Types of Software
Software · 4 question types
Exam Frequency Analysis
Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)
This topic accounts for approximately 3% of your exam marks.
OS functions and utility software appear occasionally as short definition/example questions.
A computer is built from two things working together:
- Hardware: the physical parts you can touch (CPU, RAM, hard drive, keyboard, screen).
- Software: the programs that tell the hardware what to do, made of binary instructions stored in memory.
Software itself splits into two big categories:
- System software: programs needed to make the computer itself usable. The operating system and utility programs belong here.
- Application software: programs that the user chooses to install in order to do a specific job (write a document, edit photos, play a game).
Describing the difference between system software and application software
What comes up: a 4-mark question asking you to describe the difference between system software and application software, with one example of each.
Write (four marks): (1) System software provides the services that the computer itself requires — it manages the hardware and keeps the machine running. (2) Application software provides the services that the user requires — it lets the user carry out a specific task on the computer. (3) One example of system software: the operating system (or a utility program, e.g. defragmentation software). (4) One example of application software: any suitable generic name — word processor, web browser, video-editing software.
Watch out: brand names score zero. Write "word processor", not "Microsoft Word". Write "operating system", not "Windows". The mark scheme rejects brand names of software packages and hardware.