. Compare using a portable hard disk drive and USB flash drives for this backup. [4]
Show answer
  1. (a) Both are portable and connect by USB, and both can be overwritten. A portable HDD holds 400 GB or more on one device whereas several flash drives might be needed; an HDD is cheaper per GB; a flash drive has no moving parts so is less easily damaged if dropped; flash drives are smaller and lighter; an HDD may be slower to access/needs more power.
    1 mark per comparison point, max 4.
Q15Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) A single-layer Blu-ray disc can hold about five times as much data as a single-layer DVD, even though both discs are the same size. Explain why. [3]
  2. (b) Give one reason why films are often sold on Blu-ray rather than DVD. [1]
Show answer
  1. (a) Blu-ray uses a blue/blue-violet laser which has a shorter wavelength than the red laser used for DVDs; the shorter wavelength can be focused to a smaller spot so the pits can be smaller; the tracks can be closer together; so more pits fit on the same area of disc.
    1 mark per point, max 3.
  2. (b) Higher capacity allows high-definition (or 4K/3D) video/extra content on one disc; Blu-ray discs have a protective coating so are less easily scratched.
    1 mark.
Q16Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 5 marks

Ayesha is a wildlife photographer in Chitral. Her camera uses a 64 GB memory card. Each photo is stored as a 48 MB file. Use 1 GB = 1024 MB.

  1. (a) Calculate the largest number of whole photos that can be stored on the memory card. [2]
  2. (b) Name the type of storage used by the memory card. [1]
  3. (c) Explain why this type of storage is suitable for use in a camera carried in the mountains. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) 1365 photos
    64 × 1024 = 65 536 MB (M1); 65 536 ÷ 48 = 1365.33…, so 1365 whole photos (A1).
  2. (b) Solid-state (flash memory).
    1 mark.
  3. (c) No moving parts so it is not damaged by knocks/vibration; small and light; works in cold conditions; uses very little power so battery lasts longer.
    1 mark each for any two explained points.
Q17Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 6 marks
  1. (a) A school in Rawalpindi plans to replace the hard disk drives in its file server with solid-state drives. Evaluate this plan. [6]
Show answer
  1. (a) Benefits: SSDs read/write faster so students' files open and save more quickly, especially when many users log on at once; no moving parts so less likely to fail/be damaged and quieter; lower power use and less heat so cheaper to run and cool; smaller. Drawbacks: SSDs cost more per gigabyte so the same budget buys less storage; files may need to be moved/server set up again, causing disruption; SSDs have a limited number of write cycles, which matters for a server that saves files all day; HDD capacity may be enough if current speed is acceptable. Conclusion with justification.
    5–6: balanced, developed points with a conclusion; 3–4: both sides, some development; 1–2: simple points/one side only.
Q18Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) A team of geologists will spend three months in the Thar Desert collecting data on laptops. Temperatures are very high, there is fine dust, and the vehicles travel over rough tracks. Recommend the most suitable type of backing storage for the laptops and explain your choice by comparing it with the other two types of storage. [4]
Show answer
  1. (a) Recommend solid-state (SSD). No moving parts, so it is not damaged by vibration on rough tracks, whereas the heads of a magnetic disk could crash into the platters; dust can stop an optical drive working/scratch discs, but sealed flash memory is unaffected; SSDs cope better with heat and use less power, important when charging is limited; optical discs have low capacity and are slow to write.
    1 mark for SSD with a reason, then 1 mark per comparison with magnetic or optical, max 4.
Q19Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) Explain why a solid-state drive can find and read a file faster than a magnetic hard disk drive. [2]
  2. (b) Video games are still sold on optical discs. Explain two reasons why. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) An HDD must wait for the read/write head to move to the correct track and for the platter to spin to the correct sector; an SSD has no moving parts and reads electronically from any memory cell almost instantly.
    1 mark for the HDD mechanical delay, 1 mark for the SSD electronic access.
  2. (b) Any two explained, e.g. discs are very cheap to mass-produce by pressing; ROM discs cannot be changed or erased by accident/by a virus; easy to sell and package in shops; large enough capacity (Blu-ray) for a game; buyers without fast internet do not need to download a very large file; the disc can be resold/lent.
    1 mark each.
Q20Backing storage vs internal memory · Core · Paper 1 style · 2 marks
  1. (a) Give two differences between RAM and ROM. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) Any two, e.g. RAM is volatile (contents lost when power is off) but ROM is non-volatile; RAM can be written to and read from but ROM can only be read; RAM stores the programs/data currently in use, ROM stores the start-up instructions (BIOS/boot program); RAM is usually much larger than ROM in a computer.
    1 mark for each difference that refers to both.
Q21Backing storage vs internal memory · Core · Paper 1 style · 3 marks
  1. (a) State what is normally stored in ROM in a personal computer. [1]
  2. (b) State what is stored in RAM while a computer is being used. [1]
  3. (c) Explain why the contents of RAM would be lost during a power cut. [1]
Show answer
  1. (a) The start-up/boot instructions (BIOS/firmware) needed when the computer is switched on.
    1 mark.
  2. (b) The parts of the operating system, applications and data currently in use.
    1 mark.
  3. (c) RAM is volatile: it needs a constant power supply to keep its contents.
    1 mark.
Q22Backing storage vs internal memory · Core · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) State whether each statement is true or false.(i) ROM keeps its contents when the computer is switched off.(ii) Data in RAM can be read but cannot be changed.(iii) Backing storage is usually larger than RAM.(iv) A solid-state drive is an example of internal memory. [4]
Show answer
  1. (a) (i) True(ii) False(iii) True(iv) False
    1 mark each.
Q23Backing storage vs internal memory · Core · Paper 1 style · 3 marks
  1. (a) Name the type of storage described in each statement. Choose from RAM, ROM or backing storage.(i) It holds the program the processor is running right now.(ii) It holds the instructions used when the computer is first switched on.(iii) It keeps the user's photos and documents when the computer is switched off. [3]
Show answer
  1. (a) (i) RAM(ii) ROM(iii) Backing storage
    1 mark each.
Q24Backing storage vs internal memory · Standard · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) Compare internal memory with backing storage. [4]
Show answer
  1. (a) Both store data and programs. Internal memory (RAM/ROM) is accessed directly by the processor, whereas backing storage must be loaded into RAM first; RAM is volatile while backing storage is non-volatile, so it keeps files when switched off; backing storage has much larger capacity; RAM is faster to access; backing storage is cheaper per GB; backing storage may be removable/external, internal memory is on the motherboard.
    1 mark per comparison point, max 4.
Q25Backing storage vs internal memory · Standard · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) Explain why a computer needs both RAM and backing storage. [4]
Show answer
  1. (a) RAM holds the programs and data the processor is currently using; RAM is fast so the processor can work quickly; RAM is volatile so files would be lost when switched off; backing storage keeps files/programs permanently when the power is off; backing storage has a much larger capacity than RAM so it can store all programs and files; RAM is too expensive to provide that capacity.
    1 mark per point, max 4. Must address both RAM and backing storage for full marks.
Q26Backing storage vs internal memory · Standard · Paper 1 style · 3 marks

