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Date May 2022 Marks available 3 Reference code 22M.1.SL.TZ0.11
Level SL Paper 1 Time zone no time zone
Command term Explain Question number 11 Adapted from N/A

Question

Explain how cache memory affects system performance.

Markscheme

Award [3 max].
Cache is high-speed memory;
Located between CPU and RAM;
Frequently used data/instructions are (temporarily) stored in cache memory;
To reduce the access time needed/Speed up retrieval time/To improve the speed of processing;
CPU searches as instruction’s address first in the cache, and if not found, in RAM;

Examiners report

Candidates were able to explain the positive impact of cache memory on system performance, with many high scoring responses.

Syllabus sections

Topic 2: Computer organization » 2.1 Computer organization
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Topic 2: Computer organization

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