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Hardware: central processing unit (CPU) architecture, components and their functions (ALU, CU, registers, buses, cache)
Practice Questions

20 CIE IGCSE Computer Science questions on Hardware: central processing unit (CPU) architecture, components and their functions (ALU, CU, registers, buses, cache), each with instant feedback and a full examiner-style mark scheme.

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Try 2 sample questions on Hardware: central processing unit (CPU) architecture, components and their functions (ALU, CU, registers, buses, cache)

Question 1 · 1 mark · Difficulty 1/3

Which register holds the memory address of the data or instruction that the CPU currently needs to read from or write to in main memory?

  1. Current Instruction Register (CIR)
  2. Memory Address Register (MAR)
  3. Accumulator (ACC)
  4. Memory Data Register (MDR)
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Memory Address Register (MAR)
The Memory Address Register (MAR) holds the address of the memory location that the CPU wants to access. The CIR holds the instruction currently being decoded/executed. The ACC holds the result of the most recent ALU operation. The MDR holds the actual data that has been read from or is about to be written to memory.
Question 2 · 1 mark · Difficulty 1/3

Which of the following best describes the purpose of cache memory in a CPU system?

  1. To increase the number of arithmetic operations the ALU can perform simultaneously
  2. To provide high-speed temporary storage of frequently accessed instructions and data
  3. To permanently store the operating system and user files
  4. To transfer data between the CPU and input/output devices
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — To provide high-speed temporary storage of frequently accessed instructions and data
Cache memory provides high-speed temporary storage for frequently used data and instructions, reducing the time the CPU spends waiting for slower main memory. It does not store files permanently (that is secondary storage), does not manage I/O transfers (that is handled by buses and controllers), and does not expand ALU capabilities.
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CIE IGCSE Computer Science: Hardware: central processing unit (CPU) architecture, components and their functions (ALU, CU, registers, buses, cache) FAQ

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Are the Hardware: central processing unit (CPU) architecture, components and their functions (ALU, CU, registers, buses, cache) questions aligned to the official CIE IGCSE Computer Science syllabus?
Every question is written against the published CIE IGCSE Computer Science specification, including the exact command words (state, describe, explain, calculate, evaluate, etc.), mark allocations, and difficulty tier you'd see on a real CIE paper. Explanations are written in the style of official examiner mark schemes — they tell you what is being awarded marks and why distractors are wrong, not just whether you got it right. The bank is continually refined to match the latest syllabus updates from CIE.
How is Hardware: central processing unit (CPU) architecture, components and their functions (ALU, CU, registers, buses, cache) typically tested on CIE IGCSE Computer Science papers?
Hardware: central processing unit (CPU) architecture, components and their functions (ALU, CU, registers, buses, cache) appears across multiple question types on real CIE IGCSE Computer Science papers — most commonly as multiple-choice questions in the objective section, structured short-answer questions in the main paper, and occasionally as part of an extended response. Kramizo's practice bank reflects that mix: 4-option MCQs, true/false statements, fill-in-the-blank key terms, multi-select questions, and ordering questions. Working through the bank gives you exposure to every question style examiners actually use.

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