A laptop is advertised with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB solid-state drive.

  1. (a) Calculate how many times larger the solid-state drive is than the RAM. [1]
  2. (b) Explain why computers have much less RAM than backing storage. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) 32 times
    512 ÷ 16 = 32
  2. (b) RAM costs much more per gigabyte than backing storage; RAM only needs to hold the programs and data currently in use, while backing storage holds every file and program.
    1 mark each.
Q27Backing storage vs internal memory · Standard · Paper 1 style · 3 marks
  1. (a) Backing storage is described as non-volatile. State what this means. [1]
  2. (b) Usman is typing an essay when a power cut happens. He saved the file ten minutes earlier. Explain what he will find when the power returns and why. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) It keeps its data when the power is switched off.
    1 mark.
  2. (b) The version saved ten minutes ago is still there because it was saved to non-volatile backing storage; the work typed since then is lost because it was only in volatile RAM.
    1 mark for each half.
Q28Backing storage vs internal memory · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 3 marks
  1. (a) Sana's computer becomes very slow when she has a web browser, a spreadsheet and a video editor open at once. A technician says that adding more RAM will help. Explain why. [3]
Show answer
  1. (a) All open programs and their data must be held in RAM; when RAM is full, the operating system moves some data to backing storage (virtual memory) and back again; backing storage is much slower than RAM, so the computer slows down; more RAM means more programs/data can be held in fast memory at once, so less swapping is needed.
    1 mark per point, max 3.
Q29Backing storage vs internal memory · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 4 marks
  1. (a) The program that controls a washing machine is stored in ROM. Explain why ROM is used for this program. [2]
  2. (b) The washing machine also contains a small amount of RAM. Explain why RAM is needed. [2]
Show answer
  1. (a) ROM is non-volatile so the program is still there when the machine is unplugged/switched on again; ROM cannot be changed so the program cannot be erased or altered by accident.
    1 mark each.
  2. (b) To store data that changes during a wash, e.g. the user's chosen programme/temperature, the time remaining and current sensor readings; this data must be written and changed, which is not possible in ROM.
    1 mark for an example of temporary data, 1 mark for needing to change it.
Q30Backing storage vs internal memory · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 6 marks
  1. (a) Hira edits videos for a YouTube channel about Pakistani cooking. She has enough money either to double the RAM in her computer or to double the capacity of its backing storage, but not both. Discuss which upgrade she should choose. [6]
Show answer
  1. (a) RAM upgrade: video editing software and high-resolution video frames need lots of RAM; more RAM lets her preview/edit without the computer swapping data to slower storage, so editing is smoother and faster; allows other programs to stay open. Backing storage upgrade: video files are very large, so a full drive stops her saving new projects; more space lets her keep raw footage and finished videos; but extra storage does not make editing faster. Other points: she could store old videos on an external drive/cloud instead; the choice depends on whether her problem is speed or space. Conclusion justified from the points made.
    5–6: both options discussed in detail with a justified conclusion; 3–4: both options with some explanation; 1–2: simple statements.

Similar questions

Questions that test the same subtopic in different years, grouped so you can work on one skill at a time.

References only: find each question in its paper (official link where available, otherwise through your school).

Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage 5 questions · 5/9 sessions
Backing storage vs internal memory 3 questions · 3/9 sessions

Subtopics

Our analysis of how often each subtopic was examined and how many marks it carried, 2022 to May/June 2026.

SubtopicMarks indexedSessions
Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage 185/9
Backing storage vs internal memory 103/9

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