“Calculate” — what the examiner wants
How to answer a Cambridge Computer Science question that starts with Calculate (2210, 0478 & 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 52 current-syllabus past-paper questions.
Cambridge's definition
“work out from given facts, figures or information”
What earns full marks
Show every step and give the answer with its unit. Working can earn marks even if the final figure slips.
What loses the mark
Writing only the final answer — one arithmetic error then costs every mark. Forgetting units (bytes vs bits, MiB vs MB).
A question that uses it
Calculate the file size of a 20-second sound file sampled at 44 100 Hz with a sample resolution of 16 bits.
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.
52
questions
3
parts open with it
1
median marks a part
By paper
- 2210 / 0478 Paper 19 of 210 questions · 4%
- 2210 / 0478 Paper 21 of 262 questions · 0%
- 9618 Paper 112 of 270 questions · 4%
- 9618 Paper 21 of 251 questions · 0%
- 9618 Paper 329 of 353 questions · 8%
Typical marks per part: 1 mark (100%).
Topics where “Calculate” comes up most
- A2 LevelData Representation20 questions
- A2 LevelArtificial Intelligence9 questions
- AS LevelInformation Representation9 questions
- O Level / IGCSEData Representation9 questions
- AS LevelEthics and Ownership2 questions
- AS LevelCommunication1 question
- AS LevelProgramming1 question
- O Level / IGCSEProgramming1 question
Recent questions that use it
Open any one to read it and mark your answer against the official mark scheme.
Marks shown as “a / b”: a = marks in parts that open with “Calculate”, 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.