“Analyse” — what the examiner wants
How to answer a Cambridge Computer Science question that starts with Analyse (9618): Cambridge's definition, what a full-mark answer contains, the mistake that loses the mark, and how often the word has come up in 1 current-syllabus past-paper questions.
Cambridge's definition
“examine in detail to show meaning, identify elements and the relationship between them”
What earns full marks
Break the situation into its parts, say what each part does and how the parts affect each other.
What loses the mark
Retelling the scenario instead of taking it apart.
A question that uses it
Analyse the effect of increasing the page size on the performance of a virtual memory system.
In real past papers
Current-syllabus questions only (2210 / 0478 from 2023, 9618 from 2021); a question set under both 2210 and 0478 counts once.
1
questions
1
parts open with it
4
median marks a part
By paper
- 9618 Paper 21 of 251 questions · 0%
Typical marks per part: 4 marks (100%).
Topics where “Analyse” comes up most
Recent questions that use it
Open any one to read it and mark your answer against the official mark scheme.
| Question | Topic | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 9618/22 Oct/Nov 2025 Q7 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving | 4 / 6 |
Marks shown as “a / b”: a = marks in parts that open with “Analyse”, b = the whole question.
Don't confuse it with
The definition follows the command-word table in the Cambridge syllabus; the guidance is ZAK's. Statistics come from the real past-paper question bank (command words are read from each question's wording). Command words and past papers are © Cambridge Assessment International Education.