← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Volatile and non-volatile memory

Memory that loses its contents when the power is off, like RAM. Non-volatile memory, like ROM and SSDs, keeps its data without power.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 3.3 Data Storage — Module 2, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 4.1 Types of Software and Interrupts — Module 36

Understanding Volatile and non-volatile memory in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: RAM is volatile, so its contents disappear when the power is removed. An SSD is secondary storage that is non-volatile, so it keeps data without power.

Common mistakes: An SSD is non-volatile, so its data is kept when the power is off. The line should set SSD_data to "kept". An SSD is secondary storage that keeps its data without power, so it is non-volatile. It should be "non-volatile".

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 293–303) and word search (Modules 283–303).

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Learning
Duo
A computer is switched off. What happens to the data stored in RAM?
It is lost, because RAM is volatileIt is kept, because RAM is non-volatile
Matches
ROM = volatile
↓
ROM is non-volatile. It keeps its contents without power, which is why it can store the start-up instructions.
Applying
Meanings
Term
volatile memory
Meaning
Memory that loses its contents when the power is off, like RAM. Non-volatile memory, like ROM and SSDs, keeps its data without power.
Practice
IF power = "OFF" THEN
Testing
Gaps
RAM is memory
Check Answer
Spots
1power ← "off"
2SSD_data ← "lost"

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Quick Questions

1. A computer is switched off. What happens to the data stored in RAM?
A. It is lost, because RAM is volatile ✓
B. It is kept, because RAM is non-volatile
RAM is volatile memory. It needs power to hold its contents, so everything in it is lost when the power is removed.
2. Which statement describes non-volatile memory?
A. It loses its data when the power is off
B. It keeps its data when the power is off ✓
Non-volatile memory keeps its contents without power. ROM and secondary storage are examples.
3. Which type of memory is ROM?
A. Non-volatile ✓
B. Volatile
ROM keeps its contents without power. This is why the start-up instructions (bootloader) are still there when you switch the computer on.
4. Which of these is volatile?
A. RAM ✓
B. SSD
RAM is volatile. An SSD is secondary storage that uses flash memory, which is non-volatile and keeps files when the power is off.
5. You save a school project to a USB drive and unplug it. Is the file still there?
A. No, because flash storage is volatile
B. Yes, because flash storage is non-volatile ✓
A USB drive uses non-volatile flash memory, so the file stays stored without any power.

Match the Pairs

volatile → Memory that loses its contents when the power is turned off
non-volatile → Memory that keeps its data even when there is no power
Memory that is wiped when you switch the computer off → RAM = volatile
A saved file is still there after the computer is shut down → SSD = non-volatile
ROM = volatile → ROM is non-volatile. It keeps its contents without power, which is why it can store the start-up instructions.
RAM = non-volatile → RAM is volatile. Its data is lost when the power is removed, so unsaved work disappears.

Key Term

volatile memory
Memory that loses its contents when the power is off, like RAM. Non-volatile memory, like ROM and SSDs, keeps its data without power.

Fill in the Blanks

1. RAM is volatile memory
Hint: Type the word for memory that loses its contents when the power is off.
2. ROM is non-volatile memory
Hint: Type the word for memory that keeps its data without power. It is the opposite of the type that loses data.
3. IF power = OFF THEN RAM loses its data
Hint: Type the power state that makes volatile memory lose its contents.
4. SSD is non-volatile secondary storage
Hint: Type the category of storage used to keep files long term, which is separate from primary memory.
5. RAM: volatile ROM: non-volatile SSD: non-volatile
Hint: Type the acronym for the primary memory that is read only and keeps its data without power.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A power ← "off"
B SSD_data ← "lost"
C OUTPUT SSD_data
Line B — An SSD is non-volatile, so its data is kept when the power is off. The line should set SSD_data to "kept".
Question 2
A kinds = {}
B kinds["RAM"] = "volatile"
C kinds["ROM"] = "non-volatile"
D kinds["SSD"] = "volatile"
Line D — An SSD is secondary storage that keeps its data without power, so it is non-volatile. It should be "non-volatile".
Question 3
A memory = "ROM"
B holds_boot_program = True
C volatile = True
Line C — ROM is non-volatile because it keeps its contents without power. volatile should be False.
Question 4
A ram_volatile = False
B rom_volatile = False
C print(ram_volatile)
Line A — RAM is volatile because it loses its contents when the power is off. ram_volatile should be True.
Question 5
A volatile = ["RAM"]
B non_volatile = ["ROM", "SSD"]
C item = "ROM"
D if item in volatile:
E print("Keeps data")
Line D — ROM is in the non-volatile list, not the volatile list. The test should check item in non_volatile so that "Keeps data" is printed.

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